Genetically modified rice

The natural movement of genes across species, often called horizontal gene transfer or lateral gene transfer, can also occur with rice through gene transfer mediated by natural vectors. Transgenic events between rice and Setaria millet have been identified. The cultivation and use of genetically modified varieties of rice remains controversial and is not approved in some countries. In 2000, the first two GM rice varieties both with herbicide-resistance, called LLRice60 and LLRice62, were approved in the United States. Later, these and other types of herbicide-resistant GM rice were approved in Canada, Australia, Mexico and Colombia. However, none of these approvals triggered commercialization. Reuters reported in 2009 that China had granted biosafety approval to GM rice with pest resistance, but that strain was not commercialized. As of December 2012 GM rice was not widely available for production or consumption. Advocates claim that since rice is a staple crop across the world, improvements have potential to alleviate hunger, malnutrition and poverty. In 2000-2001 Monsanto researched adding glyphosate tolerance to rice but did not attempt to bring a variety to market. Bayer’s line of herbicide resistant rice is known as LibertyLink. LibertyLink rice is resistant to glufosinate (the active chemical in Liberty herbicide). Bayer CropScience is attempting to get their latest variety (LL62) approved for use in the EU. The strain is approved for use in the US but is not in large-scale use. Clearfield rice was bred by selection from variations created in environments known to cause accelerated rates of mutations. This variety tolerates imidazole herbicides. It was bred by traditional breeding techniques that are not considered to be genetic engineering. Clearfield is also crossbred with higher yielding varieties to produce an overall hardier plant. Golden rice with higher concentrations of Vitamin A was originally created by Ingo Potrykus and his team. This genetically modified rice is capable of producing beta-carotene in the endosperm (grain) which is a precursor for vitamin A. Syngenta was involved in the early development of Golden Rice and held some intellectual property that it donated to non-profit groups including the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) to develop on a non-profit basis. The scientific details of the rice were first published in Science Magazine in 2000. The World Health Organization stated that iron deficiency affects 30% of the world's population. Research scientists from the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics (ACPFG) and IRRI to are working to increase the amount of iron in rice. They have modified three populations of rice by over expressing the genes OsNAS1, OsNAS2 or OsNAS3. The research team found that nicotianamine, iron, and zinc concentration levels increased in all three populations relative to controls. Ventria Bioscience uses a proprietary system known as Express Tec for producing recombinant human proteins in rice grains. Their most notable variety produces human Lactoferrin and Lysozyme. These two proteins are produced naturally in human breast milk and are used globally in infant formula and rehydration products. BT rice is modified to express the cryIA(b) gene of the Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium. The gene confers resistance to a variety of pests including the rice borer through the production of endotoxins. The Chinese Government is doing field trials on insect resistant cultivars. The benefit of BT rice is that farmers do not need to spray their crops with pesticides to control fungal, viral, or bacterial pathogens. Conventional rice is sprayed three to four times per growing season to control pests. Other benefits include increased yield and revenue from crop cultivation. China approved the rice for large-scale use as of 2009. Researchers in Japan are attempting to develop hypoallergenic rice cultivars. Researchers are trying to repress the formation of allergen AS-Albumin.