GMO 2.0

Gene-edited cattle have a major screw up in their DNA

It was supposed to be a “barnyard revolution” using gene editing to create hornless cattle. The modified bulls were to symbolize a new age of precision breeding where adding or cutting a few DNA letters could produce (or eliminate) specific animal traits. But the experiment crashed when FDA researchers discovered bacterial DNA in the animals’ […]

USDA has approved more than 20 gene-edited crops

New research from Testbiotech found that over 20 plants engineered with genome editing techniques are registered with non-regulated status, not requiring any additional assessment. The gene-edited plants include pennycress, potatoes, alfalfa, corn, rice, soybeans, tobacco, tomatoes and wheat. Some of the plants will be on the market very soon. The EU requires GMOs to undergo […]

Synthetic biology is changing what we eat. Here’s what you need to know.

Another innovation in food technology is giving scientists, consumers, and health advocates pause. Synthetic biology (synbio) is a form of genetic modification offering plant-based proteins to create foods and fibers that taste, look, and feel like meat products or natural fibers. Examples are “bleeding” veggie burgers and “spider silk” textiles. Concerns about the technology include: […]

Gene-editing technology to create virus-resistant cassava plant has opposite effect, researchers find

Scientists have found that using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to engineer cassava plants to fight off the mosaic virus, actually led to propagation of mutated viruses resistant to gene editing. Plant biologists at the University of Alberta, the University of Liège in Belgium, and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology urged caution, saying it “creates a selection pressure on the […]

GMO 2.0 stevia hits the market, unregulated, unlabeled

A “next gen” sweetener called EverSweet, that uses genetically engineered yeast to convert sugar molecules to mimic the stevia plant, is now available in commercial quantities. Cargill and synthetic biology pioneer Evolva are targeting the product to producers of low- and zero-calorie cola drinks, claiming its taste is sweeter and more “rounded,” without the bitter […]