Genetically Modified Technology Research Articles

Preparation of a novel metallothionein-AuNP composite material by genetic modification and Au[sbnd]S covalent combination

Metallothionein (MTs) can be used in the prevention and treatment of tumors and diabetes due to its antioxidant properties. However, it is necessary to solve its non-transmembrane properties and further improve its antioxidant activity, increase its fluorescence visualization and enhance its stability to meet practical applications in the biomedical field. Here, we report the preparation of a novel metallothionein-AuNP composite material with high transmembrane ability, fluorescence visualization, antioxidant activity, and stability by genetic modification (introducing transduction peptide TAT, fluorescence tag GFP and increasing sulfydryl groups) and immobilization technology (covalently bonding with AuNPs). The transmembrane activity of modified proteins was verified by immunofluorescence. Increasing the sulfhydryl content within a certain range can enhance the antioxidant activity of the protein. In addition, GFP were used to further simplify the imaging of the metallothionein-AuNP composite in cells. XPS results indicated that AuNPs can immobilize metallothionein through AuS covalent bonds. TGA characterization and degradation experiments showed that thermal and degradation stability of the immobilized material was significantly improved. This work provides new ideas to construct metallothionein composites with high transmembrane ability, antioxidant activity, fluorescence visualization and stability to meet novel applications in the biomedical field.

Genetic modification – benefits and risks for New Zealand grassland production systems

Fundamentally plant breeding is about expanding and exploiting the genetic potential of plants (Stoskopf et al. 2019). Over time this has included amongst others phenotypic selection, mutagenesis, genetic modification (GM) and now gene editing (Bowerman et al. 2023). In many crop species genetic modification has been a valuable option for delivering improved economic and environmental outcomes. However, while genetic modification has been extensively used in crops for 25 years it has rarely been a technology used to advance trait expression in forage and grassland species. Worldwide, GM technologies have been adopted at a faster rate than any other recent crop technology (Raman 2017; Scheitrum et al. 2020). Despite the large government investment into GM technologies for use in grass and forage plants it has not used outside of containment in New Zealand (Caradus 2008).
 The aim here is to review why New Zealand has been so reluctant to use GM technologies as another means of providing solutions for the pastoral sector. Traits manipulated using a range of genetic modification techniques that might have application and benefit in grassland systems will be reviewed, and regulatory concerns that need to be considered when adopting GM forage and pasture plants will be discussed. Interestingly, 70 to 90% of GM crop production globally is used for animal feed (Flachowsky et al. 2012; Ritchie and Roser 2021). So if animals across the world, including those in USA, China and Europe are being fed GM crops (Baulcombe et al. 2014) why would New Zealand be concerned about using GM pasture plants? Although over a decade old, a useful summary of views from a variety of stakeholders is provided by the New Zealand Institute of Agricultural & Horticultural Science (AgScience 2010).

ROLE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD SECURITY: A REVIEW

One of the most serious issues confronting the global food system is the wastage of approximately one-third of food at various points throughout the supply chain due to environmental and economic factors. Declines in production and food quality deterioration are concerns due to less awareness of the farming community and end users about the advanced technologies. Therefore, scientists face to develop cutting-edge technology to solve these problems and feed the bulging population to prevent starvation. Genetic engineering (GE) techniques can aid in several contexts to boost crop yields and quality. Biotechnology, genetic modification, and recombinant (r) deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) technologies are significantly beneficial in pursuing chief progress in food production and supply. This latest literature review illustrates the recent advances in GE, their sources, current trends, and future. GE foods from animals, microbes, and crop plants have altered DNA and introduced modified genetic characteristics. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are vital parts of the industrial food system, and most packaged foods contain GMO ingredients that received engineering for resistance to pesticides and herbicides. Several issues raise red flags concerning GMOs, including safety, effects on the environment, and ineffective usage of pesticides. Many people are anxious about GMOs; however, most do not understand the problems.

Sustainable agriculture and GM crops: the case of Bt cotton impact in Ballari district of India.

Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) cotton are at the forefront of an intense debate on the benefits of genetically modified (GM) crops among smallholder farmers in developing countries. Existing studies fail to control for confounders, selection bias, or cultivation bias from preferential treatment in the initial adoption phase. Addressing these concerns in this paper, I examine the impact of Bt cotton employing an unbalanced panel fixed-effects model of a crop yield and profit function on newly collected plot-level data in the most recent decade. Results show that Bt cotton yields have stagnated, have a null effect on profits, and have become more sensitive to pest pressure in the most recent decade. Though many studies have demonstrated higher crop yield and profit gains in the first decade of Bt cotton adoption that raised the average returns to the technology, the second decade shows convergence in benefits, which raises obvious questions about the prospect of GM technology. Since Bt cotton is the only GM crop technology widely adopted by smallholder farmers, the findings of this paper contribute to the broader public debate on the future of agricultural biotechnology.

