Genetic Modification Production Research Articles

An emerging role beyond genetics: DNA methylation in horticultural quality shaping

<p>Horticultural products play an increasingly vital role in addressing the nutritional needs of the world��s expanding population, which has surpassed 8 billion. The global trend towards health-oriented diets has motivated consumers to seek high-quality natural horticultural food consumption. This highlights the pressing requirement for updated guidance and strategies for sustainable horticultural quality upgrading. Meanwhile, DNA methylation, an epigenetic modification having transcriptional-regulation potential, is emerging as a crucial quality dominator of horticultural food. In this current investigation, we integrate valuable methylation loci regulating quality traits in fruit and vegetable, elucidating the underlying mechanisms and emphasizing the impressive species-specificity. At this early stage, the most extensively studied aspects of DNA methylation include promoter methylation and transposable elements. Additionally, we delve into locus-specific methylation-editing techniques, whose achievable genetic-modification-free advantages are promising to alleviate consumer concerns regarding genetic-modification products. Overall, this review is devoted to providing insights into the sustainable development of horticultural produce and food quality design strategies in response to global food quality and security challenges.</p>

Genetic techniques for plant breeding

Genetic techniques for plant breeding

What Causes Different Sentiment Classification on Social Network Services? Evidence from Weibo with Genetically Modified Food in China

(1) Background Genetic Modification (GM) refers to the transfer of genes with known functional traits into the target organism, and ultimately the acquisition of individuals with specific genetic traits. GM technology in China has developed rapidly. However, the process is controversial; thus, future development may be hindered. China has become the world’s largest importer of GM products. Research on the attitudes towards GM food in China will help the government achieve sustainable development by better understanding and applications of the technology. (2) Methods This research utilizes data from Sina Weibo (microblog), one of the biggest social network services (SNS) in China. By using the self-created Python crawler program, comments related to the genetically modified food in the People’s Daily account are analyzed. Sentiment classifications are analyzed via multivariate logistic regression. (3) Results Based on the factor analysis, theme type characteristics, the propagation characteristics, the body information characteristics, and the comment characteristics have different degrees of influence on the user’s emotional distribution. (4) Conclusion Practical implications and conclusions are provided based on the results at the end.

Identifying Generational Differences to Target Extension Programming when Discussing Genetic Modification

Genetic modification (GM) science has received considerable pushback from consumers despite the research finding GM products are safe for consumption. This may be partly due to the disconnect between consumers and farms since most consumers are disconnected from the farm by at least three generations. The largest consumer population is composed of millennials, which is the generation furthest removed from the farm which may mean they need to be educated differently about GM science than other generations. The purpose of this research was to determine if there were generational differences regarding the perceived attributes of GM science to inform the development of extension programs designed to educate consumers about GM science. A survey was used to collect consumers’ perceptions of GM science. The respondents were grouped into generational classifications and perceptions between groups were compared. The findings revealed generations do perceived GM science differently and extension programs should be designed for specific generational audiences.

Knowledge, Attitudes Toward, and Acceptability of Genetic Modification among Western Balkan University Students of Life Sciences (AGREE Study)

Background: There are still no data on the attitudes and acceptance of genetic modification (GM) food in European developing countries, such as the Western Balkan countries. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of GM but also to shed light on the multifactorial process leading to acceptance of genetic modifications among Western Balkan students of life sciences.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the final study population sample was composed of 1251 university students. The instrument for data collection was a questionnaire consisting of 49 items composed of 5 sections taken from the literature. Attitudes toward GM were analyzed by using Q-mode factor analysis and principal component analysis was run for the assessment of perception of personal health risks. The acceptability of GM was analyzed in binary probit models assessing the acceptability of GM products in different areas of application with Q models, sociodemographic variables, perception of personal health risks factors, respondents' knowledge about biotechnology, gender, and age as explanatory variables.Results: This study demonstrated that students of life sciences supported the implementation of GM in industry and medicine production but not in food production. Their acceptance was most influenced by 3 out of 5 attitude models that were identified (p < 0.0001). Regarding the perception of personal health risks, the factor “credence risks” was seen as a negative predictor of acceptance of GM in industry and food production (p < 0.05). The main knowledge predictor of rejecting GM was misconception, whereas real knowledge had no impact (p < 0.0001).Conclusion: The AGREE study provided the first rough picture of the knowledge, attitudes, and acceptance of GM in this area. Given the target population, it could be expected that the general population's acceptance of all observed elements, especially knowledge, would be lower.

