Seeds Made By Man Could Save The Hungry
Rice is among the most essential foods for billions of people. As the climate changes, so does the ability to grow in some places. Scientists have found a solution using genetics.
According to a research paper titled “A natural gene on-off system confers field thermotolerance for grain quality and yield in rice,” the authors write, “Rising global temperatures threaten crop grain quality and yield; however, how temperature regulates grain quality and how to achieve synergistic thermotolerance for both quality and yield remain unknown.”
Rice Genes
The researcher thinks they have found a gene that is sensitive to temperature. When the effects of this gene are eliminated, rice can keep growing in many circumstances of high heat levels. The Washington Post reports that “Through gene editing, they showed that modifying expression of the gene could produce more heat-tolerant crops. The modified rice maintained its yield in hotter conditions, while unmodified crops produced 58 percent less grain, according to the study.”
Genetic modification has been part of creating new seed variants for decades. These are often identified as GMO crops. US conglomerate Monsanto has been producing these for years. Their primary products are seeds for corn, soy, and sugar beets. There have been numerous objections to these products. Some scientists believe that they cause environmental problems. Their seeds are resistant to herbicides and, in some cases, appear to grow in places where other seeds will not.
The rice modification is an example of making a meaningful change to the production of food. The extent to which it changes the environment is too early to tell. What is not too early to say is that the global environment is eroding farming in many places.
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