Consumers’ risk perception and willingness to pay for abnormally shaped vegetables in China

Abstract Technology in food production is constantly evolving and advancing, and the emerging genetically modified (GM) technology is making a significant contribution to solving the world’s food problems. However, sporadic food safety incidents and negative media coverage have caused Chinese consumers to remain apprehensive about the safety of food and GM technology, even to the extent that they are reluctant to buy vegetables in unusual shapes because they believe the vegetables are produced by GM technology. This paper examines this negative association with GM food. The results show that when seeing an abnormally shaped vegetable, consumers perceive that the vegetable is likely to be genetically modified, thus increasing their perceived risk. In order to estimate the mediation effect, we adopted the causal step approach using an ordered probit model. To investigate consumers’ preferences for attributes of vegetables, we employed a choice experiment, stochastic parametric logit models and latent class logit models. Apart from price, consumers place the highest importance on appearance attributes, followed by traceability attributes, and then safety certification attributes. There is also heterogeneity in consumer preferences. Consumers’ characteristics such as age, marital status and family size influence their preferences. The findings of this paper suggest that traceability labelling and safety certification labelling can be useful in addressing information asymmetry in food safety and can increase consumer utility and improve their trust in the safety of the food they buy.

Exploring the future of GM technology in sustainable local food systems in Colombia.

The security of Earth's food systems is challenged by shifting regional climates. While agricultural processes are disrupted by climate change, they also play a large role in contributing to destabilizing greenhouse gases. Finding new strategies to increase yields while decreasing agricultural environmental impacts is essential. Tropical agriculture is particularly susceptible to climate change: local, smallholder farming, which provides a majority of the food supply, is high risk and has limited adaptation capacity. Rapid, inexpensive, intuitive solutions are needed, like the implementation of genetically modified (GM) crops. In the Latin American tropics, high awareness and acceptance of GM technologies, opportunities to test GM crops as part of local agricultural educations, and their known economic benefits, support their use. However, this is not all that is needed for the future of GM technologies in these areas: GM implementation must also consider environmental and social sustainability, which can be unique to a locality. Primarily from the perspective of its educators, the potential of a rural Colombian university in driving GM implementation is explored, including the role of this type of university in producing agricultural engineers who can innovate with GM to meet regionally-dependent environmental and cultural needs that could increase their sustainability.

Problem structuring, wrong-problem problems and metagovernance as the strategic management of intractable positions: The case of the EU GM Crop Regulatory Framework controversy

Analyses of ‘wicked problems’ often lead to recommendations for collaborative governance as a metagovernance solution. The case of deadlocked European Union genetically modified crop authorization processes offers a good example. However, the stalemate is not the result of the inherent ‘wickedness’ of the problem posed by the risk of genetic modification technology applied to agricultural production of food and feed. Rather, the policy lock-in results from the structure and dynamics of the policy network. Rigid interactions between the same institutionalized policy actors sustain instigation and power games interlaced with question–answer or probing games that jointly reproduce a clash between differently structured problems over and over again. This has created a typical wrong-problem problem situation: the EC imposing ‘safety’ and ‘consumer choice’ of GM crops as a structured problem on member states, business interests and anti-GM NGOs that, for different reasons, saw the cultivation of GM crops as an uncertain and normatively conflicted activity. Neither of the issue network’s opposing discourses and advocacy coalitions gained sufficient political power to bring their preferred problem structuring journeys to closure. Critical reflection on practices of problem structuring suggest scepticism about collaborative meta-governance and stakeholder dialogues as solutions to deal with wickedness. Instead, we argue that the European Commission’s recent coping strategy constitutes incomplete but intelligent management of relational distances in regard to a complex problem.

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on consumers’ perceptions of genetically modified food

ABSTRACT The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has generated significant economic loss and an unprecedented challenge to people’s livelihoods. Using household data collected in November 2020, this study shows that the COVID-19 outbreak has significantly affected consumers’ perceptions and consumption of genetically modified (GM) food in China. Their perceptions and purchase intentions have turned more negative, and their actual purchase of GM food has decreased after the COVID-19 outbreak. The study’s results also indicate that consumers with more knowledge of genetic modification technology are less likely to change their perceptions of GM food.

