ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Health → Genetics

CRISPR rice can withstand devastating fungal disease

"Genetic scissors" can bring food security for millions of people.

Mihai AndreibyMihai Andrei
July 6, 2023
in Agriculture, Genetics, News
A A
Edited and reviewed by Zoe Gordon
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit
rice plants
Image credits: Sandy Ravaloniaina.

Rice is a staple for billions of people. It provides over 20% of the world’s calories and it is, without a doubt, one of the most important crops on Earth. But every year, a disease called ‘rice blast’ destroys 10-30% of global rice yields. Let’s put it this way: this one disease destroys up to 6% of the world’s food every year.

“Blast is the most serious disease of plants in the world because it affects virtually all growing regions of rice and also because rice is a huge crop,” said Pamela Ronald, a distinguished professor in the Department of Plant Pathology at UC Davis, who worked on the research.

This is where CRISPR enters the stage.

Cutting and pasting genes

CRISPR is a relatively new technology that only emerged within the last few decades. In essence the technique enables researchers to use harmless bacteria to cut and paste genetic sequences into different organisms. It’s already been used on several animals, including humans (for treating genetic disorders). Now, researchers found a way to use it against blast.

After they sequenced thousands and thousands of rice plants, researchers found a mutation that offers protection against the infection. But plants that had this mutation didn’t produce that much rice. So researchers used CRISPR to take that mutation and deploy it into other plants. Essentially, they gave rice plants resistant to blast infection (and two other infections as well) without substantially reducing their yields.

“We’re hoping that people can […] edit them to get a nice balance between resistance and high yield,” said Ronald.

Food security and fear

The results were extremely promising. The plants grew well and were indeed resistant. But there’s a catch. The researchers used a type of rice that isn’t normally grown for food. They used a variety that grows fast and is useful for studies. However, the team hopes that other researchers can pick up on their work and expand trials to more common types of rice.

RelatedPosts

7 classic books to read for a haunting Halloween
The earliest Mayan calendar may have been found in 2,300-year-old Guatemalan ruins
Long-term exposure to mictrogravity can lower physical fitness down by half
Scientists discover bony armor in spiny mouse tails

“A lot of these lesion mimic mutants have been discovered and sort of put aside because they have low yield,” said Ronald. “We’re hoping that people can go look at some of these and see if they can edit them to get a nice balance between resistance and high yield.”

While it may still take some time, engineering plants to be resistant to diseases seems like something that’s very much in reach with current technology. But whether or not people will accept it still remains unclear.

In many countries, there’s strong resistance against genetically modified plants, and consumers simply don’t want GMO food. In the US, for instance, nearly half of all consumers avoid GMOs . In the EU, consumers have similar concerns.

There have been several successful efforts to introduce genetically modified crops. In the Philippines, nutrient-rich golden rice is improving consumers’ wellbeing, while in Bangladesh, GM eggplants are providing better yields and improving food security.

ShareTweetShare
Mihai Andrei

Mihai Andrei

Dr. Andrei Mihai is a geophysicist and founder of ZME Science. He has a Ph.D. in geophysics and archaeology and has completed courses from prestigious universities (with programs ranging from climate and astronomy to chemistry and geology). He is passionate about making research more accessible to everyone and communicating news and features to a broad audience.

Related Posts

Chemistry

This Startup Is Using Ancient DNA to Recreate Perfumes from Extinct Flowers

byTibi Puiu
13 hours ago
News

Jupiter Was Twice Its Size and Had a Magnetic Field 50 Times Stronger After the Solar System Formed

byTibi Puiu
14 hours ago
Pieces

How One Man and a Legendary Canoe Rescued the Dying Art of Polynesian Navigation

byMihai Andrei
15 hours ago
News

A Swedish Library Forgot to Close Its Doors and Something Beautiful Happened

byMihai Andrei
16 hours ago

Recent news

This Startup Is Using Ancient DNA to Recreate Perfumes from Extinct Flowers

May 21, 2025

Jupiter Was Twice Its Size and Had a Magnetic Field 50 Times Stronger After the Solar System Formed

May 21, 2025

How One Man and a Legendary Canoe Rescued the Dying Art of Polynesian Navigation

May 21, 2025 - Updated on May 22, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.