Limits to biotech

Withour the insertion of additional genes, poplars were modified with CRISPR so that they flower after just four months instead of seven to ten years... >>MORE<<

The company, Pairwise, is seeking to market mustard greens as salad leaves in the USA. CRISPR/Cas was used in the plants to genetically engineer 17 genes at the same time in order to make the leaves taste less pungent. A patent application has already been filed... >>MORE<<

To create wheat that contains less acrylamide, a gene was switched off using CRISPR. This also weakened growth and germination... >>MORE<<

Using CRISPR, the size, shape and ingredients of wild tomatoes were changed in just a few steps and within a short time... >>MORE<<

Using CRISPR, rapeseed has been modified in a way that it loses fewer grains before harvest. The unintended changes only became apparent when the entire genome was analyzed... >>MORE<<

It is often claimed that genetic engineering is necessary to help agriculture adapt to climate change. But many traits relevant to this, such as shorter hair in cattle, have also already been produced with conventional breeding... >>MORE<<

CRISPR/Cas genetic scissors used in zebrafish to investigate unintended changes in the genome. It appears that these changes can be very specific... >>MORE<<

CRISPR/Cas genetic scissors were used to modify rice for smaller growth and higher yield. However, it appears that the genetic scissors are often not as precise as many claim… >>MORE<<

In order to make them gain more weight, pufferfish had been diseased by using the gene-scissor CRISPR/Cas. In Japan they are approved for consumption… >>MORE<<

Experiments with CRISPR/Cas in Japan resulted in tomatoes with a much higher GABA content. In many species, GABA has an important biological function. In humans, however, it can lower blood pressure and act as a relaxant... >>MORE<<

New Genetic Engineering overrides natural mechanisms of genome organisation and gene regulation... >>MORE<<

Just three tiny changes in the individual base pairs of a gene can make fruit flies resistant to toxins produced by specific plants. As a result, they can absorb the poison and become toxic to their predators… >>MORE<<

Honey bees play an essential role as pollinators in intact ecosystems. However, the survival of honey bee colonies is under increased threat due to industrialised agriculture. Genetic engineering is now promising a solution... >>MORE<<

Cattle were genetically engineered with gene scissors to prevent the growth of horns. Several years later, researchers found complete DNA sequences conferring antibiotic resistance in the genomes of the cattle… >>MORE<<

In Japan, Red Seabream has been genetically engineered in order to grow bigger and heavier. In this way profits should be increased. But the costs will be paid by the fish… >>MORE<<

CRISPR/Cas gene scissors were used to alter 18 sites on the genome of camelina. In the US, these plants are already deregulated even though they are able to persist and propagate in the environment, and might also cross into natural populations… >>MORE<<

New methods of genetic engineering are being used to produce animals with enhanced muscle growth to produce more meat. What sounds like a dream come true for industrial food production is a nightmare for the animals… >>MORE<<

Mushrooms created using new genetic engineering methods have been authorised for marketing in the USA without being assessed. The reason: genes were "only" removed and none added… >>MORE<<

Gene-drives are, in particular, intended to alter wild species, whereby the application is purposely not restricted to the field or the laboratory. There are currently ongoing discussions about whether such methods should be used in insects, wild life animal species or weedy plant species… >>MORE<<

Forest trees such as poplars are also being genetically engineered. The problem: there is no way of implementing reliable risk assessment because forest trees have various and complex interactions with the environment… >>MORE<<

The wheat genome is huge. The use of gene scissors such as CRISPR/Cas on the wheat genome therefore creates specific patterns of genetic modification that are often unique and cannot be achieved with conventional breeding... >>MORE<<

The aim in the genetic engineering of corals using CRISPR is ostensibly to strengthen their adaptability to climate change and increased temperatures. However, corals are complex organisms and rely on a symbiosis with microorganisms... >> MORE <<