Cunxi Wang, Jennifer Calcaterra, Beverly Anderson, Timothy Rydel, Rong Wang, Lieselot Bertho, Scott A Saracco, Kimberly Hodge-Bell, Luis Burzio, Tommi White, Bin Li
{"title":"Risk assessment of homologous variants of biotech trait proteins using a bridging approach.","authors":"Cunxi Wang, Jennifer Calcaterra, Beverly Anderson, Timothy Rydel, Rong Wang, Lieselot Bertho, Scott A Saracco, Kimberly Hodge-Bell, Luis Burzio, Tommi White, Bin Li","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2420412","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2420412","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A transgenic protein is frequently expressed as different homologous variants in genetically modified crops due to differential processing of targeting peptides or optimization of activity and specificity. The aim of this study was to develop a science-based approach for risk assessment of homologous protein variants using dicamba mono-oxygenase (DMO) as a case study. In this study, DMO expressed in the next-generation dicamba-tolerant maize, sugar beet and soybean crops exhibited up to 27 amino acid sequence differences in the N-terminus. Structure modeling using AlphaFold, ESMFold and OpenFold demonstrates that these small N-terminal extensions lack an ordered secondary structure and do not disrupt the DMO functional structure. Three DMO variants were demonstrated to have equivalent immunoreactivity and functional activity ranging from 214 to 331 nmol/min/mg. Repeated toxicity studies using each DMO variant found no test substance-related adverse effects. These results support that homologous protein variants, which have demonstrated physicochemical and functional equivalence, can leverage existing safety data from one variant without requiring additional <i>de novo</i> safety assessments.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":"15 1","pages":"336-351"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11552266/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142632466","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Biotechnology executive order opens door for regulatory reform and social acceptance of genetically engineered microbes in agriculture.","authors":"Jabeen Ahmad, Amy Grunden, Jennifer Kuzma","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2381294","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2381294","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In the United States, regulatory review of genetically engineered microbes for agriculture falls under the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology (CFRB). However, the lack of a centralized regulatory pathway and multiple oversight authorities can lead to uncertainty in regulatory review. Using three microbial-based technologies for agriculture as illustrative examples, this commentary identifies the weaknesses and challenges associated with the CFRB by assessing the current system and proposed changes to the system under a multi criteria decision analysis framework. In addition, it discusses opportunities for regulatory reform to improve clarity, efficiency, and public acceptance of genetically engineered microbes in agriculture under the CHIPS and Science Act and the 2022 Executive Order on the Bioeconomy.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":"15 1","pages":"248-261"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11285237/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141789840","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Risk-appropriate regulations for gene-editing technologies.","authors":"Graham Brookes, Stuart J Smyth","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2293510","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2293510","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This paper explores the scope for the newly emerging technologies, based on gene editing (GE) contributing to addressing the global challenges that we face. These challenges relate to food security, climate change and biodiversity depletion. In particular, it examines the science and evidence behind the most appropriate forms of agricultural production to meet these challenges, the targets set in the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreed to at the end of 2022 and the possible role of GE technologies in contributing to meeting these targets. It then examines the most risk-appropriate regulatory environment required to best facilitate the adoption of GE technology, drawing on the experiences of the impact of regulatory systems for other innovations used in agricultural and food production systems such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs).</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":"15 1","pages":"1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10793663/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139432592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bongani Z Nkhabindze, Cebisile N Magagula, Diana Earnshaw, Calsile F Mhlanga, Sipho N Matsebula, Isaac G Dladla
{"title":"Regulatory framework for genetically modified organisms in the Kingdom of Eswatini.","authors":"Bongani Z Nkhabindze, Cebisile N Magagula, Diana Earnshaw, Calsile F Mhlanga, Sipho N Matsebula, Isaac G Dladla","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2375664","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2375664","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The Kingdom of Eswatini is a Party to the Convention on Biological Diversity and to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. As Party, Eswatini has domesticated these agreements by passing the Biosafety Act, of 2012 to provide for the safe handling, transfer, and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) in the country. The Act regulates living modified organisms to be used for confined field trials, commercial release, import, export, and transit, and for food, feed, and processing. Guidance is provided for prospective applicants before any application is made to the Competent Authority. This framework also provides for the regulation of emerging technologies such as synthetic biology and genome editing. The regulatory framework for living modified organisms aims to provide an enabling environment for the precautionary use of modern biotechnology and its products in the country in order to safeguard biological diversity and human health.