Sunday Evening News 447 - Week 43 - 2025
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
October 2025-10-20 - 2025-10-26
Meetings – Conferences / Treffen - Veranstaltungen
Thünen-Kolloquium: Neue genomische Techniken in der Forstpflanzenzüchtung - Status Quo, Chancen, Limitierungen
Referent: Tobias Brügmann vom Thünen-Institut für Forstgenetik
online: 06.11.2025, 13:00 - 14:00 Uhr
AGRI(2025 1105_1) Committee Meeting 05.11.2025, Brussels
Plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their food and feed, and amending Regulation (EU) 2017/625, 2023/0226(COD): AGRI/10/03132
· Reporting back to committee on the negotiations (Rule 75(3)
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/AGRI-OJ-2025-11-05-1_EN.pdf
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Informationsdienst Gentechnik: Forschung: Neue Gentechnik lässt sich nachweisen
https://www.keine-gentechnik.de/nachricht/forschung-neue-gentechnik-laesst-sich-nachweisen
(nicht neu – siehe auch die Referenzen)
Bernard E. / Podbregar N.: Gen-Editierung macht Schweine immun gegen Schweinpest
https://www.scinexx.de/news/medizin/gen-editierung-macht-schweine-immun-gegen-schweinpest/
Werner E.: Magisches Denken hat bei den Grünen eine sichere Heimstatt
https://www.cicero.de/kultur/atomkraft-gentechnik-klimapolitik-die-grunen-und-die-wissenschaft
University of Texas at Austin: Scientists just made gene editing far more powerful
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251025084545.htm
Mihai Andrei | ZME Science: Will ‘neophobia’ kill the newly-developed gene-edited, non-browning banana
Mihai Andrei: The First New Commercial Banana In 75 Years Is Coming To The Market Next Year
https://www.zmescience.com/science/biology/first-new-banana-browning/
Fungal RNA found to suppress banana immunity to Fusarium wilt
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: October week 43
Publications – Publikationen
Wolinsky H., Breithaupt H., Moran Y. (2025): Scientists targeted by dark PR tactics: Several academic scientists critical of de-
extinction projects have become the targets of anonymous smear articles and weaponized copyright infringement claims
EMBO Rep. 26, 4895 – 4899 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s44319-025-00579-2
https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44319-025-00579-2
Kumar K.R.R. and Singh P.K. (2025): Editorial: Genome editing for climate change adaptation in agriculture: innovations,
applications, and regulatory considerations. Front. Genome Ed. 7:1711767 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fgeed.2025.1711767
Hernández-Soto, A., Gatica-Arias, A. (2024): Genome editing in Latin America: research achievements and regulatory
evolution. Plant Cell Tiss Organ Cult 159, 55 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11240-024-02904-4
Genome editing, mainly CRISPR/Cas9, has been revolutionizing agricultural biotechnology through precise modifications to plant and animal genomes. This review highlights advancements in research and regulatory development of genome editing across Latin America. The region has seen substantial progress in building a regulatory framework to adopt genome editing technologies that enhance crop yield, nutritional content, and resistance to pests and diseases, as well as address critical challenges such as food insecurity and climate change. The article discusses the evolution of regulatory frameworks in various Latin American countries and their trends toward using foreign genetic material to determine regulatory oversight. Argentina pioneered this approach, followed by Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, Honduras, and Guatemala. Recent updates from Costa Rica, El Salvador, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Colombia reflect a similar rationale to balance innovation with safety and compliance with international standards. Regional examples of genome editing demonstrate the potential to improve crop quality and sustainability of coffee, rice, cacao, beans, and potatoes. Public perception and acceptance of genome editing are also explored, with surveys indicating strong support for regulatory measures in Costa Rica. The article further explores public perception and acceptance of genome editing indicating strong support for regulation in Costa Rica. The review underscores the importance of continued research, public engagement, and international cooperation that foster responsible development of genome-editing technologies in Latin America.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11240-024-02904-4
Oh, S. D., & Lee, B. (2025). Analysis of the public perception and acceptance of gene-editing technology and gene-edited
agricultural products in South Korea. GM Crops & Food 16 (1), 795–810 | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2025.2576272
Genome editing (GE) is a promising agricultural technology; however, its effective adoption relies on safety assurance and public trust. To investigate Korean perceptions, a 2national survey (n = 1,055) was conducted in 2024 on awareness, attitudes, acceptance, and information behavior. Awareness was high for familiar terms such as “gene scissors,” but low for scientific terms such as CRISPR. Willingness to purchase GE products was 70%, exceeding that for GMO reported previously, although respondents favored conditional adoption (research, imports) over domestic cultivation. Safety was the most decisive factor, not only in the form of scientific verification but also in transparency and institutional safeguards. Expert organizations were trusted, yet mass media remained the preferred information channels, revealing a credibility – accessibility gap. Respondents also emphasized expert and government leadership in policymaking. Overall, Korean perceptions align with global patterns but show stronger emphasis on policy trust and media reliance, underscoring the need for transparent safety verification, expert-led yet mass-mediated communication, and tailored strategies.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2025.2576272#abstract
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/21645698.2025.2576272?needAccess=true
Kirby R., Teixeira P. (2025): Consumer Food Trends and Food Safety: Challenges in Modern Food Systems.
