Sunday Evening News 413 - Week 07 - 2025
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
February 2025-02-10 - 2025-02-16
N
Besser auf neuen Wegen etwas stolpern
als auf alten Pfaden auf der Stelle treten.
Chinesisches Sprichwort
Better to stumble a little on new paths
than to tread water on old paths.
Chinese saying
Vielleicht sollten wir Europäer dies öfters beherzigen
Maybe we in the EU should remember this more often.
Polnische Ratspräsidentschaft
AFBV-WGG: Anmerkungen zum zweiten Vorschlag der polnischen Ratspräsidentschaft zur Regulierung bestimmter
Pflanzen, die aus neuen genomischen Techniken (NGT) stammen
https://www.wggev.de/wp-content/uploads/AFBV-WGG-Anmerkungen-II.pdf
AFBV-WGG: Comments on the Polish Presidency's second proposal to regulate certain plants derived from new genomic
techniques (NGTs)
https://www.wggev.de/wp-content/uploads/AFBV-WGG-2nd-Note-Polish-Presidency.pdf
Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen
Vormerken: CRISPR-whisper: CRISPR-Die Genschere Wissenschaft erleben; Bonn 18-20. März 2025
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienbericht
Koch J.: Neue Gentechnik in der Landwirtschaft: Zensiert Özdemir die Wissenschaft?
Das Bekenntnis zu neuen Züchtungstechniken verschwindet plötzlich von der Homepage des Forschungsministeriums.
VCI-BioTech Brief 01/2025: Biotech-Regulierung: Europa zukunftsfähig machen
https://www.vci.de/services/publikationen/biotech-brief/biotech-brief-1-2025-regulierung.jsp
Bundestagswahl 2025: Die Agrar-Pläne der Parteien im Überblick
https://www.landundforst.de/politik/bundestagswahl-2025-agrar-plaene-parteien-ueberblick-572849
Foote N.: Poland backtracks on patents in efforts to push ahead with EU plans on new GMOs
MESHAKA: GMO patents: is it possible to break the deadlock?
https://infogm.org/en/gmo-patents-is-it-possible-to-break-the-deadlock/
Portala J.: Poland pushes to get plant gene editing reforms over the line
https://sciencebusiness.net/biotech/poland-pushes-get-plant-gene-editing-reforms-over-line
AI: Slovakia continues to reject the EU regulation proposal on new genomic techniques (NGT)
Via Campesina: New GMO’ Deregulation: Europe’s Small-Scale Farmers and Breeders Warn of Corporate Control and
Socio-Economic Risks
200+ environment and farmer groups: new GMOs, old problems
JOINT STATEMENT ON THE DEREGULATION OF NEW GMOS
Tea, attacco vandalico al vigneto sperimentale di Verona. Lollobrigida: Colpita ricerca, ma innovazione non si ferma
TEA, Vandalismusanschlag auf den experimentellen Weinberg in Verona. Minister Lollobrigida: Die Forschung wird getroffen, aber die Innovation bleibt nicht stehen
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 07
Publications – Publikationen
Sánchez, M.A. (2024): The Global Advance of Genome-Edited Plants to the Market: The Key Role of Chile in Its
Development. Plants 13, 3597 | https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13243597
The global advancement of genome-edited plants toward commercialization has been significantly shaped by the functionality and flexibility of some regulatory frameworks governing plant genome editing. These frameworks vary widely across countries, reflecting diverse approaches to assessing and managing the risks and benefits of genome-editing technologies. While some nations have adopted product-based frameworks that focus on the characteristics of the final plant rather than the technique used, others rely on more restrictive process-based regulations. This variability influences the pace of innovation, the types of products able to enter the market, and their global trade potential. Chile stands out as a leader in this landscape, having implemented a science-driven and flexible regulatory framework. Its system promotes innovation by facilitating genome-edited plant research and development, field testing, and local commercialization. This regulatory adaptability positions Chile as a critical player in supporting the global integration of genome-editing technologies into agriculture, fostering advancements that address food security, sustainability, and climate resilience.
https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/13/24/3597
Wan, NF., Fu, L., Dainese, M. et al. (2024): Pesticides have negative effects on non-target organisms.
