Sunday Evening News 425 - Week 20 - 2025
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
April 2025-05-12 - May 2025-05-18
Regierungserklärung des Bundesministers für Landwirtschaft, Ernährung und Heimat, Alois Rainer
April 2025 Update on Regulation of New Genomic Techniques in the EU
https://www.mofo.com/resources/insights/250425-april-2025-update-on-regulation
AFP: World First: US Baby Treated With Personalized CRISPR Gene-Editing
https://www.sciencealert.com/world-first-us-baby-treated-with-personalized-crispr-gene-editing
Schuckardt J.-N.: „Wissenschaftliches Wunder“: Forscher schreiben zum ersten Mal DNA eines Babys um
Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen
Neue Gentechnologien
Warum wir die Biosphäre vor den Risiken der Gentechnik schützen müssen. Christoph Then
Wann Sa, 24. Mai 2025, 10:30 Uhr; Universität Freiburg
https://bz-ticket.de/neue-gentechnologien-universitaet-kg-i-hoersaal-1015-freiburg
Die Genschere in München, 25.6. bis 28.6.2025
https://www.crispr-whisper.de/2025/04/23/die-genschere-in-muenchen-25-6-bis-28-6-2025/
Neue Technologien und Strafrecht – Wie können Juristen unerwünschte Nebenfolgen einhegen?
Dienstag, 18. November 2025 · 19:30 Uhr
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Precision Breeding Act: Final 'Secondary' Legislation Passed
The public opinion in Sweden on gene-edited crops and farmed animals
https://www.genteknik.se/app/uploads/2025/05/SWE-attitudes-GE-250425.pdf
Cole S., Winks R.: Engineering resilient crops: The role of genome editing in future agriculture
Bockholt K.: Bayer baut Agrarsparte um: Standort für Herbizide schließt komplett
BVE: Neue Gentechnik im Blick: Zwischen Potenzial und Regulierung
https://www.ernaehrungsindustrie.de/neue-gentechnik-im-blick-zwischen-potenzial-und-regulierung/
Bockholt K.: Genschere: Ist sie wie normale Pflanzenzüchtung oder echte Gentechnik?
Liebe KLB, habt ihr wirklich nichts gelernt?
https://www.bauerwilli.com/liebe-klb-habt-ihr-wirklich-nichts-gelernt/
KLB Deutschland fordert: Gentechnikfreie Landwirtschaft muss gesichert werden!
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: May week 20
Publications – Publikationen
EU-Commission: 2024 Annual Report Alert & Cooperation Network
https://food.ec.europa.eu/document/download/a47b9d6a-9b47-4b57-a1ca-35e5bbfa837f_en
GOV.UK: Unlocking the power of Engineering Biology
New report outlines the transformative potential of Engineering Biology to tackle modern-day challenges.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/unlocking-the-power-of-engineering-biology
Wenzl, C., Buddle, E.A. and Ankeny, R.A. (2025): Problematic use of sustainability claims in recent scientific literature on
crop gene technologies: toward improving practices and communication. Plant J, 122: e70137 | https://doi.org/10.1111/tpj.70137
There is growing interest in the role of agricultural genomics, including biotechnology, in enhancing the “sustainability” of food production systems. However, as “sustainability” becomes more frequently linked to the goals of agricultural genomics, a critical question arises: what claims are made about “sustainability” and how is the concept of “sustainability” defined in the scholarly literature on agricultural genomics? Using a structured analysis of the recent scientific literature, this article investigates increasingly frequent claims about “sustainability,” including how this term is defined and measured in the field of agricultural genomics. It argues that more transparent definitions and clearer metrics, tied to appropriate scholarly literature, are crucial for improving the coherence, impact, and credibility of research in agricultural genomics.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/tpj.70137?af=R
Zeddies H.H., Parlasca M., Qaim M. (2025): Agrivoltaics increases public acceptance of solar energy production on
agricultural land. Land Use Policy 156, 107604 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107604
Competition for land is a key challenge for decarbonized energy transitions. Open-space solar energy farms are gaining in importance but have large land requirements and displace agricultural production. Agrivoltaics offers a compromise, integrating solar panels into existing farming operations. However, adoption of Agrivoltaics remains limited, as it has lower energy output per hectare and higher installation costs than open-space solar. Here, we compare public attitudes towards Agrivoltaics and open-space solar in Germany, using experimental data from a nationally-representative sample. Participants were shown three images of a landscape that differed in terms of land use, namely an agricultural field without solar, an Agrivoltaics system, and an open-space solar system, together with some technical information. While both solar systems have perceived negative impacts on landscape attractiveness, the impacts are less negative for Agrivoltaics. In comparison to their regular electricity bill, 44 % of the participants expressed their willingness to pay more for electricity from Agrivoltaics, compared to 29 % for electricity from open-space solar. We also find a higher monetary willingness to pay for Agrivoltaics. These results hold across different agricultural systems, implying that Agrivoltaics could play an important role for socially-acceptable energy transitions. More widespread Agrivoltaics adoption may depend on targeted policy support.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837725001383
