Gene engineering has been booming as a powerful tool in the agricultural field. It helps meet the global demand for food as production needs continue to grow. Gene editing techniques such as CRISPR make precise changes to an organism’s existing DNA without adding outside genetic material. This allows scientists to develop crops that are more nutritious and sustainable. In agriculture, crops have been improved to resist drought conditions and pests while also enhancing their nutritional value through gene editing. It has also been used to develop livestock with disease resistance, heat tolerance, and traits that improve animal welfare, such as naturally hornless cattle. First, Scientist choose gene linked to a trait they want to edit such as like drought tolerance, or nutrient content. Next, they will create a guide RNA that matches the specific DNA sequence in that gene, this will bring CRISPR to the exact spot in the DNA. Next, the enzyme Cas9, cuts the DNA at that specific location. Once cut, Scientist can either disable a gene, slightly change the gene, or insert a small piece of DNA.
However, gene engineering is regulated differently around the world. For example, the United States focuses on the final product, whereas the European Union regulates based on the process, which leads to different rules and safety precautions. Despite its benefits, gene editing may potentially impact ecosystems and raises unanswered questions about the welfare of animals modified for production.
Link: Gene Editing in Agriculture: How It Changes Our Food Supply - Biology Insights
Extra Link : CRISPR in Agriculture - Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI)
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