Gene Editing Technology and GM Technology
- [Chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) - Denver Botanic Gardens]
- Overview
Gene editing and Genetically Modified (GM) technology are distinct methods for altering a plant's genetic makeup.
Gene editing, using tools like CRISPR, allows for precise changes by cutting DNA, often without adding foreign genes, whereas traditional GM technology involves inserting a foreign gene, such as the BT gene from soil bacteria into cotton, to confer a new trait like pest resistance.
1. Gene editing technology:
- Method: Uses site-directed nucleases (SDNs) or sequence-specific nucleases to "cut" DNA at precise locations to make specific edits.
- Example: Modern tools like CRISPR allow for targeted changes without necessarily introducing foreign genetic material, creating improvements by making small edits to the existing genome.
- Applications: Can be used to generate crops with traits like drought tolerance, disease resistance, or improved yield more rapidly than conventional breeding.
2. Genetically modified (GM) technology:
- Method: Introduces foreign genetic material from one organism into another through genetic engineering.
- Example: BT cotton is a GM crop where genes from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium are inserted into the cotton plant's genome. These genes allow the plant to produce a protein that is toxic to certain pests like the pink bollworm, reducing the need for external pesticides.
- Applications: Historically, it has been used to introduce traits like herbicide tolerance or insect resistance.
- Gene Editing Technology vs. GM Technology
The main difference is that GM technology typically introduces new genetic material from a different organism, while gene editing modifies an organism's existing DNA with greater precision, often by making small changes like deleting or altering a gene.
Gene editing can be more targeted, but some methods still involve using genetic engineering techniques, and the resulting products are regulated differently depending on the location.
1. Gene editing:
- Mechanism: Edits existing DNA sequences using tools like CRISPR-Cas9. It can involve deleting, inserting, or silencing specific genes.
- Outcome: The resulting organism may have no foreign DNA, making it difficult to distinguish from one created through traditional breeding methods.
- Examples: Creating disease-resistant bananas without foreign genes.
- Regulation: Regulations vary by country; some, like the EU, regulate it the same as GMOs, while others have more liberal rules for gene-edited crops without foreign DNA.
2. GM technology:
- Mechanism: Uses genetic engineering to introduce genes from a different species into an organism, creating a transgenic organism.
- Outcome: The resulting organism contains a new combination of genetic material that may not be found in nature.
- Examples: Bt cotton, which contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, or GMO microbes used to produce enzymes like rennet for cheese production.
- Regulation: Subject to stricter regulations in many parts of the world due to the introduction of foreign DNA.
[More to come ...]
