Human gene implanted in agricultural plants
Scientists have found a way to increase crop yields and endurance. They inserted a human gene into plant RNA, reports Nature Biotechnology.
Potatoes and rice were chosen for the experiments. They added the FTO gene to their RNA, which causes obesity in humans. As a result, the plants grew three times larger than usual and produced three times the yield. They also increased the rate of photosynthesis and acquired a longer root system that would help them survive in arid conditions.
Back in 2011, the authors of the study found that plant RNA is able to regulate the work of genes. Certain chemical markers control protein production and quantity.
A new experiment has shown that FTO blocks some of the chemical markers associated with genetic instructions. Ultimately, it suppresses signals that limit plant growth.
As the scientists noted, this gene editing is a relatively simple procedure that will work in many cultures. It can help provide food for disadvantaged regions of the planet.
The new technology is different from GMO and CRISPR. Theoretically, you can achieve the desired result without animal genes. Research has shown that plants are able to regulate their genes. If you intervene in this process and start it in the right direction, the need for the introduction of foreign genes will disappear.
Previously, scientists conducted an experiment by introducing a human gene into a monkey embryo. As a result, the primate brain has grown noticeably in size.
