What is genetically modified food?

In July, the Philippines became the world’s first country to approve commercial production of genetically modified “golden rice that experts hope will combat childhood blindness and save lives in the developing world. It is the first genetically modified (GM) rice approved for commercial propagation in South and Southeast Asia. Before we learn what’s special about this rice, let’s understand what’s genetically modified food or GM food.

What’s GM food?

As the name suggests, GM food involves the editing of genes of a crop in such a way that it incorporates beneficial traits from another crop or organism. This could mean changing the way the plant grows, or making it resistant to a particular disease. This is done using the tools of genetic engineering.

How is it done? Let us assume that scientists want to produce wheat with a high protein content and they decide to incorporate the high protein quality of beans into wheat. To make this possible, a specific sequence of DNA with protein-making trait is isolated from the bean (called the donor organism) and inserted into the gene structure of wheat in a lab The new gene or the transgene thus developed is transferred into the recipient cells (wheat cells). The cells are then grown in tissue culture where they develop into plants. The seeds produced by these plants will inherit the new DNA structure.

Traditional cultivation of these seeds will then be undertaken and we will have genetically modified wheat with a high protein content.

What went into the production of golden rice?

 Golden Rice is rice which has been genetically-modified to include genes that increase the beta-carotene content, a pigment that converts into vitamin A in the body. Though the parental strain naturally produces beta-carotene in its leaves, it does not produce the pigment in the grain.

Scientists developed the golden rice by transferring genes from daffodil and a species of soil bacteria. These genes will ensure the rice grain is rich in beta-carotene.

Why golden rice?

Scientists say, golden rice could help reduce vitamin A deficiency, thereby childhood blindness in developing countries. The World Health Organization data show vitamin A deficiency causes up to 500,000 cases ells of childhood blindness every year, with half of those dying within 12 months of losing sight Vitamin A is also essential for normal growth, development, and the proper functioning of the immune system.

Golden rice has faced strong resistance from environmental groups opposed to genetically altered food plants. However, the Philippines, where nearly 17% of children under the age of five are deficient in vitamin A, has decided to go ahead with the production of golden rice. Bangladesh is expected to follow suit.

Picture Credit : Google

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