Sunday Evening News 421 - Week 15 - 2025
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
April 2025-04-307 - 2025-04-13
Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen
Von letzter Woche: Online-Diskussion: NGTs – Was steht bei der Kennzeichnung und Rückverfolgbarkeit auf dem Spiel?
Aufzeichnung und Präsentationen
Symposium: Neue genomische Techniken in der Pflanzenzüchtung – Chancen und Herausforderungen für Europa
24.06.2025; Kaiserin-Friedrich-Haus, Robert-Koch-Platz 7, 10115 Berlin; Hörsaal
EFSA: Webinar on the Food Enzyme Intake Model (FEIM) Tool
https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/events/webinar-food-enzyme-intake-model-feim-tool
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Koalitionsvertrag zwischen CDU, CSU und SPD: Verantwortung für Deutschland 21. Legislaturperiode
https://www.spd.de/fileadmin/Dokumente/Koalitionsvertrag_2025.pdf
Branchenverbände heben ihre Kritikpunkte hervor
aiz: EU genehmigt drei 3 GV-Maissorten
ttps://www.schweizerbauer.ch/politik-wirtschaft/international/eu-genehmigt-drei-3-gv-maissorten
Anmerkung: Mais DP 910521, Mais MON 94804, Mais MON 95275
O'Brien A.: EU authorises 3 genetically modified maize crops for food and feed
Note: Maize DP 910521, Maize MON 94804, Maize MON 95275
Dachverband Geowissenschaften – DVGeo: Zukunftsforschung in den Geowissenschaften - Entdeckungen, Diagnose,
Lösungen
https://e-docs.geo-leo.de/entities/publication/80a7dcdd-5db1-4731-9411-9438879c8169
Emerging Fields in the Geosciences Discovery · Diagnosis · Solutions
https://e-docs.geo-leo.de/entities/publication/0adaa165-ce03-4613-a7bc-9208dbadadfe
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23689/fidgeo-6525
APA: EU-Verhandlungen zu Lockerungen bei Neuer Gentechnik starten
https://europeannewsroom.com/de/eu-verhandlungen-zu-lockerungen-bei-neuer-gentechnik-starten/
Arboleas M.S. and Manzanaro S.S.: High stakes in Parliament-Council negotiations over gene-edited crops
Megget K.: Making genetically engineered food palatable
https://www.chemistryworld.com/features/making-genetically-engineered-food-palatable/4021232.article
Fortuna G.: Trump's wrong, European food's safer than American, says EU safety chief
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: April week 15
Publications – Publikationen
Alison L. Van Eenennaam A.L. (2025): Current and future uses of genetic improvement technologies in livestock breeding
programs. Animal Frontiers, 15(1), 80–90, | https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfae042
• Genetic improvement has been a key contributor to the sustainability of animal agriculture, but these changes in overall production and efficiency have not been universal, and many low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) have production systems with high emission intensities.
• The adoption of cost-effective, genetic, feed, and nutrition practices, and improving livestock health in LMIC are seen as one of the most promising interventions to reduce emissions resulting from projected increased demand for animal-source food through 2050.
• Genetic improvement has a proven track record of productivity enhancements, and following implementation, genetic improvement is permanent and cumulative.
• Gene editing offers an approach to introduce useful genetic variation into future cattle breeding programs in the absence of the linkage drag that typically accompanies traditional introgression of useful alleles through crossbreeding, although its adoption will likely depend on whether global regulatory approaches facilitate public acceptance and free trade of milk, meat, and germplasm derived from GnEd animals.
• Delaying access to genetic improvement technologies to tackle otherwise intractable problems like animal disease, as happened with genetic engineering, is associated with a high opportunity cost of unrealized benefits.
https://academic.oup.com/af/article/15/1/80/8106656
Maree E., Blignaut J., Gilliland J., Lee M.R.F. et al. (2025): Ruminant livestock farmers and industry are leading innovation to
deliver human nutrition and improved environmental outcomes through sector lifecycle collaboration: a review of case studies. Animal Frontiers, 15, (1), 55–71 | https://doi.org/10.1093/af/vfae050
Well-managed systems like adaptive grazing and silvopasture enhance soil health, biodiversity, and water retention while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Intensive feeding practices, from supplementation to feedlots, increase meat production and manage emissions effectively through controlled feeding and manure strategies.
Combining sustainable grazing with intensive systems balances land use, nutrition, and emissions reduction, addressing global food demand.
Livestock’s up-cycling efficiency converts inedible grasses and by-products into nutrient-dense food, critical for food security.
