Science View

Editing Genomes to Improve Food Production (2022x14)

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A new genome editing biotechnology can alter genes, known as the "blueprints" of life. Some foods produced with this technology are already on the market in Japan: red sea bream, faster-growing fugu, and tomatoes rich in amino acids said to lower blood pressure. The technology might help solve future food scarcity problems, because it can produce foods with superior properties in less time than with conventional breeding. Many people, however, express concerns about the safety of such food and its impact on the environment. In this episode we look at the latest in genome-edited food research in Japan.