Do U.S. consumers value genetically modified farmed salmon?

Genetically modified (GM) salmon is the first animal GM product approved for human consumption. Given that genetic modification in the food industry is a highly controversial issue, understanding consumers’ preferences for GM salmon vis-à-vis non-GM farmed and wild-caught salmon is important to provide insights into food policy decision makings on animal GM products. We use a choice experiment to estimate U.S. consumers’ willingness to pay for GM salmon and examine heterogeneity in preferences across levels of consumer perceptions, knowledge, and attitudes. Our results show that U.S. consumers are willing to pay significantly less for GM salmon than non-GM farmed or wild-caught salmon, suggesting their lower valuation of GM salmon. Heterogeneity exists in the valuation of consumers. Consumers who are more concerned about farmed fish in terms of health and safety, environmental sustainability, and welfare, those who report a higher subjective knowledge of GM, and those having a negative attitude towards GM food and technology place a lower value on GM salmon. Consumers require a larger price discount for GM salmon if the salmon is fresh than frozen. Our study draws policy implications for the competition between salmon industry players and for labeling rules and sustainability certifications of GM salmon.

A novel technique for large-fragment knock-in animal production without ex vivo handling of zygotes

CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing has dramatically improved genetic modification technology. In situ electroporation called genome editing via oviductal nucleic acid delivery (GONAD), which eliminates the need for ex vivo embryo handling, is technically the simplest method for gene transfer and can be performed in laboratories without developmental engineering expertise including micromanipulation techniques. However, the use of this method remains challenging in the case of large-fragment knock-in, such as gene expression cassettes. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) act as donor DNA for homologous recombination in infected cells, including rodent embryos. In this study, we demonstrated simultaneous electroporation of AAV donors and CRISPR/Cas9 components into embryos to create knock-in animals, and successfully generated knock-in rats carrying a gene cassette with a length of 3.0 kb using a small number of animals and in situ electroporation. These findings indicate that this technique is an efficient high-throughput strategy for producing genetically modified rodents and may be applicable to other animal species.

Selected Developments in Biotechnology Law and the Biotechnology Industry

Selected Developments in Biotechnology Law and the Biotechnology Industry

People with more extreme attitudes towards science have self-confidence in their understanding of science, even if this is not justified.

People differ greatly in their attitudes towards well-evidenced science. What characterises this variation? Here, we consider this issue in the context of genetics and allied sciences. While most prior research has focused on the relationship between attitude to science and what people know about it, recent evidence suggests that individuals with strongly negative attitudes towards specific genetic technologies (genetic modification (GM) technology and vaccines) commonly do not objectively understand the science, but, importantly, believe that they do. Here, using data from a probability survey of United Kingdom adults, we extend this prior work in 2 regards. First, we ask whether people with more extreme attitudes, be they positive or negative, are more likely to believe that they understand the science. Second, as negativity to genetics is commonly framed around issues particular to specific technologies, we ask whether attitudinal trends are contingent on specification of technology. We find (1) that individuals with strongly positive or negative attitudes towards genetics more strongly believe that they well understand the science; but (2) only for those most positive to the science is this self-confidence warranted; and (3) these effects are not contingent on specification of any particular technologies. These results suggest a potentially general model to explain why people differ in their degree of acceptance or rejection of science, this being that the more someone believes they understand the science, the more confident they will be in their acceptance or rejection of it. While there are more technology nonspecific opponents who also oppose GM technology than expected by chance, most GM opponents fit a different demographic. For the most part, opposition to GM appears not to reflect a smokescreen concealing a broader underlying negativity.

Neophobia: socio-ethical problems of innovative technologies of the food industry

The purpose of this review work is to consider the impact of socio-ethical problems on the acceptance of new food products by potential consumers and the issues of manufacturers of these products when introducing innovative technologies. The causes of neophobia of innovative technologies in the food industry are considered on specific examples of the use of nanotechnology, genetic modification technologies, ionization and processing by electromagnetic fields, as well as 3D food printing. It is noted that the public is little aware of innovative food technologies, while its attitude depends on how these technologies are used and promoted. Proper public information is critical to the long-term success of introducing and developing innovative technologies in the food industry. It is shown that the modern intensive development of information technologies, together with a synergistic set of innovative food technologies, allows making a gradual transition to the production of personalized digital food systems that have functionality, good taste, and safety with minimal negative impact on the environment.