Farmers and industry leaders, through innovation and life-cycle analysis, use data-driven decisions to optimize sustainability, showcasing livestock’s essential role in achieving environmental and nutritional goals in agriculture.
https://academic.oup.com/af/article/15/1/55/8106664
Kragler, F., Bock, R. (2025): The biology of grafting and its applications in studying information exchange between plants.
Nat. Plants | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-01982-2
Grafting techniques have been used for centuries for trait improvement in agriculture and horticulture. In recent years, technical progress with the grafting of species previously thought to be recalcitrant to the formation of a graft union, and the discovery of new types of information exchange between grafted plants, have stirred renewed interest in the use of grafting as a research tool. In this Review, we describe our current understanding of the molecular and cellular processes involved in the establishment of successful grafts between plants of the same genotype (homografts) or different genotypes (heterografts). We also highlight recent progress with the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the exchange of macromolecules (small RNAs, messenger RNAs and proteins) across graft junctions as well as the transfer of cell organelles and its role in horizontal gene and genome transfer. Finally, we discuss novel applications of grafting, including new opportunities for transgene-free genetic engineering, and the relevance of grafting in plant evolution.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-025-01982-2
Dong, B.-C., Dong R., Yang Q., Kinlock N.L., Yu F.-H., van Kleunen M. (2025): Predicting invasion success of naturalized
cultivated plants in China. J Appl Ecol. 62, 651–660 | https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.14873
Plant invasions pose significant threats to native ecosystems, human health, and global economies. However, the complex and multidimensional nature of factors influencing plant invasions makes it challenging to predict and interpret their invasion success accurately.
Using a robust machine learning algorithm, random forest, and an extensive suite of characteristics related to environmental niches, species traits, and propagule pressure, we developed a classification model to predict the invasion success of naturalized cultivated plants in China. Based on the final optimal model, we evaluated the relative importance of individual and grouped variables and their prediction performance.
Our study identified key individual variables within each of three groupings: climatic suitability and native range size (environmental niches), phylogenetic distance to the closest native taxon and vegetative propagation mode (species traits), and the number of botanical gardens and provinces where species were cultivated (propagule pressure). Remarkably, when grouped variables were evaluated, the relative importance of grouped variables increased dramatically—by 13.5–17.7 times—compared with the cumulative importance of individual variables within a category. However, the relative importance of one category was primarily due to the number of variables within each category rather than its inherent characteristics.
Synthesis and applications. Our findings emphasize the necessity of developing data-driven predictive tools for effective invasion risk assessment using large datasets. By identifying key individual variables, we recommend prioritizing surveillance of alien plant species with large native ranges and high climatic suitability. By evaluating grouped variables, we emphasize the significance of grouped variables in enhancing model interpretability by providing deeper insights into the complex interactions among individual factors within each predefined category. This comprehensive approach can not only identify the most influential predictors of invasion success but also equip policymakers with evidence-based strategies for surveillance, early detection, and targeted intervention of invasive plants.
https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1365-2664.14873
Bouchaut B. (2025): Responsible and safe innovation in education: an iGEM showcase. JOURNAL OF RESPONSIBLE
INNOVATION 12 (1), 2445330 | https://doi.org/10.1080/23299460.2024.2445330
This paper showcases a project involved in the international Genetically Engineered Machines (iGEM) competition – a competition dedicated to the advancement of synthetic biology – executed at Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands. Through this case, we illustrate how Value Sensitive Design (VSD) and Safe by Design (SbD) are embedded in education associated with iGEM to arrive at a safe and responsible project design by integrating values and, particularly, the value of safety. As particularly SbD is still quite generally described in literature, we aim to make SbD more tangible to peers, and to inspire other iGEM teams and educators. In addition, we reflect on VSD and SbD in the context of Responsible Research and Innovation and provide guidelines for other iGEM projects to implement VSD and SbD approaches in their designs. To conclude, we explore if, and how SbD and iGEM projects could function as anticipatory governance tools for synthetic biology.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23299460.2024.2445330
Zhao, L., Lan, J., Zhang, X., Zhang, Y., Huang, C., Ma, W., … Liu, B. (2025): Two genetically modified insect-resistant maize
events reduced fumonisin pollution under the stress of Lepidoptera in China. GM Crops & Food, 16(1), 329–339. | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2488882
