Britain's government plans to allow researchers to use gene-꧂editing techniques to develop crops that can increase yields, reduce the need for pesticides and cut greenhouse gas emissions as the UK's exit from the European Union allows it to deviate from the b൲loc's rules.
Gene editing could help scientists to quickly breed crops that are more nutritious or resistant to pests and diseases, the government said in announcing its pl🐟an to make it easier for scientists to conduct research in the field.
Scientists draw a distinction between gene editing, which involves the manipulation of genes within a single species, and genetic modification, which moves DNA from one species into a diff🍒erent one.
Under EU rules, however, they are regul🎶ated the same way.
“🌱Gene 𓄧editing has the ability to harness the genetic resources that nature has provided,'' Environment Secretary George Eustice said in a statement.
“It is a tool that could help us in orde🦩r to tackle some of the biggest challenges that we face - around food security, climate change anꦆd biodiversity loss.”
Academics praised the decision as a first step.
“Genome editing is the most exciting technology that I have seen in my many years working ౠin crop science,''♐ said Wendy Harwood, head of the crop transformation group at the John Innes Centre, a 110-year-old institution that researches plant science and genetics.
“The technology makes it possible to introduce small c🐠hanges in crop DNA that lead to the characteristics we need su♐ch as disease resistance, better nutritional quality or more resilience to climate extremes.”
