Tomatoes that increase vitamin D levels in the body might be among the first gene-edited crops to be sold in England. Norwich scientists recently developed the plants by turning off a certain component in their genetic coding. On Wednesday, a measure will be submitted in England to legalize the commercial cultivation of gene-edited crops.
Prof. Cathie Martin, who led the research at the John Innes Centre, believes the discovery, which was published in Nature Plants, would be extremely useful. "Humans can create enough vitamin D by spending half an hour in the sun each day. However, many individuals do not have that time outside, which is why they want supplements. Tomatoes may give an additional source of vitamin D in their diet."
The technique of gene editing is quite new. It includes snipping a tiny portion of the plant's DNA and turning genes on and off. Putting genes in, often from a completely other species, is an earlier method of genetic alteration.
The vitamin-boosting fruits might be among the first gene-edited crops permitted on store shelves in England if government legislation passes through Parliament.
