By ‘Editing’ Plant Genes, Companies Avoid Regulation

Lynn Rushkin
Published: Jan 1, 2015
Link: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/02/business/energy-environment/a-gray-area-in-regulation-of-genetically-modified-crops.html?_r=0

Summary: The article "By ‘Editing’ Plant Genes, Companies Avoid Regulation" describes how certain companies are developing genetically modified crops and are avoiding regulation by using new techniques that do not qualify as genetic modification. For example, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company is producing genetically modified grass by using genes only from other plants, and inserting the genes into the plant using a gene gum instead of a bacterium. Because this method does not qualify as genetic modification, the Scotts Miracle-Gro Company can market their genetically modified grass without needing federal approval. Additionally Cibus, a privately held San Diego company, is producing canola that is herbicide resistant by altering the existing DNA in the canola rather than inserting genes making the canola not transgenic. However, some critics of this method say that altering the genome of the plant might also add other unintended changes. The process also involves growing plant cells and tissues on a dish which can lead to mutations. These new techniques have many researchers around the world wondering if they should be regulated and how.

Connection: This article relates to our unit of genetics and biotechnology. It explains that in genetic modification a gene from one organism is inserted into the plasmid of a bacteria which is then inserted into another organism. It is also described how companies have cleverly found methods that are slightly different than traditional genetic modification. This connects to the process of genetic modification which we learned in chapter 13. The article also mentions critics and researchers that are either for or against the new methods of genetic modification. Some critics have complaints that the new methods will lead to undesired results or mutations, meanwhile some people believe that these methods are safe and do not need regulation. This relates to the GMO controversy that we also learned in chapter 13. Finally, the article also mentions how plants exposed to radiation or chemicals can randomly develop a mutation that leads to a desired trait which can be passed down from generation to generation. Mutation is a topic that we covered in chapters 11 and 14.