Trends in Food Science & Technology, 105398 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tifs.2025.105398
This commentary explores the interplay between modern consumer trends toward healthy and sustainable diets and the emerging challenges related to food safety. While these trends are most pronounced in high-income countries, similar shifts are gradually appearing worldwide. As the world tackles the complex agenda of feeding 9 billion people in a way that is safe, sustainable, and affordable, there is a temptation for scientists and regulators to consider trade-offs - what, if any, food safety compromises can or should be made in order to meet sustainability goals. Key consumer trends such as demand for “natural” and preservative-free products, reformulated foods with less sugar and salt, interest in raw and minimally processed items, and the growing popularity of plant-based and fermented foods illustrate the tension between health, sustainability, and safety. These trends often introduce unintended food safety risks, underscoring the importance of integrated, science-based approaches. The article highlights the role of education and communication in ensuring that both sustainability and safety are achieved within food systems. Ultimately, while consumers expect food that is both safe and sustainable, most are unwilling or unable to pay a premium, adding another layer of complexity for the food industry.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0924224425005345
Panayotova, G.G. (2025): Artificial Intelligence in Nutrition and Dietetics: A Comprehensive Review of Current Research.
Healthcare 13, 2579.| https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13202579
Background/Objectives: Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force in healthcare, with nutrition and dietetics becoming key areas of application. AI technologies are being employed to enhance dietary assessment, personalize nutrition plans, manage chronic diseases, deliver virtual coaching, and support public health nutrition. This review aims to critically synthesize the current literature on AI applications in nutrition, identify research gaps, and outline directions for future development. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for peer-reviewed publications from January 2020 to July 2025. The search included studies involving AI applications in nutrition, dietetics, or public health nutrition. Articles were screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis grouped findings into six categories: dietary assessment, personalized nutrition and chronic disease management, generative AI and conversational agents, global/public health nutrition, sensory science and food innovation, and ethical and professional considerations. Results: AI-driven systems show strong potential for improving dietary tracking accuracy, generating personalized diet recommendations, and supporting disease-specific nutrition management. Chatbots and large language models (LLMs) are increasingly used for education and support. Despite this progress, challenges remain regarding model transparency, ethical use of health data, limited generalizability across diverse populations, and underrepresentation of low-resource settings. Conclusions: AI offers promising solutions to modern nutritional challenges. However, responsible development, ethical oversight, and inclusive validation across populations are essential to ensure equitable and safe integration into clinical and public health practice.
https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/13/20/2579
Crooke H., Schwindt S., Fletcher S.L. et al. (2025): DNAJC14 gene-edited pigs are resistant to classical pestiviruses.
Trends in Biotechnology, | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.09.008
Infectious diseases remain a major impediment to livestock production, negatively impacting both productivity and welfare. Where key interactions between viruses and host proteins have been identified, it is possible to rationally devise intervention strategies. In vitro studies have identified the host protein DNAJC14 as a core component of the replicative cycle of classical pestiviruses. Outbreaks caused by this group of viruses cause enormous losses in stock farming due to culling and export restrictions. Using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing, we produced a cohort of pigs with altered DNAJC14. Primary cells from these animals did not support replication of either classical swine fever virus (CSFV) or bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) in vitro. In vivo challenge with CSFV revealed that the edited pigs displayed complete resistance to infection. This establishes gene editing as an additional strategy that can contribute to the control of classical pestiviruses.
https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/fulltext/S0167-7799(25)00365-8
pdf-file: https://www.cell.com/action/showPdf?pii=S0167-7799%2825%2900365-8
Wang, J.; Zhang, L.; Pan, C.; Lan, X.; Xing, B.; Li, M. (2025): Application of Gene Editing Technology in Livestock: Progress,
Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Agriculture 2025, 15, 2155. | https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15202155
Gene editing technologies, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, have revolutionized livestock genetics. They enable precise, efficient, and inheritable genome modifications. This review summarizes recent advances in the application of gene editing in livestock. We focus on six key areas: enhancement of disease resistance, improvement of growth performance and meat production traits, modification of milk composition, regulation of reproductive traits, adaptation to environmental stress, and promotion of animal welfare. For example, they have played an important role in improving mastitis resistance in cows, enhancing meat production performance in pigs, increasing milk yield in goats, and producing polled cows. Despite rapid progress, practical implementation in animal breeding still faces challenges. These include off-target effects, low embryo editing efficiency, delivery limitations, and ethical as well as regulatory constraints. Future directions emphasize the development of advanced editing tools, multiplex trait integration, and harmonized public policy. With continued innovation and responsible oversight, gene editing holds great promise for sustainable animal agriculture and global food security.
