An apple genetically engineered not to turn brown is putting the Agriculture Department and the apple industry on the spot.
The department appears inclined to approve the so-called Arctic apple, designed by a small Canadian company, though many anti-GMO groups fear potential implications of what would be the first genetically engineered apple in commercial production.
Unlike some other genetically modified crops, the Arctic apple doesn’t include genes spliced in from an entirely different species. The Arctic apple’s resistance to what scientists call “enzymatic browning,” which is what happens when a typical apple is cut or bruised, comes from the insertion of a certain genetic sequence taken from an apple. The inserted sequence essentially suppresses the browning process.
With federal approval, the company no longer would need special permits before it put the genetically modified apples into production. If they get the go-ahead, company officials have indicated, the Arctic apples could reach grocery stores sometime in 2015.
Read the full, original article: Agriculture scientists support approving genetically altered apple but meet resistance