Giller, K.E., Delaune, T., Silva, J.V. et al. (2021)_The future of farming: Who will produce our food?. Food Sec. 13, 1073–1099 |
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12571-021-01184-6
Achieving SDG2 (zero hunger) in a situation of rapid global population growth requires a continued focus on food production. Farming not merely needs to sustainably produce nutritious diets, but should also provide livelihoods for farmers, while retaining natural ecosystems and services. Rather than focusing on production principles, this article explores the interrelations between farms and farming systems in the global food system. Evaluating farming systems around the world, we reveal a bewildering diversity. While family farms predominate, these range in size from less than 0.1 ha to more than 10,000 ha, and from hand hoe use to machine-based cultivation, enabling one person to plant more than 500 ha in a day. Yet, farming in different parts of the world is highly interdependent, not least because prices paid for farm produce are largely determined by global markets. Furthermore, the economic viability of farming is a problem, globally. We highlight trends in major regions of the world and explore possible trajectories for the future and ask: Who are the farmers of the future? Changing patterns of land ownership, rental and exchange mean that the concept of ‘what is a farm’ becomes increasingly fluid. Next to declining employment and rural depopulation, we also foresee more environmentally-friendly, less external input dependent, regionalised production systems. This may require the reversal of a global trend towards increasing specialisation to a recoupling of arable and livestock farming, not least for the resilience it provides. It might also require a slow-down or reversal of the widespread trend of scale enlargement in agriculture. Next to this trend of scale enlargement, small farms persist in Asia: consolidation of farms proceeds at a snail’s pace in South-east Asia and 70% of farms in India are ‘ultra-small’ – less than 0.05 ha. Also in Africa, where we find smallholder farms are much smaller than often assumed (< 1 ha), farming households are often food insecure. A raft of pro-poor policies and investments are needed to stimulate small-scale agriculture as part of a broader focus on rural development to address persistent poverty and hunger. Smallholder farms will remain an important source of food and income, and a social safety net in absence of alternative livelihood security. But with limited possibilities for smallholders to ‘step-up’, the agricultural engine of growth appears to be broken. Smallholder agriculture cannot deliver the rate of economic growth currently assumed by many policy initiatives in Africa.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12571-021-01184-6
Stojšin, D., Duncan, B. & Meng, C. (2025): Phenotypic characteristics of interspecific hybrids between wild and cultivated
soybean with and without insect-protected biotechnology traits. Transgenic Res 34, 24 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-025-00443-y
Wild soybean (Glycine soja Sieb. and Zucc.) and cultivated soybean (Glycine max (L) Merr.) can cross-pollinate, albeit at a very low frequency, potentially resulting in an interspecific hybrid with a biotechnology trait inherited from the cultivated soybean parent. As part of environmental risk assessment, it is informative to understand the competitiveness potential of these hybrids in natural habitats. The objective of this research was to evaluate the phenotypic characteristics of the interspecific hybrids and compare them with cultivated and wild soybean. Secondly, the comparisons were conducted between the interspecific hybrids with and without an insect-protected (IP) biotechnology trait. Two wild soybean populations were crossed with cultivated soybean containing either MON 87701 or MON 87751, the IP traits developed to control specific lepidopteran pests. Hybrid plants with and without the IP trait and parental entries were evaluated in growth chamber trials for the plant, pollen and seed characteristics. Compared to the parents, the hybrids had intermediate values for most of the measured characteristics. Compared to the wild soybean parent, hybrids had less twining, shorter plants, fewer seeds and pods, thicker stems, bigger seeds and pollen grains, as well as reduced seed dormancy—all due to domestication genes inherited from cultivated soybean. However, when compared to parents, hybrids had significantly reduced pollen viability (51.8–73.3% vs. > 95%) and number of seeds per pod (1.6–1.7 vs. 2.3) indicating partial reproductive sterility due to chromosome interchange between nonhomologous chromosomes. Seed coat color of the F3 hybrids segregated in a manner that seems to involve two major genes (I and T) with some level of inter-locus interaction and/or partial dominance resulting in an observed ratio of 9 green (ii-T-): 3 black (iiT-): 3 brown (-itt): 1 yellow (iiiitt) seeds. A combination of recessive