https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0472/15/20/2155
Ghorbanzadeh, Z.; Panahi, B.; Purhang, L.; Hossein Panahi, Z.; Zeinalabedini, M.; Mardi, M.; Hamid, R.; Ghaffari, M.R. (2025):
Integrative Genomics and Precision Breeding for Stress-Resilient Cotton: Recent Advances and Prospects. Agronomy 15, 2393 | https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy15102393
Developing climate-resilient and high-quality cotton cultivars remains an urgent challenge, as the key target traits yield, fibre properties, and stress tolerance are highly polygenic and strongly influenced by genotype–environment interactions. Recent advances in chromosome-scale genome assemblies, pan-genomics, and haplotype-resolved resequencing have greatly enhanced the capacity to identify causal variants and recover non-reference alleles linked to fibre development and environmental adaptation. Parallel progress in functional genomics and precision genome editing, particularly CRISPR/Cas, base editing, and prime editing, now enables rapid, heritable modification of candidate loci across the complex tetraploid cotton genome. When integrated with high-throughput phenotyping, genomic selection, and machine learning, these approaches support predictive ideotype design rather than empirical, trial-and-error breeding. Emerging digital agriculture tools, such as digital twins that combine genomic, phenomic, and environmental data layers, allow simulation of ideotype performance and optimisation of trait combinations in silico before field validation. Speed breeding and phenomic selection further shorten generation time and increase selection intensity, bridging the gap between laboratory discovery and field deployment. However, the large-scale implementation of these technologies faces several practical constraints, including high infrastructural costs, limited accessibility for resource-constrained breeding programmes in developing regions, and uneven regulatory acceptance of genome-edited crops. However, reliance on highly targeted genome editing may inadvertently narrow allelic diversity, underscoring the need to integrate these tools with broad germplasm resources and pangenomic insights to sustain long-term adaptability. To realise these opportunities at scale, standardised data frameworks, interoperable phenotyping systems, robust multi-omic integration, and globally harmonised, science-based regulatory pathways are essential. This review synthesises recent progress, highlights case studies in fibre, oil, and stress-resilience engineering, and outlines a roadmap for translating integrative genomics into climate-smart, high-yield cotton breeding programmes.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4395/15/10/2393
Sun, SK., Ahmad, N., Callenius, H. et al. (2025): The plastid cysteine synthase complex regulates ABA biosynthesis and
stomatal closure in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 16, 8960 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64705-3
Global warming intensifies drought and high light stress periods, causing severe water loss and decreased crop yield. The phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) is the dominant signal governing stomatal closure and water loss. Here, we uncover three signaling axes triggered by soil dehydration and high light stress converging on the dynamic assembly of the cysteine-synthase-complex in chloroplasts (pCSC). We show that pCSC assembly triggers ABA biosynthesis and stomatal closure in response to the soil-drying signals, sulfate (axis 1) and CLE25 (axis 2), and the high light-induced oxylipin OPDA (axis 3). Loss of the pCSC increases sensitivity to soil-drying and impairs high light-induced stomatal closure. Our findings uncover that the dynamic assembly of the pCSC acts as a sensor hub, integrating local and long-distance stress signals to promote stomatal closure by supplying cysteine for ABA biosynthesis in guard cells. We applied this knowledge to generate a soil-drying resilient plant showing no growth penalty.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-64705-3
Li D., Yang W., Wu Z., Yang Y. et al. (2025): SlKNUCKLES regulates floral meristem activity and controls fruit size in
Solanum lycopersicum, Horticulture Research 12 ( 3) uhae331, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae331
Timed termination of floral meristem (FM) is crucial for proper development of floral organs and fruits. In Solanum lycopersicum, CLAVATA3 (CLV3)-WUSCHEL (WUS) feedback regulation maintains FM homeostasis in early stage of floral buds. It is known that the zinc finger protein SlKNUCKLES (SlKNU) functions to promote FM determinacy by directly repressing the stem cell identity gene SlWUS. However, how the robust FM activity is suppressed to secure fruit development is not fully understood in tomato. Here, we demonstrate that SlKNU also directly represses the stem cell marker gene SlCLV3 and the receptor gene SlCLV1 for FM determinacy control. Besides, loss-of-function mutants of SlKNU generated by CRISPR-Cas9 show increased fruit size of tomato. Moreover, overexpression of SlKNU attenuates the activities of the shoot apical meristem (SAM) and FM in Arabidopsis, but normal carpel development is still maintained. Hence, although the function of KNU in tomato and Arabidopsis may diverge during evolution, the role of KNU for FM determinacy and fruit size control is conserved and may potentially be useful for enhancing fruit yield of tomato.
