EFSA will Prüfrichtlinien für Tiere aus Neuer Gentechnik überarbeiten

https://www.testbiotech.org/aktuelles/efsa-will-pruefrichtlinien-fuer-tiere-aus-neuer-gentechnik-ueberarbeiten/

FDA Releases Guidance on Voluntary Premarket Engagement for Foods Derived from Plants Produced Using Genome Editing

https://www.fda.gov/food/hfp-constituent-updates/fda-releases-guidance-voluntary-premarket-engagement-foods-derived-plants-produced-using-genome

Brazeau M.: The next ‘big thing’ in genetically modified crops: Drought-tolerant and herbicide resistant wheat. Here’s

what you need to know

https://geneticliteracyproject.org/2025/02/07/the-next-big-thing-in-genetically-modified-crops-drought-tolerant-and-herbicide-resistant-wheat-heres-what-you-need-to-know/

China’s agricultural focus includes continued support for GM crops

https://www.ofimagazine.com/news/chinas-agricultural-focus-includes-continued-support-for-gm-crops

Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and

media reports are ►here: February week 06

Publications – Publikationen

Parthasarathy S.: Viewing Asilomar from the Global South

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adw2511

Hurlbut J.B. (2025): Taking responsibility: Asilomar and its legacy. Science 387, (6733), 468-472

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adv3132

Campos L. A. (2025): Invoking Asilomar.  Science 387 (6733), 480-481

The historic meeting’s legacy resists simple lessons

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adv7574

Broll, H., Bendiek, J., Braeuning, A. et al. (2025): Current status and trends in the analysis of GMO and new genomic

techniques. J Consum Prot Food Saf | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00003-025-01542-y

The detection of genetically modified organisms (GMO) is crucial for regulatory compliance and market control. Therefore, detection methods are constantly being developed and improved. New genomic techniques (NGT) present unique challenges for detection due to the minimal genetic changes they introduce. The ‘International Conference on GMO Analysis and New Genomic Techniques’ held in March 2023 in Berlin, explored advances in detection methods, such as Next-Generation Sequencing and digital PCR, and highlighted the need for global cooperation and capacity-building initiatives. The conference emphasized international collaboration and addressed the challenges of establishing robust methods for identifying NGT-derived organisms.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00003-025-01542-y

Hobman E.V., Mankad A., Carter L. Collins K. (2025): Public attitudes to genetic technology for invasive pest control and

preferences for engagement and information: a segmentation analysis. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 12: 1388512. | https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1388512

Advances in genetic technology hold promise in managing the increasing problem of invasive pests. The current study sought to improve our understanding of public perceptions, and potential public engagement pathways and information needs as the technology is researched and potentially developed for deployment. A survey of 1,149 Australians was conducted, and the sample was segmented into 4 groups based on their attitudes: Certain Objectors, Fence Sitters, Cautious Supporters, and Certain Supporters. ‘Light touch’ engagement activities appeared to satisfy most people; yet more intensive engagements could be appropriate for a small group who hold negative views towards the technology. Across the board, people wanted to know about the potential risks, and the regulation and controls surrounding the gene editing technology. Those who held more positive views also showed an interest in the scientific processes and techniques, while people who held more negative views wanted to know what was being done to deal with social and ethical issues. The results provide insight into 1) the diversity of views, and associated beliefs and feelings, among the public when confronted with a synthetic biology solution to an environmental problem, 2) how public engagement activities can be tailored to align with people’s engagement beliefs and stated preferences, and 3) what issues biotechnology developers should address as they endeavour to design genetic technology in a socially responsible way.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/bioengineering-and-biotechnology/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2024.1388512/full

Ahmadikhah A, Zarabizadeh H, Nayeri S., Abbasi M.S. (2025): Advancements in genome editing tools for genetic studies and

crop improvement. Front. Plant Sci. 15:1370675.|doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1370675