genes (ii from wild and tt from cultivated soybean) resulted in hybrid seeds with defective, cracked seed coat contributing to reduction in seed dormancy. Generally, hybrids with and without the IP traits had comparable performance indicating that the biotechnology IP trait did not have unintended effects on phenotypic characteristics. However, there were some characteristics that differed. The F3 hybrids with MON 87751 had significantly lower seed dormancy (8.1%) compared to hybrids without the transgene (15.1%) likely due to the proximity of the transgene to soybean native domestication-related gene and their co-segregation in hybrid generations. In summary, the results obtained in this research suggest that the fitness, overwintering and general ability of hybrids to compete and persist in nature is reduced when compared to wild soybean. The main contributors to lower survival of hybrids are: (i) domestication genes inherited from the soybean parent, (ii) partial sterility of hybrids due to chromosome interchange, (iii) inferior performance of hybrids compared to either parent, and/or (iv) the transgene proximity to soybean domestication-related genes and their co-segregation in interspecific hybrid generations. These factors should be considered when assessing potential impact of soybean biotechnology traits if transgenic cultivars inadvertently cross with wild soybean.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-025-00443-y
Mitsunobu, H., Kita, Y., Nambu-Nishida, Y. et al. (2025): Development of a highly efficient base editing system for Lactobacilli
to improve probiotics and dissect essential functions. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 109, 96 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-025-13489-z
Lactobacilli play essential roles in the food industry and have a significant potential as probiotics and therapeutic agents. Genomic and genetic information has increasingly accumulated and been linked to their various functions, to which transgenic approaches are being performed to verify crucial genes. In order to reasonably develop more useful strains, beneficial traits need to be introduced into any given strains and enhanced or combined based on such genotype characterization. However, for practical use as probiotics or foods, organisms with transgene are hardly acceptable. Here, we have introduced the base editing Target-AID system specifically for Lactobacilli, enabling precise installation of point mutations without donor DNA and at multiple genomic loci simultaneously. Lactiplantibacillus plantarum has been successfully engineered to reduce production of imidazole propionate, which has been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes by impairing glucose tolerance and insulin signaling. Additionally, this system enabled transient knock-out of an essential gene, such as one involved in cell division, resulting in severe filamentous cell phenotype. This demonstrates Target-AID is a promising genetic tool for Lactobacilli and can accelerate both applied and fundamental research.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-025-13489-z
Exploring Lactobacilli - Biology, Roles and Potential Applications in Food Industry and Human Health
Lactobacilli sensu latu are Gram-positive, fastidious, psychrophilic, non-spore forming, rod-shaped, non-motile, facultative anaerobic microorganisms. They can be found in diverse ecological niches, namely fermented foods and beverages, human gut, human urinary tract, and soil, among others. They are a group of lactic acid bacteria, formerly belonging to the genus Lactobacillus in the family Lactobacillaceae. A polyphasic approach led to the recent revision of their taxonomy, where 23 new genera were described besides Lactobacillus and Paralactobacillus based on whole genome sequencing. Moreover, the Lactobacillaceae and Leuconostocaceae families are part of one big Lactobacillaceae family. Their members can be either homofermentative or heterofermentative. Lactobacilli play two leading roles in the food industry as both starter cultures and probiotics. They produce bacteriocins and exopolysaccharides to improve food safety and control food spoilage. Regarding health benefits, some species of lactobacilli are known to improve cardiovascular diseases and lactose intolerance, prevent and treat cancer, regulate immunity, and improve gastrointestinal diseases. This book is a comprehensive review of lactobacilli, their biology, phylogeny, ecology, industrial applications, and benefits to human health.
https://www.intechopen.com/books/13137
EFSA
GMO Panel (2025): Assessment of genetically modified cotton MON 88913 for renewal authorisation under Regulation (EC) No
1829/2003 (dossier GMFF-2023-21234) EFSA Journal. 23: e9377 |https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9377
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9377
GMO Panel (2025): Assessment of genetically modified sugar beet KWS20-1 (application GMFF-2023-14732). EFSA Journal 23(5),
e9381. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9381
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9381
FEZ Panel (2025): Revised safety evaluation of the food enzyme from the non-genetically modified Aspergillus sp. strain AE-MB.