Nat Commun 16, 1360 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-56732-x
Pesticides affect a diverse range of non-target species and may be linked to global biodiversity loss. The magnitude of this hazard remains only partially understood. We present a synthesis of pesticide (insecticide, herbicide and fungicide) impacts on multiple non-target organisms across trophic levels based on 20,212 effect sizes from 1,705 studies. For non-target plants, animals (invertebrate and vertebrates) and microorganisms (bacteria and fungi), we show negative responses of the growth, reproduction, behaviour and other physiological biomarkers within terrestrial and aquatic systems. Pesticides formulated for specific taxa negatively affected non-target groups, e.g. insecticidal neonicotinoids affecting amphibians. Negative effects were more pronounced in temperate than tropical regions but were consistent between aquatic and terrestrial environments, even after correcting for field-realistic terrestrial and environmentally relevant exposure scenarios. Our results question the sustainability of current pesticide use and support the need for enhanced risk assessments to reduce risks to biodiversity and ecosystems.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-56732-x
Simard M.-J., Laforest M., Martin S.L. (2025): Competitive fitness of bird rape mustard (Brassica rapa L.) that integrated
transgenes conferring glyphosate resistance in commercial fields. Weed Research.65:e70003 | https://doi.org/10.1111/wre.70003
Ten years after the introduction of genetically engineered canola (Brassica napus L.), bird rape mustard (Brassica rapa L.) with transgenes conferring glyphosate resistance was reported where the crop and the weed were sympatric. Another decade later, populations of these weeds were reported on farms located beyond this initial region of sympatry. To determine if populations with introgressed transgenes have the potential to persist in field borders where wild types and crop plants can be found, the competitive fitness of two of these populations was compared to that of two naturalised wild Brassica rapa populations, a B. rapa cultivar and a B. napus cultivar, in a greenhouse study. Single plants of each of these six Brassica lines (referred to as types) were grown surrounded by four to eight contour plants (1:4 or 1:8) of each type, for a total of 36 combinations, at two densities. The experiment included four replicates and was repeated twice with one trial ending at flowering and the second continuing to plant maturity. Analyses evaluated the effect of Brassica type and density on phenology, total aboveground biomass and seed production as well as gains or losses in these latter fitness components by centre plants compared to contour plants. Results demonstrate that the bird rape mustard populations with transgenes from haphazard crosses with glyphosate-tolerant B. napus crop plants were not always as fit as other, wild B. rapa populations. Their early development was slower than wild types and their biomass was generally reduced when grown surrounded by dissimilar plant types. Nevertheless, observed differences were unlikely to limit the persistence of these biotypes in the absence of glyphosate application.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/wre.70003
Wu S., Jandrasits K., Swarts K., Roetzer J. et al. (2025): Population genomics of Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis
reveals evidence of climate adaptation, Current Biology | DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2025.01.008.
Sexual reproduction results in the development of haploid and diploid cell states during the life cycle. In bryophytes, the dominant multicellular haploid phase produces motile sperm that swim through water to the egg to effect fertilization from which a relatively small diploid phase develops. In angiosperms, the reduced multicellular haploid phase produces non-motile sperm that is delivered to the egg through a pollen tube to effect fertilization from which the dominant diploid phase develops. These different life cycle characteristics are likely to impact the distribution of genetic variation among populations. However, little is known about the distribution of genetic variation among wild populations of bryophytes. To investigate how genetic variation is distributed among populations of a bryophyte and to establish the foundation for population genetics research in bryophytes, we described the genetic diversity of collections of Marchantia polymorpha subsp. ruderalis, a cosmopolitan ruderal liverwort. We identified 78 genetically unique (non-clonal) from a total of 209 sequenced accessions collected from 37 sites in Europe and Japan. There was no detectable population structure among European populations but significant genetic differentiation between Japanese and European populations. By associating genetic variation across the genome with global climate data, we showed that temperature and precipitation influence the frequency of potentially adaptive alleles. This collection establishes the core of an experimental platform that exploits natural genetic variation to answer diverse questions in biology.
Mª López C., Alseekh S.. Martínez Rivas F.J.M., Fernie A.R., Prieto P., Alamillo J.M. (2025): CRISPR/Cas9 editing of two adenine
phosphoribosyl transferase coding genes reveals the functional specialization of adenine salvage proteins in common bean;Journal of Experimental Botany 76, Issue 2, 346–362, https://doi.org/10.1093/jxb/erae424
Adenine metabolism is important for common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) productivity since this legume uses ureides derived from the oxidation of purine nucleotides as its primary nitrogen storage molecules. Purine nucleotides are produced from de novo synthesis or through salvage pathways. Adenine phosphoribosyl transferase (APRT) is the enzyme dedicated to adenine nucleobase salvage for nucleotide synthesis, but it can also convert active cytokinin bases into their inactive nucleotide forms. In common bean, APRT is encoded by four genes. Gene expression analysis, biochemical properties, and subcellular location indicated functional differences among the common bean APRT isoforms. CRISPR/Cas9 targeted down-regulation of two of the four PvAPRTs followed by metabolomic and physiological analyses of targeted hairy roots revealed that, although the two proteins have redundant functions, PvAPRT1 mostly participated in the salvage of adenine, whereas PvAPRT5 was the predominant form in the regulation of cytokinin homeostasis and stress responses with a high impact in root and nodule growth.
