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Carlson AB, Mathesius CA, Gunderson TA, Hession A, Bruyere R, Mirsky HP, Zhang J, Sandmann M, Fallers MN, Herman RA. Protein familiarity is a fundamental but rarely operationalized concept in the safety assessment of genetically modified crops: example of phosphomannose isomerase (PMI). Transgenic Res 2023; 32:423-435. [PMID: 37415055 PMCID: PMC10602950 DOI: 10.1007/s11248-023-00358-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Fundamental to the safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) crops is the concept of negligible risk for newly expressed proteins for which there is a history of safe use. Although this simple concept has been stated in international and regional guidance for assessing the risk of newly expressed proteins in GM crops, its full implementation by regulatory authorities has been lacking. As a result, safety studies are often repeated at a significant expenditure of resources by developers, study results are repeatedly reviewed by regulators, and animals are sacrificed needlessly to complete redundant animal toxicity studies. This situation is illustrated using the example of the selectable marker phosphomannose isomerase (PMI) for which familiarity has been established. Reviewed is the history of safe use for PMI and predictable results of newly conducted safety studies including bioinformatic comparisons, resistance to digestion, and acute toxicity that were repeated to gain regulatory reapproval of PMI expressed from constructs in recently developed GM maize. As expected, the results of these newly repeated hazard-identification and characterization studies for PMI indicate negligible risk. PMI expressed in recently developed GM crops provides an opportunity to use the concept of familiarity by regulatory authorities to reduce risk-disproportionate regulation of these new events and lessen the resulting waste of both developer and regulator resources, as well as eliminate unnecessary animal testing. This would also correctly imply that familiar proteins like PMI have negligible risk. Together, such modernization of regulations would benefit society through enabling broader and faster access to needed technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne B Carlson
- Corteva Agriscience, 8325 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | | | - Tim A Gunderson
- Corteva Agriscience, 8325 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | - Aideen Hession
- Corteva Agriscience, 8325 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | - Reba Bruyere
- Corteva Agriscience, 8325 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | - Henry P Mirsky
- Corteva Agriscience, 8325 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | - John Zhang
- Corteva Agriscience, 8325 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | - Mat Sandmann
- Corteva Agriscience, 8325 NW 62nd Avenue, Johnston, IA, 50131, USA
| | - Melissa N Fallers
- Corteva Agriscience, Haskell R&D Center, P.O. Box 30, Newark, DE, 19714, USA
| | - Rod A Herman
- Corteva Agriscience, 9330 Zionsville Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, USA
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Abdul Aziz M, Brini F, Rouached H, Masmoudi K. Genetically engineered crops for sustainably enhanced food production systems. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1027828. [PMID: 36426158 PMCID: PMC9680014 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1027828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Genetic modification of crops has substantially focused on improving traits for desirable outcomes. It has resulted in the development of crops with enhanced yields, quality, and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stresses. With the advent of introducing favorable traits into crops, biotechnology has created a path for the involvement of genetically modified (GM) crops into sustainable food production systems. Although these plants heralded a new era of crop production, their widespread adoption faces diverse challenges due to concerns about the environment, human health, and moral issues. Mitigating these concerns with scientific investigations is vital. Hence, the purpose of the present review is to discuss the deployment of GM crops and their effects on sustainable food production systems. It provides a comprehensive overview of the cultivation of GM crops and the issues preventing their widespread adoption, with appropriate strategies to overcome them. This review also presents recent tools for genome editing, with a special focus on the CRISPR/Cas9 platform. An outline of the role of crops developed through CRSIPR/Cas9 in achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) by 2030 is discussed in detail. Some perspectives on the approval of GM crops are also laid out for the new age of sustainability. The advancement in molecular tools through plant genome editing addresses many of the GM crop issues and facilitates their development without incorporating transgenic modifications. It will allow for a higher acceptance rate of GM crops in sustainable agriculture with rapid approval for commercialization. The current genetic modification of crops forecasts to increase productivity and prosperity in sustainable agricultural practices. The right use of GM crops has the potential to offer more benefit than harm, with its ability to alleviate food crises around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mughair Abdul Aziz
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al−Ain, Abu−Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Faical Brini
- Biotechnology and Plant Improvement Laboratory, Centre of Biotechnology of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Hatem Rouached
- Michigan State University, Plant and Soil Science Building, East Lansing, MI, United States
| | - Khaled Masmoudi
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al−Ain, Abu−Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
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Zimny T. New genomic techniques and their European Union reform. Potential policy changes and their implications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1019081. [PMID: 36246372 PMCID: PMC9562193 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1019081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The article discusses amendment options (no significant change, lowering of administrative burdens or exemption of certain products from the legislation) for the European Union (EU) authorization procedures of New Genomic Techniques' (NGT) products and their consequences for the sector and research institutions, particularly in the context of internal functioning, placing products on the market and international trade. A reform of the EU regulatory system requires a change in the procedures for the authorization of NGT products, otherwise EU researchers and investors may still be at a competitive disadvantage (as compared to Argentina, Brazil, Canada, United States or the United Kingdom) due to the inefficiency of the current system and the committee procedure for authorization. New legislation, currently being adopted in the United Kingdom is also presented for comparison.
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Garcia-Alonso M, Novillo C, Kostolaniova P, Martinez Parrilla M, Alcalde E, Podevin N. The EU's GM crop conundrum: Did the EU policy strategy to convert EFSA GMO guidance into legislation deliver on its promises?: Did the EU policy strategy to convert EFSA GMO guidance into legislation deliver on its promises? EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54529. [PMID: 35441479 PMCID: PMC9066057 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202154529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
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