EFSA Journal 23(5), e9422. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9422
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9422
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme endo-polygalacturonase from the genetically modified
Trichoderma reesei strain RF6197. EFSA Journal 23(5), e9416. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9416
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9416
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of an extension of use of the food enzyme pectinesterase from the genetically modified
Trichoderma reesei strain RF6201. EFSA Journal 23(5), e9417. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9417
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9417
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme phospholipase A1 from the genetically modified Trichoderma reesei strain
DP-Nzk98. EFSA Journal 23(5), e9425. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9425
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9425
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Zhao, K., Xue, H., Li, G. et al. (2025): Pangenome analysis reveals structural variation associated with seed size and
weight traits in peanut. Nat Genet 57, 1250–1261 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02170-w
Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important oilseed and food legume crop, with seed size and weight being critical traits for domestication and breeding. However, genomic rearrangements like structural variations (SVs) underlying seed size and weight remain unclear. Here we present a comprehensive pangenome analysis utilizing eight high-quality genomes (two diploid wild, two tetraploid wild and four tetraploid cultivated peanuts) and resequencing data of 269 accessions with diverse seed sizes. We identified 22,222 core or soft-core, 22,232 distributed and 5,643 private gene families. The frequency of SVs in subgenome A is higher than in subgenome B. We identified 1,335 domestication-related SVs and 190 SVs associated with seed size or weight. Notably, a 275-bp deletion in gene AhARF2-2 results in loss of interaction with AhIAA13 and TOPLESS, reducing the inhibitory effect on AhGRF5 and promoting seed expansion. This high-quality pangenome serves as a fundamental resource for the genetic enhancement of peanuts and other legume crops.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02170-w
He, F., Chen, S., Zhang, Y. et al. (2025): Pan-genomic analysis highlights genes associated with agronomic traits and
enhances genomics-assisted breeding in alfalfa. Nat Genet 57, 1262–1273 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02164-8
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), a globally important forage crop, is valued for its high nutritional quality and nitrogen-fixing capacity. Here, we present a high-quality pan-genome constructed from 24 diverse alfalfa accessions, encompassing a wide range of genetic backgrounds. This comprehensive analysis identified 433,765 structural variations and characterized 54,002 pan-gene families, highlighting the pivotal role of genomic diversity in alfalfa domestication and adaptation. Key structural variations associated with salt tolerance and quality traits were discovered, with functional analysis implicating genes such as MsMAP65 and MsGA3ox1. Notably, overexpression of MsGA3ox1 led to a reduced stem–leaf ratio and enhanced forage quality. The integration of genomic selection and marker-assisted breeding strategies improved genomic estimated breeding values across multiple traits, offering valuable genomic resources for advancing alfalfa breeding. These findings provide insights into the genetic basis of important agronomic traits and establish a solid foundation for future crop improvement.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02164-8
Li, W., Chu, C., Zhang, T. et al. (2025): Pan-genome analysis reveals the evolution and diversity of Malus. Nat Genet 57, 1274–1286 |
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02166-6
Malus Mill., a genus of temperate perennial trees with great agricultural and ecological value, has diversified through hybridization, polyploidy and environmental adaptation. Limited genomic resources for wild Malus species have hindered the understanding of their evolutionary history and genetic diversity. We sequenced and assembled 30 high-quality Malus genomes, representing 20 diploids and 10 polyploids across major evolutionary lineages and geographical regions. Phylogenomic analyses revealed ancient gene duplications and conversions, while six newly defined genome types, including an ancestral type shared by polyploid species, facilitated the detection of strong signals for extensive introgressions. The graph-based pan-genome captured shared and species-specific structural variations, facilitating the development of a molecular marker for apple scab resistance. Our pipeline for analyzing selective sweep identified a mutation in MdMYB5 having reduced cold and disease resistance during domestication. This study advances Malus genomics, uncovering genetic diversity and evolutionary insights while enhancing breeding for desirable traits.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-025-02166-6
Li, W. Complete genomes of six ape species. Nat Genet 57, 1061 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-025-02214-1
Living ape species are close evolutionary relatives of humans and their genomes are essential for human genomic and evolutionary studies. Yoo et al. generated complete genome assemblies of six ape species: chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes), bonobo (Pan paniscus), gorilla (Gorilla gorilla), Bornean orangutan (Pongo pygmaeus), Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii) and siamang (Symphalangus syndactylus). For diploid genomes, 74% of all chromosomes were assembled telomere-to-telomere. Based on the complete ape genome sequences, the authors cataloged all structurally divergent regions and identified previously unknown candidate regions for selective sweeps, as well as regions that overlapped with sweeps found in humans. A considerable number of serial inversions and evolutionary rearrangements were found in apes. Importantly, this study accessed complex regions such as immunoglobulin loci, acrocentric chromosomes, centromeres, subterminal heterochromatic caps and gene-rich segmental duplication regions. Using the assemblies of five non-human primates, the authors identified contiguous centromeres and key characteristics specific to each species based on α-satellite higher-order repeat arrays. The sequencing effort of complete ape genomes yields valuable insights into previously inaccessible genomic regions and enables comprehensive evolutionary analyses in humans and the living apes.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-08816