What is Golden Rice?
Golden rice is a genetically modified variety of rice that contains Beta-carotene
(vitamin A precursor). Golden rice produces almost 20 times the beta-carotene of
previous varieties. It provides a cheaper option to supply vitamin A requirement
than other vit A supplements. This rice was created by adding two genes, one from
the Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus) that produces Phytoene synthase and
Lycopene beta cyclase enzymes. The other gene comes from the bacterium
Erwinia uredovora which produces an enzyme called Phytoene desaturase. The
activity of these enzymes together enable beta-carotene to be accumulated in the
rice endosperm. Golden rice was mainly intended for Asia.
History of Golden Rice
The details about golden rice were first published in 2000 by Ingo Potrykus of
the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and Peter Beyer – Professor of Centre
for Applied Biosciences, University of Freiburg, Germany. The funds came from
the Rockefeller Foundation, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology and
Syngenta (a crop production company).
The first field trials of golden rice was done in 2004, conducted by Louisiana State
University. Some additional trials were also conducted in the Bangladesh, Taiwan
and Philippines in 2015. The results were satisfactory that showed 4-5 times more
beta carotene in field than in greenhouse. It costs farmer the same as other
varieties. After that, in 2019, Canada and USA also approved golden rice
and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared it safe for consumption.
How was Golden rice genetically modified?
• First the genes that are required to make beta-carotene in rice endosperm are
isolated from Daffodils and bacterium Erwinia uredovora.
• These genes along with promoters are then inserted into plasmids. These
plasmids are known as recombinant plasmids.
• These recombinant plasmids are transferred to a bacterium known as
Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
• Agrobacterium tumefaciens are then added to a petri dish containing rice
embryos.
• When agrobacteria infect the embryos, they also transfer genes for beta-
carotene.
• Thus, the rice that will grow from these embryos will have properties to
produce beta-carotene.
Beta-carotene pathway
Advantages of Golden Rice
• Golden rice gives more quantity vitamin A than other varieties
• Easy distribution to needy
• Cheaper and easier option to supply vitamin A than other supplements
• Costs same as other varieties
• Safe for consumption declared by FDA
• Can be cultivated every growing season and saved seeds, therefore no need
for yearly budgetary investment for distribution
Disadvantages of Golden Rice
• May cause allergies
• May fail to perform desired effect
• Supply of vitamin A does not meet the daily requirements
• Loss of biodiversity, may become a gregarious weed
• Endanger the existence of natural rice plants
• Genetic contamination of natural, global staple food
• Cultural disadvantage as some people prefer to cultivate and eat only white
rice based on traditional values and spiritual beliefs
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