Oncolytic Virotherapy: An Advanced Microbial Approach for the Management of Cancer.

Destruction of the tumor (cancerous) cells may be caused by live viruses, which have replicative ability and replicate selectively in tumor cells, known as oncolytic virotherapy. In comparison of conservative cancer therapy, tumor-selective replicating viruses have more advantages. These viruses have introduced new methodologies for the human cancer treatment. Numerous strategies are used in development of virotherapeutics. Virotherapy is not unusual concept, but modern advances in technology of genetic modification of oncolytic viruses have improved the ability of targeting tumor cells more specifically, it triggered the development of novel ammunition to fight cancer. An effective virotherapeutic approach with oncolytic viruses exhibits the feasibility and safety under clinical approach. New strategies are being explored to overcome basic obstacles and challenges in virotherapy. Administration of oncolytic viruses, logically, will successfully augment new treatments against many kinds of tumors. Some encouraging antitumor responses shown by combination therapy are provoking strong immunity against established cancer. Chief developments in oncolytic virotherapy have seen in past several years. Significant understandings have been provided by findings on the interface among immune comebacks and viruses, whereas potential results have shown in clinical trials.

Beyond the Genome: Genetically Modified Crops in Africa and the Implications for Genome Editing

ABSTRACTGenome editing — a plant‐breeding technology that facilitates the manipulation of genetic traits within living organisms — has captured the imagination of scholars and professionals working on agricultural development in Africa. Echoing the arrival of genetically modified (GM) crops decades ago, genome editing is being heralded as a technology with the potential to revolutionize breeding based on enhanced precision, reduced cost and increased speed. This article makes two interventions. First, it identifies the discursive continuity linking genome editing and the earlier technology of genetic modification. Second, it offers a suite of recommendations regarding how lessons learned from GM crops might be integrated into future breeding programmes focused on genome editing. Ultimately, the authors argue that donors, policy makers and scientists should move beyond the genome towards systems‐level thinking by prioritizing the co‐development of technologies with farmers; using plant material that is unencumbered by intellectual property restrictions and therefore accessible to resource‐poor farmers; and acknowledging that seeds are components of complex and dynamic agroecological production systems. If these lessons are not heeded, genome‐editing projects are in danger of repeating mistakes of the past.

The implicit and explicit attitudes of Chinese university students towards genetic modification.

Genetic modification (GM) technology is a technology that changes the characteristics of species through changing the genes of species. Public attitudes toward GM technology have an important impact on the technology's development. Previous surveys conducted in China used to assess public attitudes toward GM have mostly focused on the explicit level, which is recognized and acknowledged through the self-report method. However, the corresponding research on the implicit level is still lacking, which is unconscious and automated. The public attitudes toward the complete concept of GM are still unclear. In order to fill this gap, this study uses a questionnaire survey (Study 1), and interaction verification of the SC-IAT paradigm and the GNAT paradigm (Study 2) to investigate the explicit and implicit attitudes of Chinese university students towards GM. The role of education level is also examined in this study. The results show that the explicit attitudes of Chinese university students towards GM are generally positive, and the main effect of education level is significant. Finally, the mediating effect of the cognitive level between education level and explicit GM attitude is significant. However, the implicit GM attitudes of university students are generally negative, and neither the main effect of education level nor the mediating effect of cognition level is significant. University students as the future consumers and an important part of public opinion, their attitude to GM will affect the development of GM technology to a large extent. This study provides a theoretical basis for improving Chinese university students' attitudes toward GM, and also provides new research ideas for the public view of GM.

GMOs in Africa: Status, adoption and public acceptance

Globally, genetically modified (GM) crops contribute to food security by increasing crop yield, quality and shelf-life. The commercialisation and adoption of GM crops in many developed countries raised hope of improving food security and livelihood. Africa, a developing continent facing malnutrition, food crises and inadequate food production technologies has been slow to accept GM crops. The hesitancy to accept GM crops emanates from unfavourable policies shaped by public opinion, despite its potential for achieving the zero-hunger agenda. Impeding factors hampering the adoption of GM technology necessitate biosecurity regulations on GM crops to monitor the crop biosafety, environmental and health concerns. Herein, we reviewed GM crops status and adoption in Africa and possible constraints to their acceptance amidst some commercialised GM crops in African countries. Efforts aimed at improving GM adoption in Africa should include the provision of adequate monitoring and surveillance system, science-based policies, political will and a robust public education on GM technology.

