GENOME-EDITED PLANTS.

Abstract

Genome Edited Plants (PEG) are obtained by genetic engineering techniques in which DNA can be inserted, deleted, modified or replaced sequences in the genome of the plant. Unlike previous engineering techniques in which random genetic material was inserted into the genome (transgenic plants), one or several stable point modifications are made to specific sites at PEGs. The modification must be inheritable, and the transgenic sequence is eliminated in segregation. In vegetative propagated crops, molecular alternatives have been found such as the use of ribonucleoprotein complexes to eliminate foreign sequences in the first regenerated plants. PEGs are indistinguishable from plants produced by spontaneous mutagenesis, classical mutagenesis or by introgression of the desired allele through plant breeding. The future of these technologies is promising due to the large number of studies already published, and others that are under development, which seek solutions to basic and practical problems. The PEGs are almost identical to the plants obtained by plant breeding and their risk analysis should be evaluated according to the resulting product, rather than the process that created it. This type of regulation will be done first in the United States and Canada.