https://academic.oup.com/jxb/article/76/2/346/7817723
Pesaresi P., Bono P., Corn S., Crosatti C. et al. (2025): Boosting photosynthesis opens new opportunities for agriculture
sustainability and circular economy: The BEST-CROP research and innovation action. Plant J, 121: e17264.| https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.17264
There is a need for ground-breaking technologies to boost crop yield, both grains and biomass, and their processing into economically competitive materials. Novel cereals with enhanced photosynthesis and assimilation of greenhouse gasses, such as carbon dioxide and ozone, and tailored straw suitable for industrial manufacturing, open a new perspective for the circular economy. Here we describe the vision, strategies, and objectives of BEST-CROP, a Horizon-Europe and United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded project that relies on an alliance of academic plant scientists teaming up with plant breeding companies and straw processing companies to use the major advances in photosynthetic knowledge to improve barley biomass and to exploit the variability of barley straw quality and composition. We adopt the most promising strategies to improve the photosynthetic properties and ozone assimilation capacity of barley: (i) tuning leaf chlorophyll content and modifying canopy architecture; (ii) increasing the kinetics of photosynthetic responses to changes in irradiance; (iii) introducing photorespiration bypasses; (iv) modulating stomatal opening, thus increasing the rate of carbon dioxide fixation and ozone assimilation. We expect that by improving our targeted traits we will achieve increases in aboveground total biomass production without modification of the harvest index, with added benefits in sustainability via better resource-use efficiency of water and nitrogen. In parallel, the resulting barley straw is tailored to: (i) increase straw protein content to make it suitable for the development of alternative biolubricants and feed sources; (ii) control cellulose/lignin contents and lignin properties to develop straw-based construction panels and polymer composites. Overall, by exploiting natural- and induced-genetic variability as well as gene editing and transgenic engineering, BEST-CROP will lead to multi-purpose next generation barley cultivars supporting sustainable agriculture and capable of straw-based applications.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tpj.17264
de Witt, J., Luthe, T., Wiechert, J. et al. (2025): Upcycling of polyamides through chemical hydrolysis and engineered
Pseudomonas putida. Nat Microbiol | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-025-01929-5
Aliphatic polyamides, or nylons, are widely used in the textile and automotive industry due to their high durability and tensile strength, but recycling rates are below 5%. Chemical recycling of polyamides is possible but typically yields mixtures of monomers and oligomers which hinders downstream purification. Here, Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was engineered to metabolize C6-polyamide monomers such as 6-aminohexanoic acid, ε-caprolactam and 1,6-hexamethylenediamine, guided by adaptive laboratory evolution. Heterologous expression of nylonases also enabled P. putida to metabolize linear and cyclic nylon oligomers derived from chemical polyamide hydrolysis. RNA sequencing and reverse engineering revealed the metabolic pathways for these non-natural substrates. To demonstrate microbial upcycling, the phaCAB operon from Cupriavidus necator was heterologously expressed to enable production of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from PA6 hydrolysates. This study presents a microbial host for the biological conversion, in combination with chemical hydrolysis, of polyamide monomers and mixed polyamids hydrolysates to a value-added product.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41564-025-01929-5
Kessi-Pérez, E.I.; Gómez, M.; Farías, W.; García, V. et al. (2025): Genetically Improved Yeast Strains with Lower Ethanol Yield
for the Wine Industry Generated Through a Two-Round Breeding Program. J. Fungi 11,137. https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11020137
Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a species of industrial significance in the production of alcoholic beverages; it is the main species responsible for the fermentation of grape must. One of the main current problems in the wine industry is high alcohol levels caused by climate change. Pre- and post-fermentation strategies are used to reduce the alcohol content in wines; however, they are inefficient, affect organoleptic properties, face legal restrictions, and/or increase production costs, which has motivated efforts to obtain microbiological solutions. In the present work, we carried out a two-round breeding program to obtain improved yeast strains with lower ethanol yield. The trait under study showed high heritability (0.619), and we were able to lower the ethanol yield by 10.7% in just one generation. We finally obtained a population composed of 132 strains, of which 6 were used to produce wine from natural grape musts on a pilot scale, highlighting improved strains “C2-1B4” and “C7-1B7” as those that showed the best results (alcohol levels between 0.3 and 1.5% ABV less than expected). Further studies are required to understand the connection between initial sugar concentration and ethanol yield, as well as the genetic variants underlying this phenotype.
https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/2/137
EFSA
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme cyclomaltodextrin glucanotransferase from the non-
genetically modified Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus strain AE-KCGT. EFSA Journal, 23(2), e9222. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9222
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9222
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme acylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified
Penicillium sp. strain AE-LGS. EFSA Journal, 23(1), e9227. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9227
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9227
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme acylglycerol lipase from the genetically modified Penicillium sp. strain
AE-LGS. EFSA Journal, 23(2), e9228. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9228
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9228