CRISPR food is coming: How gene editing will change agriculture

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In the near future, scientists will engineer food that grows faster and does not spoil.

This is the promise of CRISPR/Cas 9, a game-changing gene-editing tool.

Bioengineered food could end world hunger. And, at least in theory, it would be perfectly safe.

With CRISPR, scientists can literally edit organisms, removing the bits that lead to unfavorable outcomes.

Ethicists worry about a rush toward designer babies. And there have been some disturbing developments on that end in China. However, the real opportunity in the near term has always been agriculture.

Organisms are constantly undergoing this process naturally. They evolve. It just takes time. Gene editing speeds the process, shaving off years, decades and even millennia.

This is very different from GMOs, or genetically modified organisms. GMOs introduce foreign organisms to improve outcomes.

It’s not surprising that Monsanto and Dupont, two of the industry heavyweights, have been enthusiastic early supporters of gene editing. It’s cheaper, faster and does not suffer the stigma of transgenic modification. It’s also safer.

Products are coming to market, soon.

The GLP aggregated and excerpted this blog/article to reflect the diversity of news, opinion, and analysis. Read full, original post: This Is How Gene-Editing Will Change The Food You Eat

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