CRISPR crops poised to revolutionize our diets by increasing fiber, vitamins and ‘good oils’

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Image credit: Health Day

Many of today’s most prevalent health issues …. trace back to …. the food we eat. The leading cause of death in the U.S. is heart disease, a condition closely linked to diet which claims one out of every six U.S. dollars spent on healthcare.

But scientists believe a brighter future is possible: Using an innovative technology known as gene editing …. labs are able to improve the nutritional content and safety of some of today’s most prevalent crops.

“Most Americans get much more protein than they need, too many added sugars, too much saturated fat and not enough complex carbohydrates in the form of fiber-rich foods,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, professor at University of California, Berkeley School of

 

Public Health …. [But] what if we could improve the nutritional value and quality of foods people already eat every day?

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[G]ene editing emerged as a new way to improve the durability and nutritional value of crops. New technologies, such as TALEN and CRISPR, enable scientists to add, alter or delete genetic material in a plant, increasing the amount of fiber, vitamins or “good oils”that naturally exist in the crop ….

According to Jon Entine, founder of the Genetic Literacy Project … the price of gene editing—a tiny fraction of the cost of traditional genetic modification… enables small companies to compete alongside agricultural giants, which could result in more diverse products and a faster development.

Read full, original article: A HEALTHIER TOMORROW

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