The rapid increase in global population poses a significant challenge to food security, compounded by the adverse effects of climate change, which limit crop productivity through both biotic and abiotic stressors. Despite decades of progress in plant breeding and genetic engineering, the development of new crop varieties with desirable agronomic traits remains a time-consuming process. Traditional breeding methods often fall short of addressing the urgent need for improved crop varieties. Genome editing technologies, which enable precise modifications at specific genomic loci, have emerged as powerful tools for enhancing crop traits. These technologies, including RNA interference, Meganucleases, ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR/Cas systems, allow for the targeted insertion, deletion, or alteration of DNA fragments, facilitating improvements in traits such as herbicide and insect resistance, nutritional quality, and stress tolerance. Among these, CRISPR/Cas9 stands out for its simplicity, efficiency, and ability to reduce off-target effects, making it a valuable tool in both agricultural biotechnology and plant functional genomics. This review examines the functional mechanisms and applications of various genome editing technologies for crop improvement, highlighting their advantages and limitations. It also explores the ethical considerations associated with genome editing in agriculture and discusses the potential of these technologies to contribute to sustainable food production in the face of growing global challenges.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/plant-science/articles/10.3389/fpls.2024.1370675/full

Liu, Q., Lin, L., He, S. et al. (2025). A simple and efficient TALEN system for genome editing in plants. Plant Mol Biol 115, 25 |

https://doi.org/10.1007/s11103-025-01551-3

TALEN-mediated plant genome editing has the advantages of high specificity, independence from epigenetic modification, lack of PAM limitation, and feasibility for organelle editing due to no need for RNA binding. However, the assembly of TALEN vectors was difficult and laborious, affecting the popularity of TALEN genome editing in plants. In this study, a novel TALEN-based plant genome editing tool, ZQTALEN, was developed. This system comprises a total of nine plasmids categorized into three types. The TALE repeat units are obtained through PCR utilizing the template vector as the amplification template. These units are then assembled sequentially: first into donor vectors to form entry vectors, and subsequently transferred to destination vectors, resulting in the final binary vector. Characterized by the optimization of codon usage, assembly method of TALE repeat array, and vector backbone components, ZQTALEN has the advantages of easy, flexible and efficient assembly and less repeated sequences in the final vector. Using the ZQTALEN system, a TALEN binary vector was successfully constructed to target the endogenous Nramp5 gene in rice, resulting in the high-frequency acquisition of rice mutants. The ZQTALEN system has provided a versatile tool for genetic research in plants.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11103-025-01551-3

Wang, D., Mandal, P., Rahman, S., & Yang, L. Engineering tomato disease resistance by manipulating susceptibility genes.

Frontiers in Genome Editing, 7, 1537148. doi: 10.3389/fgeed.2025.1537148

Various pathogens severely threaten tomato yield and quality. Advances in understanding plant-pathogen interactions have revealed the intricate roles of resistance (R) and susceptibility (S) genes in determining plant immunity. While R genes provide targeted pathogen resistance, they are often vulnerable to pathogen evolution.Conversely, S genes offer a promising avenue for developing broad-spectrum and durable resistance through targeted gene editing. Recent breakthroughs in CRISPR/Cas-based technologies have revolutionized the manipulation of plant genomes, enabling precise modification of S genes to enhance disease resistance in tomato without compromising growth or quality. However, the utilization of the full potential of this technique is challenging due to the complex plant-pathogen interactions and current technological limitations. This review highlights key advances in using gene editing tools to dissect and engineer tomato S genes for improved immunity. We discuss how S genes influence pathogen entry, immune suppression, and nutrient acquisition, and how their targeted editing has conferred resistance to bacterial, fungal, and viral pathogens. Furthermore, we address the challenges associated with growth-defense trade-offs and propose strategies, such as hormonal pathway modulation and precise regulatory edits, to overcome these limitations. This review underscores the potential of CRISPR-based approaches to transform tomato breeding, paving the way for sustainable production of disease-resistant cultivars amidst escalating global food security challenges.

