CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) gene-edited (GEd) crops have demonstrated significant potential to enhance global food security in the face of escalating climate challenges and rapid population growth. Since 2019, for regulatory purposes, the United States (U.S.) and several other countries have recognized transgene-free, genome-edited lines as equivalent to conventionally bred varieties. Notably, the first genome-edited food product, Calyno™ soybean oil, was commercialized in the U.S. and marketed as a non-genetically modified organism (GMO) item. Recently, regulatory frameworks, such as the enactment of the Precision Breeding Law in the United Kingdom, the European Union’s New Genomic Techniques (NGT) legislation, and the repeal of the SECURE Rule in the United States, have further established guidelines permitting the use of genome-edited lines in agriculture similar to with conventionally bred crops, provided that these lines are free of transgenic elements. In Korea, researchers and policymakers are actively engaging in discussions to establish a preliminary review committee for GEd crops to align regulatory practices with international trade standards. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate two gene-edited rice lines for generational stability in terms of molecular characteristics, focusing on edited nucleotide sequences, gene expression, target phenotypes, the presence of transgene elements, and potential off-target effects across multiple generations. Additionally, several technical challenges in nucleotide editing tracing emerged during the evaluation process that warrant further attention. The findings presented in this study are expected to offer valuable insights for shaping the regulatory framework in Korea for CRISPR-based gene-edited crops.
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Gibberellins (GAs) are important hormones at every plant developmental stage including vegetative and reproductive. It is reported in many plant species that many dwarfism and male sterile mutants have defective GA biosynthesis genes. RNA interference (RNAi) technology can reduce expression of specific genes at the transcription level. Also, promoters can control the spatial and temporal expression of genes. Specific promoters containing the RNAi vector can control specific genes’ spatial and temporal expression at the transcriptional level. In this study, at first, five anther specific promoters were chosen and verified by examining their tissue specific expression using promoter::GUS transgenic analysis. RNAi vectors, which contain five anther specific promoters and one constitutive promoter fused to GA biosynthesis related genes, were constructed for controlling of GA biosynthesis in stem and floral tissue.
Temperatures that extend beyond normal levels of tolerance cause severe stress to plants, especially during the reproductive and grain filling/ripening stages. Heat stress leads to serious yield losses in many crop plants, including rice (
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Gene flow events from genetically modified (GM) rice to adjacent non-GM rice lines naturally happen in the field. GM rice lines containing desirable agronomic traits such as tolerance to abiotic stresses and resistance to biotic stresses can be used to cross with non-GM cultivated rice and also to wild species of rice. This event can eventually lead to offspring which possess traits that allows a better chance of survival in the field. However this phenomenon has the possibility to produce undesirable effect in the environment surrounding the rice field. The
objective
of this study was to determine the out-crossing rate of GM rice to cultivated rice. Transgenic rice, Hwangkembyeo (containing beta-carotene enhancing gene and
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