China is the second-largest maize producer and consumer globally. During maize production, Fusarium spp. often gets infected, and mycotoxins like fumonisin contaminate it. Fumonisin has become the most widely polluted mycotoxin type in China. Planting genetically – modified maize is an economical and effective approach to reducing fumonisin pollution in products. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of two transgenic events from China, Bt-Cry1Ab-Ma CM8101 and Bt-Cry1Ab, Cry2Ab, G10evo Ruifeng 8, in reducing fumonisin pollution in maize under the stress of natural and Lepidopteran pests (Ostrinia furnacalis, Mythimna separate, Helicoverpa armigera) in two Chinese sites from 2018–2019. The results showed that under the stress of Lepidoptera insects (O. furnacalis and H. armigera), the total amount of fumonisin in Bt maize decreased significantly. Maize with two insect-resistant transgenic events reduced fumonisin by over 70%. In years with serious fumonisin pollution, the effects of CM8101 and Ruifeng 8 on reducing pollution were more significant. Bt maize can provide area-wide pest management and thus contribute to a progressive phase-down of chemical pesticide use. Genetically-modified insecticidal crops can ensure food and nutrition security, contribute to the sustainable intensification of China’s agriculture, and reduce the environmental footprint of food systems.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2488882
Park, S., Lee, S., Sohn, S. I., Park, T., & Shin, K. (2025): Specific detection of genetically modified potatoes containing
asparagine synthetase-1 and polyphenol oxidase 5 genes derived from potato. GM Crops & Food, 16(1), 318–328. | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2488085
Several genetically modified (GM) potatoes have been developed by introducing endogenous genes derived from potatoes, such as asparagine synthetase-1 (Asn1) and polyphenol oxidase 5 (Ppo5), to improve quality. Therefore, it is difficult to distinguish between GM and non-GM potatoes. In this study, we developed a sequence-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection method to identify innate and inserted genes. We designed four Asn1 gene-specific primers and eight construct-specific detection primers to evaluate GM potatoes (E12, X17, and Y9) and non-GM crops. Consequently, PCR products corresponding to the original endogenous potato genes and the inserted genes were clearly distinguished and simultaneously identified. In addition, the PCR method demonstrated sufficient sensitivity to identify GM content at levels as low as 0.5%. Thus, this study offers an effective detection method for monitoring or screening approved and unapproved GM potato events using Asn1 and Ppo5 transgenes in foods and feeds.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2488085
Hu X.-P., Bartoszek K., Lercher M.J. (2025): Most bacterial gene families are biased toward specific chromosomal positions,
Science 388 (6743), 186-191 | DOI: 10.1126/science.adm9928.
The arrangement of genes along bacterial chromosomes influences their expression through growth rate–dependent gene copy number changes during DNA replication. Although translation- and transcription-related genes often cluster near the origin of replication, the extent of positional biases across gene families remains unclear. We hypothesized that natural selection broadly favors specific chromosomal positions to optimize growth rate–dependent expression. Analyzing 910 bacterial species and proteomics data from Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis, we found that about two-thirds of bacterial gene families are positionally biased. Natural selection drives genes mainly toward the origin or terminus of replication, with the strongest selection in fast-growing species. Our findings reveal chromosomal positioning as a fundamental mechanism for coordinating gene expression with growth rate, highlighting evolutionary constraints on bacterial genome architecture.
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adm9928
Kumar M., Totade S., Sharma K., Dukare A., Pandiyan K., Saxena S. (2025): Advances in CRISPR/Cas9-driven strategies for
microbial production and optimization of sugar polyols for food applications: A review. Food Bioscience, 106553 |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fbio.2025.106553
Sugar polyols, including xylitol, erythritol, mannitol and sorbitol are vital nutritional sweeteners having significant applications across various sectors like food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Metabolic engineering in microbes is a center of attraction to produce value-added products from the lignocellulosic biomass. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/ Cas9 has emerged as a powerful and transformative platform in molecular biology, offering innovative solutions for enhancing the biosynthesis of sugar polyols, paving the way for more efficient and cost-effective production methods. This review aims to offer a thorough overview of CRISPR/Cas9 technology and its role in enhancing production of sugar polyols in microbial systems. It focuses on recent advancements and optimization strategies for improving polyol biosynthesis and productivity through CRISPR/Cas9 based gene editing and fermentation process optimization. The review highlights several successful implementations of CRISPR/Cas9 technology in modifying biosynthetic pathways for sugar polyol production in microbes. Continued research and development in this area are likely to lead to further improvements in efficiency and scalability, benefiting various industries particularly food and pharmaceutical industry that rely on these valuable compounds.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2212429225007291?via%3Dihub
EFSA
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme tannase from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus sp. strain TAN 206.
EFSA Journal, 23(4), e9338. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9338
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9338
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme alternansucrase from the genetically modified Escherichia coli strain EBASSC.
EFSA Journal, 23(4), e9331. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9331
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9331
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme β-galactosidase from the non-genetically modified Kluyveromyces lactis
strain LAC-01. EFSA Journal, 23(4), e9329. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9329
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9329