Gene Editing: This Is How You'll Benefit

Recent breakthroughs in gene editing technology mean that advancements in the industry can be brought to the farm faster, cheaper and more accurately than before. The result is plants and livestock that are naturally more resistant to disease, crops that are higher yielding, and ultimately, more sustainable, profitable farms.

- Lindi Botha

Gene editing technology has been around for several years, but an inability to pinpoint exact genes and their functions, and change them for specific outcomes, has made it a laborious process. However, the discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 technology has not only made quick identification and editing possible, but has provided a solution to the problem scientists have faced in providing affordable technology that will enhance agriculture. Part of the problem is that it is still highly controversial.

WHAT IS GENE EDITING?

The term ‘genome’ generally refers to the entire sequence of DNA of an organism. The genome includes genes, which are sequences of DNA with specific functions involved in the production of the proteins needed to carry out many biological roles. It also includes regions of DNA that promote or inhibit gene activity, and regions that do not appear to affect protein production or function.

This is where gene editing comes in, as it gives scientists the ability to delete or multiply certain genes to either stop producing certain proteins or make more of them. The result is plants or animals that are disease resistant, and crops that can produce higher yields.

Andrew Bennett, head of technical development for Africa at Bayer, says gene editing is anything that alters the genes in an organism. “Even conventional breeding, where you cross one plant with another, falls under gene editing. However, traditional methods have been costly and it took many years to pinpoint which genes produced the proteins [that need to be edited] to enhance a crop. With CRISPR- Cas9, gene editing has become more precise, and therefore results are obtained quicker.”