Crop Biotech Update

The full report on the global adoption of GM crops in 2019 authored by the International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications is now available.

TALEN Beats CRISPR-Cas9 in Editing Tightly-packed DNA

Genome editing tool known as TALEN was found to be 5 times more efficient than CRISPR-Cas9 at locating and editing genes in the densely-packed DNA called heterochromatin. Thus, it has more potential to address genetic defects in the heterochromatin such as sickle cell anemia,beta-thalassemia, fragile X syndrome, and others.

Researchers Work on Making Wheat and Peanuts Less Allergenic

Wheat and peanuts are among the "big eight" foods listed by the United States Department of Agriculture that cause 90 percent of food allergies. Sachin Rustgi, a researcher at Clemson University and a member of the Crop Science Society of America (CSSA), and his colleagues are using plant breeding and genetic engineering to develop less allergenic varieties of wheat and peanuts.

Gene-edited Canola Shows Resistance to White Mold

White mold, also known as sclerotinia, is a fungal pathogen that can affect 14-30% of canola fields every year and can reduce yields by up to 50%. Thus, researchers at Cibus used their Rapid Trait Development System (RTDS) which involves gene editing without incorporating a foreign gene in the crop, thus retaining its non-GM status.

COVID-19 ALERTS

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NEWS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Team Effort Produces High-Quality Reference Genome Sequence of Switchgrass

PLANT BREEDING INNOVATIONS

News Archive | Translations

A biweekly update on genome editing research, regulations, and impact
produced by ISAAA Inc.

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A monthly update on gene drive research and development provided by ISAAA in collaboration with the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research

Read Latest Issue (January 25, 2023)

SCIENCE SPEAKS

ISAAA Policy Brief Tackles Importance of Environmental, Socio-economic, and Health Impact Assessment for Gene Drive Organisms (January 25, 2023)

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GM APPROVAL UPDATES

The Philippines approved the eggplant event EE-1 for cultivation
Nigeria approved the wheat event HB4 for food and feed.
The USA approved the corn event MON87429 for food and feed.
Ghana approved the cowpea event AAT709A for food, feed, and cultivation.
The USA approved the wheat event HB4 for food and feed.
Turkey approved the maize event MON87427 for feed.

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The Crop Biotech Update is a weekly newsletter of ISAAA, a not-for-profit organization. The CBU is distributed for free to over 23,000 subscribers worldwide to inform them about the key developments in biosciences, especially in agricultural biotechnology. Your support will help us in our mission to feed the world with knowledge. You can help by donating as little as $10.

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