Genetically Engineered Mushroom Avoids Regulation
April 26, 2016 A mushroom genetically modified with the gene-editing tool CRISPR–Cas9 will not be regulated by USDA.
Essentially, this means the mushroom can avoid USDA’s regulatory process, according to an article on Nature.com.
The common white button mushroom was engineered to resist browning by Yinong Yang, a plant pathologist at Pennsylvania State University. The effect is accomplished by targeting the family of genes that encodes an enzyme that causes browning, the article states. Yang was able to reduce browning by 30%.
The mushroom is one of about 30 genetically modified organisms to go around obtaining regulatory approval in the past few years. According to the article, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has indicated the organisms, which are mostly plants, are not something the agency needs to regulate.
USDA is now re-evaluating how it regulates GMOs. In fact, the article states the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine have formed a committee tasked with determining what will be coming down the pike in the next decade regarding biotech products.
Subscribe Today For