Swedish consumers’ opinions about gene technology

A total of 316 consumers participated in an interview study on their opinions on genetic modification (GM). Most participants were negative to use of GM in general. About 20 percent of the respondents were willing to accept GM foods for marketing in Sweden and were also willing to buy such products. Almost all respondents stated that GM products should be labelled. The respondents were most positive to applications “GM of bacteria for medical purposes (e.g. insulin producing bacteria)” and “Genetic approaches to fighting hereditary diseases”. Males were generally more positive to GM, so were the younger respondents. No significant differences in consumer attitudes were found with respect to level of education or place of residence. The results indicate that Swedish consumers in general are negative towards GM. However, the motives underlying the consumers’ opinions are far from clear. Consumer concerns are very complex and difficult to study. Therefore, individual and group interview strategies could prove to be valuable in attempts to further understand consumer attitudes to this new technology.

Consumption effects of genetic modification: what if consumers are right?⋆

AbstractThis paper develops a model of differentiated consumers to examine the consumption effects of genetic modification (GM) under alternative labelling regimes and segregation enforcement scenarios. Analytical results show that if consumers perceive GM products as being different than their traditional counterparts, GM affects consumer welfare and, thus, consumption decisions. When the existence of market imperfections in one or more stages of the supply chain prevents the transmission of cost savings associated with the new technology to consumers, GM results in welfare losses for consumers. The analysis shows that the relative welfare ranking of the ‘no labelling’ and ‘mandatory labelling’ regimes depends on: (i) the level of consumer aversion to GM products; (ii) the size of marketing and segregation costs under mandatory labelling; (iii) the share of the GM product in total production; and (iv) the extent to which GM products are incorrectly labelled as non‐GM products.

Consumption effects of genetic modification: what if consumers are right?

This paper develops a model of differentiated consumers to examine the consumption effects of genetic modification (GM) under alternative labelling regimes and segregation enforcement scenarios. Analytical results show that if consumers perceive GM products as being different than their traditional counterparts, GM affects consumer welfare and, thus, consumption decisions. When the existence of market imperfections in one or more stages of the supply chain prevents the transmission of cost savings associated with the new technology to consumers, GM results in welfare losses for consumers. The analysis shows that the relative welfare ranking of the ‘no labelling’ and ‘mandatory labelling’ regimes depends on: (i) the level of consumer aversion to GM products; (ii) the size of marketing and segregation costs under mandatory labelling; (iii) the share of the GM product in total production; and (iv) the extent to which GM products are incorrectly labelled as non-GM products.

Identity Preservation of Genetically Modified Organisms in the Food Chain: Requirements, Methods, and Costs

The use of the technology of genetic modification (GM) in European agriculture and the food supply chain is currently controversial. Because of strong anti-GM technology sentiments, the use of ingredients derived from plants containing GM have largely been eliminated from foods manufactured for direct human consumption by the food supply chain in much of the European Union (EU). During the past year, the attention of those opposed to the technology has turned to the use of GM ingredients in livestock production systems by incorporation of GM soy and maize in animal feed. A discussion is presented of the key issues relating to this subject, focusing on how supplies of GM or non-GM products are segregated or how their identities are preserved. The discussion is centered on GM maize and soybeans into which agronomic traits, such as herbicide tolerance and/or insect resistance, have been incorporated. These are currently the only crops into which some varieties containing GM have been approved for use in the EU.

Genetically Modified Crops and the Environment

Genetic modification (GM) of crops provides new crop management options (production traits) and crops with industrial, pharmaceutical, and neutraceutical applications are likely to follow. The environmental benefits and risks of growing GM crops have drawn considerable, often polarized debate. This review seeks a balanced appraisal of environmental issues, and looks at principles associated with several GM production traits. Environmental assessment needs to consider the nature of the introduced trait, in the context of the biology of the plant and the environment it will be grown in (e.g., prospects of gene flow into other species). Interactions with the target ecosystem, including the possibility of cummulative impacts from organisms already released into the ecosystem (e.g., prospects for gene pyramiding) need to also be included in assessments. Current agricultural management practices and ecosystems have their own impacts on the environment, and it is against this background that the benefits and risks of releasing GM organisms should be judged. Before release, data collection on impacts of GMOs is temporally and spatially constrained, so caution must be exercised in decision making. Potential impacts also need to be monitored after release and the post‐release monitoring framework needs scope to identify unforeseen impacts. The environmental sustainability of using GMOs will depend largely on wise management practices and monitoring must provide appropriate data to support continuing adaptation of management and regulation of GMOs.