Which company introduced the first gene-edited salad?
Pairwise, a company in North Carolina, USA, has made a new kind of mustard greens that taste less bitter. The vegetable is the first CRISPR-edited food in the USA.
Mustard greens are good for health, but they usually have a strong taste. So, people cook them to make them taste better. Pairwise wanted to keep the healthy stuff in mustard greens but make them tastier.
So, the scientists at the company used the DNA-editing technology called CRISPR editing to remove the gene that caused it to smell pungent and bitter.
What is CRISPR editing?
Genome or gene editing is a special technology that scientists use to change the DNA of an organism. This technology helps add, remove, or change genetic information in the genome. There are several ways to do so. One of them is CRISPR genome editing.
Pairwise uses CRISPR editing for their work. It locates a specific region in the genome and makes changes. Pairwise first studies the plant and what changes need to be made. Then, they use CRISPR editing technology to find the DNA they want to change and make it better.
They're also working on improving fruits like blackberries and cherries.
Is gene-edited food safe for consumption?
Some people are worried about gene-edited foods. They think these foods might not be safe and could make us sick. However, scientists say that genetically modified (GM) foods have been eaten by many people without any problems. They don't think gene-edited foods are a problem.