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":"15 1","pages":"212-221"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11225911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141535957","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Twenty-eight years of GM Food and feed without harm: why not accept them?","authors":"Richard E Goodman","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2305944","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2305944","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Since the first genetically engineered or modified crops or organisms (GMO) were approved for commercial production in 1995, no new GMO has been proven to be a hazard or cause harm to human consumers. These modifications have improved crop efficiency, reduced losses to insect pests, reduced losses to viral and microbial plant pathogens and improved drought tolerance. A few have focused on nutritional improvements producing beta carotene in Golden Rice. Regulators in the United States and countries signing the CODEX Alimentarius and Cartagena Biosafety agreements have evaluated human and animal food safety considering potential risks of allergenicity, toxicity, nutritional and anti-nutritional risks. They consider risks for non-target organisms and the environment. There are no cases where post-market surveillance has uncovered harm to consumers or the environment including potential transfer of DNA from the GMO to non-target organisms. In fact, many GMOs have helped improve production, yield and reduced risks from chemical insecticides or fungicides. Yet there are generic calls to label foods containing any genetic modification as a GMO and refusing to allow GM events to be labeled as organic. Many African countries have accepted the Cartagena Protocol as a tool to keep GM events out of their countries while facing food insecurity. The rationale for those restrictions are not rational. Other issues related to genetic diversity, seed production and environmental safety must be addressed. What can be done to increase acceptance of safe and nutritious foods as the population increases, land for cultivation is reduced and energy costs soar?</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":"15 1","pages":"40-50"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10939142/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140112193","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Growing knowledge impact of gene-editing technology on public acceptance: a longitudinal analysis in Japan.","authors":"Atsushi Sato, Daiki Watanabe, Yoko Saito","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2435709","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2024.2435709","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Genome editing (GE) technology holds significant promise for advancements in crop development and medical applications. However, public acceptance of GE in Japan remains uncertain. This study aimed to examine how knowledge impacts public acceptance of GE technology, focusing on differences across diffusion stages and application purposes. Using ordinary least squares regression on repeated survey data collected from 2018 to 2023 in Japan (<i>n</i> = 6,234), we investigated the influence of knowledge on support for GE in consumer benefits, producer benefits, and medical technology. Our findings revealed that the effect of knowledge on technology acceptance has strengthened over time. Consumers with greater knowledge of GE are increasingly supportive of its advancement, emphasizing the growing importance of information as the technology becomes more widespread. This research highlights the role of transparent policy discussions in fostering public trust and support, thereby promoting the successful integration of new technologies into society.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":"15 1","pages":"411-428"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2024-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11633139/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142787590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gene editing achieves consistently higher favorability in social and traditional media than GMOs.","authors":"Mark Lynas, Selene Adams, Karen Stockert","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2226889","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2226889","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>While GMOs have been the subject of negative discourse over a long time period, it is possible that newer breeding technologies like gene editing are viewed more favorably. We present data for a 5-year period between January 2018 and December 2022, showing that in content specific to agricultural biotechnology, gene editing achieves consistently higher favorability ratings than GMOs in both social and traditional English-language media. Our sentiment analysis shows that favorability is especially positive in social media, with close to 100% favorability achieved in numerous monthly values throughout our 5 years of analysis. We believe that the scientific community can therefore be cautiously optimistic based on current trends that gene editing will be accepted by the public and be able to achieve its promise of making a substantial contribution to future food security and environmental sustainability worldwide. However, there are some recent indications of more sustained downward trends, which may be a cause for concern.