Need for a clearer distinction between GMOs and genome-edited organisms

Researchers at Hokkaido University have proposed a framework to help differentiate GMOs from genome-edited organisms, taking into account scientific and social ethical considerations

For thousands of years, producers have been breeding plants and animals for desirable traits, including higher yields, better taste and flavor, and disease resistance

Megumi Ishii and Tetsuya Ishii of Hokkaido University's Office of Health and Safety provide a detailed and clearer framework for distinguishing between agricultural GMOs and geochemical organisms, with scientific, ethical and social considerations

The introduction of DNA from one species into another unrelated species (foreign DNA) involves ethical issues, including risks to human health and the environment

Creating geos with genome editing techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 requires more direct use of DNA-cutting enzymes inside the cell

The authors set out to provide a detailed framework that includes scientific, ethical, and social considerations to more clearly distinguish the two

Depending on the method used to create geos, they may contain foreign DNA that has the potential to be integrated into the organism

However, if the reagent or medium contains foreign DNA, the resulting GEO must be rigorously tested for the presence of foreign DNA in the genome

According to the authors, the proposed framework also needs to consider ethical and social considerations before policies that make geos exempt from GMO regulation are widely implemented

article title

Proving that a genome-edited organism is not GMO