Selective optogenetic activation of NaV1.7-expressing afferents in NaV1.7-ChR2 mice induces nocifensive behavior without affecting responses to mechanical and thermal stimuli.

In small and large spinal dorsal root ganglion neurons, subtypes of voltage-gated sodium channels, such as NaV1.7, NaV1.8, and NaV1.9 are expressed with characteristically localized and may play different roles in pain transmission and intractable pain development. Selective stimulation of each specific subtype in vivo may elucidate its role of each subtype in pain. So far, this has been difficult with current technology. However, Optogenetics, a recently developed technique, has enabled selective activation or inhibition of specific neural circulation in vivo. Moreover, optogenetics had even been used to selectively excite NaV1.8-expressing dorsal root ganglion neurons to induce nocifensive behavior. In recent years, genetic modification technologies such as CRISPR/Cas9 have advanced, and various knock-in mice can be easily generated using such technology. We aimed to investigate the effects of selective optogenetic activation of NaV1.7-expressing afferents on mouse behavior. We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated homologous recombination to generate bicistronic NaV1.7-iCre knock-in mice, which express iCre recombinase under the endogenous NaV1.7 gene promoter without disrupting NaV1.7. The Cre-driver mice were crossed with channelrhodopsin-2 (ChR2) Cre-reporter Ai32 mice to obtain NaV1.7iCre/+;Ai32/+, NaV1.7iCre/iCre;Ai32/+, NaV1.7iCre/+;Ai32/Ai32, and NaV1.7iCre/iCre;Ai32/Ai32 mice. Compared with wild-type mice behavior, no differences were observed in the behaviors associated with mechanical and thermal stimuli exhibited by mice of the aforementioned genotypes, indicating that the endogenous NaV1.7 gene was not affected by the targeted insertion of iCre. Blue light irradiation to the hind paw induced paw withdrawal by mice of all genotypes in a light power-dependent manner. The threshold and incidence of paw withdrawal and aversive behavior in a blue-lit room were dependent on ChR2 expression level; the strongest response was observed in NaV1.7iCre/iCre;Ai32/Ai32 mice. Thus, we developed a non-invasive pain model in which peripheral nociceptors were optically activated in free-moving transgenic NaV1.7-ChR2 mice.

How do consumers respond to labels for crispr (gene-editing)?

Although it is accepted that communication about biotechnology influences consumers' willingness to pay for food produced using genetic engineering technology, communication on subjects such as genetic technology is complex. With more ways to communicate with consumers following the rise of media, especially social media, providing such complex information is feasible. This paper delivers actionable policy recommendations based on the effect of different information delivery methods on consumers' preference for orange juice produced using different production methods. Our results suggest that consumers have less knowledge of CRISPR (gene-editing) technology than GM (genetic modification) technology. Communication through infographics and video led to larger changes in willingness to pay than through text descriptions (which are often used in survey research). In general, providing information about the types of biotechnology helps consumers differentiate between the two technologies. With more information, consumers are willing to pay more for CRISPR orange juice than GM orange juice. The results suggest institutions and policy-makers use infographic information to better communicate with consumers. Researchers should also consider the potential effects of communication methods for information treatments in choice experiments.

Drivers of genetically modified maize production among rural farming households in Ngqushwa Local Municipality, South Africa: A triple hurdle approach

Enhancing rural agricultural productivity using proven technologies such as genetically modified (GM) maize production has many advantages as a pathway to economic development and poverty reduction. However, despite the global rise in GM maize and potential benefits of GM technology, the production rates and yields of smallholder farmers remain very low for reasons that are poorly understood. With this background, the aim of this study was to investigate the drivers of genetically modified (GM) maize awareness, participation, and intensity of production at the household level. Data were collected from 400 randomly selected respondents from Ngqushwa Local Municipality using a semi-structured questionnaire. Through a triple hurdle model, the study revealed that GM maize awareness is negatively influenced by age and female gender and positively influenced by married status, employment and number of years in school. Conditional on awareness of GM maize varieties, both participation and intensity of participation in GM maize production are positively influenced by land size, female gender, group membership, income and ownership of arable land and negatively influenced by employment. The study recommends that priority should be given to these socio-economic and institutional (group membership) factors by targeting GM maize awareness campaigns using platforms more suited to female-headed, older, less educated and unemployed rural farming households. The study also recommends addressing income, secure land ownership and access to large areas of land.