Question
What are the scientific advancements GMOs have undergone?
What are the scientific advancements GMOs have under gone?
Submitted by: Anna Hansen
Answer
Expert response from Qiudeng Que
Ph.D. Group Leader, Crop Transformation and Analysis, Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC.
Wednesday, 14/02/2018 16:40
In terms of the science behind the technology to create GMOs, scientists have a much better understanding how a transgene is delivered and stably integrated into a chromosome (or genome). Many GMO products, such as Bt corn, were made using Agrobacterium cells to deliver useful trait genes into the plant cells. Scientists were able to dissect the different steps of this natural gene delivery system encoded by Agrobacterium. We now have a good understanding of the interactions between Agrobacterium and plant cells that are critical to enable successful delivery of transgenes, as well as the regeneration of transformed cells into whole plants. Understanding of the interactions enabled scientists to develop optimal conditions to efficiently modify more elite crop varieties directly.
One of the main challenges for GMO technology is random insertion of the transgene into the genome. Scientists have now developed site-directed insertion technologies that allow insertion of transgenes into specific locations of the chromosome for predictable transgene performance. This provides more predictable gene expression without unintended fusion proteins.
In addition, modern computational tools have made it possible to predict if a transgene insertion will lead to interrupt production of a functional protein resulting in an undesirable phenotype. This allows scientists to predict the safety profile of the transgene insertion.
Also, advances in molecular analysis technology have it possible to find rare sequences in the genome so that any small transgene fragments can be located. In addition, genome sequencing has made it possible to sequence the whole genome. With the new sequencing technology, any inserted transgene and its fragment can be found, if needed.
One interesting discovery a few years ago was that the very nutritious sweet potatoes we eat often contain a natural “transgene” from Agrobacterium. So, people have consumed natural “transgenic” product for hundreds if not thousands of years.
Overall, new scientific advances in the last decades have made GMOs more precise, easier to understand and their performance more predictable.
Answer
Expert response from Community Manager
Moderator for GMOAnswers.com
Wednesday, 14/02/2018 03:40
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