How can rice be genetically modified

A serious health problem in developing countries, vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness and premature death. Rice, a food staple produces geranylgeranyl diphosphate GGPP , an early precursor of beta-carotene. The whole beta-carotene biosynthesis pathway 2 daffodil genes and 1 bacterium gene was engineered with into rice endosperm to convert the GGPP to beta-carotene.

The product, Golden Rice, yields 1. Beta-carotene is not toxic and can be stored by body. The body converts beta-carotene into Vitamin A, which is toxic at high levels. Golden Rice has potential to be a valuable asset against global Vitamin A deficiency. No evidence has found GM foods to be hazardous in terms of gene transfer, toxicity, or pathogencity. However, GM foods have found to be allergenic.

With appropriate regulation, GM foods have potential to have a positive impact on health. Skip to main content. Email Facebook Twitter. Abstract The quantity of genetically modified GM foods has been consistently increasing while public concern grows. Will this only benefit large commercial farmers who can afford the high cost of these modified seeds and the synthetic fertilizer and pesticides these GM crops often need or will small farmers be able to grow this affordably and in an environmentally sustainable way saving seed?

The GM crops have a history of decimating farming communities in developing countries. This is excellent news for anyone who uses rice as a staple. The success in the PI will hit the news and cause acceptance in many more nations. There is no debate regarding GE crops. There are simply some regressive that refuse to accept reality. The author uses false equivalence by mentioning the nut case folks that oppose GR for bogus reasons.

If you are going to mention such nonsense. One needs to explain why it is bogus. Sorry work by Danny boy. Check out the new Million Gardens Movement website and get gardening! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and are used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. By Dan Nosowitz on July 28, Dan Nosowitz. The rice is supposed to help with childhood nutrition. The Cartagena Protocol contains a highly controversial clause known as Principle 15 or, more commonly, the precautionary principle. This states that if a product of modern biotechnology poses a possible risk to human health or the environment, measures should be taken to restrict or prevent its introduction.

It is still awaiting the go-ahead — hopefully by the end of this year — in countries such as the Philippines and Bangladesh, where it is far more urgently needed. This article is more than 2 years old. Ordinary rice and Golden Rice, a GM crop. Eco groups and global treaty blamed for delay in supply of vitamin-A enriched Golden Rice. Reuse this content.