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":" ","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10761093/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10042924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Modification of Fatty Acid Profile and Oil Contents Using Gene Editing in Oilseed Crops for a Changing Climate.","authors":"Saeed Rauf, Seerat Fatima, Rodomiro Ortiz","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2243041","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2243041","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mutation breeding based on various chemical and physical mutagens induces and disrupts non-target loci. Hence, large populations were required for visual screening, but desired plants were rare and it was a further laborious task to identify desirable mutants. Generated mutant had high defect due to non-targeted mutation, with poor agronomic performance. Mutation techniques were augmented by targeted induced local lesions in genome (TILLING) facilitating the selection of desirable germplasm. On the other hand, gene editing through CRISPR/Cas9 allows knocking down genes for site-directed mutation. This handy technique has been exploited for the modification of fatty acid profile. High oleic acid genetic stocks were obtained in a broad range of crops. Moreover, genes involved in the accumulation of undesirable seed components such as starch, polysaccharide, and flavors were knocked down to enhance seed quality, which helps to improve oil contents and reduces the anti-nutritional component.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":" ","pages":"1-12"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10761075/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10326468","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jennifer A Anderson, James Mickelson, Brandon J Fast, Nathan Smith, Robert C Pauli, Carl Walker
{"title":"Genetically modified DP915635 maize is agronomically and compositionally comparable to non-genetically modified maize.","authors":"Jennifer A Anderson, James Mickelson, Brandon J Fast, Nathan Smith, Robert C Pauli, Carl Walker","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2208997","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2208997","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>DP915635 maize was genetically modified (GM) to express the IPD079Ea protein for corn rootworm (Diabrotica spp.) control. DP915635 maize also expresses the phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) protein for tolerance to glufosinate herbicide and the phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) protein that was used as a selectable marker. A field study was conducted at ten sites in the United States and Canada during the 2019 growing season. Of the 11 agronomic endpoints that were evaluated, two of them (early stand count and days to flowering) were statistically significant compared with the control maize based on unadjusted p-values; however, these differences were not significant after FDR-adjustment of p-values. Composition analytes from DP915635 maize grain and forage (proximates, fiber, minerals, amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, anti-nutrients, and secondary metabolites) were compared to non-GM near-isoline control maize (control maize) and non-GM commercial maize (reference maize). Statistically significant differences were observed for 7 of the 79 compositional analytes (16:1 palmitoleic acid, 18:0 stearic acid, 18:1 oleic acid, 18:2 linoleic acid, 24:0 lignoceric acid, methionine, and α-tocopherol); however, these differences were not significant after FDR-adjustment. Additionally, all of the values for composition analytes fell within the range of natural variation established from the in-study reference range, literature range, and/or tolerance interval. These results demonstrate that DP915635 is agronomically and compositionally comparable to non-GM maize represented by non-GM near-isoline control maize and non-GM commercial maize.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":"14 1","pages":"1-8"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10161957/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"9792625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Deconstruction of science hegemony: discursive strategies of Chinese science communication on genetically modified foods.","authors":"Jinrong Lin","doi":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2247133","DOIUrl":"10.1080/21645698.2023.2247133","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>This study analyzes Chinese online science communication and discussion about genetically modified foods (GMFs). Based on data collected from one of the largest Chinese GMFs science popularization website, it utilizes Wodak's discourse analysis to investigate how Chinese genetically modified (GM) scientific discourse is characterized by a range of discursive strategies that construct specific identity of Chinese GM scientists and explore science hegemony underlying Chinese GMFs debates. Findings show that discourse features of Chinese GM scientific discourse is objective as well as emotional, particularly conveying a strong sense of superiority realized by trope, argumentative strategies and intertextuality. The unequal power relationship between scientists and the public as well as Chinese intellectuals' knowledge hegemony could partly explain why those discursive strategies are employed in science communication practices of GMFs debates in Chinese context.</p>","PeriodicalId":54282,"journal":{"name":"Gm Crops & Food-Biotechnology in Agriculture and the Food Chain","volume":" ","pages":"1-9"},"PeriodicalIF":3.9,"publicationDate":"2023-12-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10761051/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"10406276","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}