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/genome-editing/articles/10.3389/fgeed.2025.1537148/abstract

Ju W.S.; Kim, S.; Lee J.-Y.; Lee H.; No J.; Lee S.; Oh, K. (2025): Gene Editing for Enhanced Swine Production: Current

Advances and Prospects. Animals 15, 422 | https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15030422

Gene editing technologies are heralding a transformative shift in swine farming. This review explores recent advances in gene editing and its potential to enhance pig production. Beyond traditional breeding methods, cutting-edge technologies, such as CRISPR/Cas9, play a key role in improving traits such as disease resistance, growth rate, and feed efficiency. Gene editing focuses especially on addressing critical challenges, including disease resistance, while also exploring broader future applications. This review not only provides an overview of the current state of gene editing but also examines its practical implications for swine production and the challenges these technologies face moving forward.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/3/422

Chemla, Y., Sweeney, C.J., Wozniak, C.A.  et al. (2025). Design and regulation of engineered bacteria for environmental

release. Nat Microbiol 10, 281–300 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-024-01918-0

Emerging products of biotechnology involve the release of living genetically modified microbes (GMMs) into the environment. However, regulatory challenges limit their use. So far, GMMs have mainly been tested in agriculture and environmental cleanup, with few approved for commercial purposes. Current government regulations do not sufficiently address modern genetic engineering and limit the potential of new applications, including living therapeutics, engineered living materials, self-healing infrastructure, anticorrosion coatings and consumer products. Here, based on 47 global studies on soil-released GMMs and laboratory microcosm experiments, we discuss the environmental behaviour of released bacteria and offer engineering strategies to help improve performance, control persistence and reduce risk. Furthermore, advanced technologies that improve GMM function and control, but lead to increases in regulatory scrutiny, are reviewed. Finally, we propose a new regulatory framework informed by recent data to maximize the benefits of GMMs and address risks.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-024-01918-0

Yue S. R., Verhoeckx K.C.M., Houben G.F., Bøgh K.L. (2025): Analysis of trends and allergenicity risk assessments in novel

food approvals within the European Union between 2018 and 2023.  Food and Chemical Toxicology 197, 115249   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2025.115249

Novel food (NF) approvals in the European Union between 2018 and 2023 (n = 117) were retrieved and analysed. They consist of new NF (52.1%), modification (38.5%), and traditional food (9.4%). The average time taken for new NF applications to be approved was 38 months in 2023, with clock-stops occurring in all approvals since 2020. For new NFs, only 21.3% and 9.8% performed tests by bioinformatics homology and immunological analyses respectively, suggesting that allergenicity assessments remain a challenge. Allergenicity risks were regarded as possible for 47.5% of the new NF approvals, while 52.5% were expected to be low, very low, or unlikely. However, it was not always clear what the decision was based on. While protein intake levels were rarely mentioned in the allergenicity conclusions of approvals, new NFs with allergenicity risks typically had protein intake exceeding 1 mg/day. Establishing a dose that represents a Threshold of Allergological Concern below which a protein is unlikely to cause sensitisation in consumers, could make de novo allergenicity assessment of NFs more feasible. This approach might exempt certain proteins from testing, instead focusing on proteins of possible allergenic relevance.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691525000158?via%3Dihub

Benbrook, C.M. (2025): Hypothesis: glyphosate-based herbicides can increase risk of hematopoietic malignancies through

extended persistence in bone. Environ Sci Eur 37, 18 | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-025-01057-1

Despite episodic and variable patterns of exposure, the levels of glyphosate (GLY) detected in the urine of herbicide applicators and the general public are relatively stable across space (urban vs. rural) and time (weed spray season, not spray season). Substantial GLY metabolism data show that within minutes of entering the bloodstream, GLY moves into bone marrow, and then laterally through bone tissue and back into general circulation. As GLY moves through bone it comes into contact with calcium and a portion is immobilized via chelation. A novel two-part hypothesis is explored: first, the likely reason for the lack of variability in GLY levels in urine is that GLY stored in bone is excreted gradually over days to weeks, and augments the generally stable and modest levels of dietary exposure to GLY; and second, the prolonged systemic movement of GLY into bone marrow and bone extends contact between GLY and hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), increasing the risk of GLY-induced breaks and rearrangements in the DNA in HSCs. Studies confirm that GLY and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) can trigger oxidative stress and impair DNA-repair mechanisms. Animal bioassays and epidemiology studies link GLY/GBH exposures to heightened risk of blood cancers, and possibly other pathologies. The hypothesis proposed here provides a plausible pathophysiologic basis for these observations relative, in particular, to blood cancers.

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12302-025-01057-1

Zur Erinnerung;

Reynier, E., & Rubin, E. (2025): Glyphosate exposure and GM seed rollout unequally reduced perinatal health. PNAS 122 (3) e2413013121 | https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2413013121

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2413013121