Simple CRISPR deletion leads to fungal resistance in tomato

Using CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology, new research has created a non-transgenic tomato plant that is resistant to powdery mildew fungal patheogens. Using sequence specific nucleases such as crispr/cas9 technology, it is possible to change genetic code with insertions, substitutions, or deletions. The deletion of a specific gene from wildtype allows the label non-transgenic. Powdery mildew fungal resistance already exists in certain tomato varieties, but this process allows any desired variety to be altered very quickly to show resistance to fungal infection. The importance of this research is great and its application has potential to increase food production, which is something necessary due to the unwavering proliferation of humanity. 

Powdery mildew fungus

Article:

http://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-017-00578-x

CRISPR info:

http://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-crispr-cas9

Powdery mildew fungus:

http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/LabExercises/Pages/PowderyMildew.aspx

Penny-Pinching Prawns

Scientists from James Cook University have been using the latest genetic techniques in order to isolate and manipulate prawn genes as to breed them to be cheaper and easier to farm, to grow faster, and resist diseases. The appropriately-named program "Unleashing the Tiger" works to unveil the genetic secrets of the black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) in order to produce one of the first genetically-manipulated aquaculture species as the most efficient and sustainable prawn on the market without losing any of the prawn's favorable traits.
This is an interesting article to me since seafood is one of my main "food groups" and the way economics interconnects with the genetics of a crustacean is intriguing. When someone mentions genetically modified organisms, most people immediately think of plants. Not many people know that animals undergo similar instances, and the genetic manipulation needed in order to make these black tiger prawns grow faster and resistant to diseases is simply fascinating.

The article this post refers to can be found here.
The link to the James Cook University black tiger prawn research hub can be found here.

Genetically Modified Monkeys

According to a Russia Today article the first set of genetically modified monkeys were created through a method called Crispr/Cas9. The monkeys were born in a lab in China, and the process was not easy. In 180 embryos, 83 were able to be placed in female macaques, and of those only 10 resulted in pregnancies. All of which were unable to produce living offspring, except for one, which resulted in 2 baby monkeys with simultaneous mutations in two genes. The hopes of this journey is to be able to do research on human disease and improve upon the health of mankind.

Personally, while I do agree with modifying genetics in animals in order to better them, I do not like it when animals are used as test dummies. Being a pre-veterinary student, I have a great deal of appreciation for not only animal life, but the quality of animal life. If these monkeys were created with the hopes of preventing a primate disease, I would have no qualms with this. However, it is clearly stated in the article that these monkeys will be used for testing when they are older in order to better the human race. While I do not put animal life at a higher value of the human race, I cannot support a cause that deliberately treats animals like pawns or objects. There comes a point where we begin to cross a line, and this article from PBS talks a little about just that. My wish is that one day we will be able to strike a balance between humans, flora, and fauna, that can better us all and not just the human race.