https://academic.oup.com/hr/article/12/3/uhae331/7906585?login=false
Zhang, H., Li, M., Wang, G. et al. (2025): Paired NLRs originated from Triticum dicoccoides coordinately confer resistance
to powdery mildew in wheat. Nat Commun 16, 9040 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-64049-y
Wheat has evolved diverse resistance genes against powdery mildew, typically controlled by single-gene-encoded proteins. Here, we report the map-based cloning of PmWR183, a resistance locus encoding two adjacent NLR proteins (PmWR183-NLR1 and PmWR183-NLR2) from wild emmer wheat. Stable transformation and CRISPR/Cas9 knockout experiments demonstrate that the two NLRs function cooperatively: neither gene alone confers resistance, but their co-expression restores immunity, while disruption of either gene abolishes resistance. PmWR183 mediates a developmental stage-dependent response, with susceptibility at the seedling stage and strong resistance at the adult stage. Protein interaction assays reveal constitutive association of PmWR183-NLR1 and PmWR183-NLR2, supporting their cooperative role. Geographical and haplotype analyses show the locus originates from wild emmer and is rare in cultivated wheat, exhibiting at least nine haplotypes. Together, our findings uncover a rare NLR gene pair conferring effective
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-64049-y
Zhong J., SituJ., He C, He J. et al. (2025): A virulent milRNA of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense impairs plant resistance
by targeting banana AP2 transcription factor coding gene MaPTI6L. Horticulture Research 12 (4), uhae361 https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhae361
Fungi produce microRNA-like RNAs (milRNAs) with functional importance in various biological processes. Our previous research identified a new milRNA Foc-milR87 from Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense, which contributes to fungal virulence by targeting the pathogen glycosyl hydrolase encoding gene. However, the potential roles of fungal milRNAs in interactions with hosts are not well understood. This study demonstrated that Foc-milR87 specifically suppressed the expression of MaPTI6L, a pathogenesis-related gene that encodes a transcriptional activator in the banana (Musa acuminata Cavendish group cv. ‘Baxi Jiao’) genome, by targeting the 3'untranslated region (UTR) of MaPTI6L. Transient overexpression of MaPTI6L activated plant defense responses that depend on its nuclear localization, yet co-expression with Foc-milR87 attenuated these responses. MaPTI6L enhanced plant resistance by promoting transcription of the salicylic acid signaling pathway marker gene MaEDS1. Sequence analysis of the MaPTI6L gene in 19 banana varieties, particularly those resistant to Fusarium wilt, uncovered single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at Foc-milR87 target sites. Experimental validation showed that these SNPs significantly reduce the microRNA's ability to suppress target gene expression. Our findings reveal that Foc-milR87 plays an important role in impairing plant resistance by targeting MaPTI6L mRNA and reducing MaEDS1 transcription during the early infection stage, suggesting the 3'UTR of MaPTI6L as a promising target for genome editing in generation of disease-resistant banana cultivars.
https://academic.oup.com/hr/article/12/4/uhae361/7934107?login=false
Junaid, M.D., Aziz, A.U.R. & Meeran, M.W. (2025): Role of omics and gene editing tools in development of abiotic stress
tolerant carrots (Daucus carota L.). Discov Agric 3, 216 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44279-025-00361-x
Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is one of the most important and highly nutritious vegetable crops consumed globally. Carrots are susceptible to several abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, heat and cold, which hinder their quality and yield. Moreover, climate change is aggravating these challenges; in recent years, scientists have made advancements in understanding the genomic architecture of carrots to combat abiotic stresses. Complete genomic sequencing of carrots has already been reported, which has facilitated the understanding of carrot genome. Genetic tools, including gene sequencing and gene expression investigations, have revealed ways to develop improved carrot cultivars that are more tolerant to abiotic stress. In-depth omics studies, including proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics, have revealed many gene functions and markers associated with various developmental stages of carrot plants. Advancements in gene mapping have also led to the identification of quantitative trait loci (QTLs), which is beneficial for assisted breeding efforts. Additionally, gene editing tools such as the CRISPR/Cas technique and gene stacking approaches enable scientists to introduce desired traits in carrots with precise gene-targeting modifications. These techniques also have the potential to improve many agronomic traits in carrots. Hence, integrated omics and molecular techniques may lead to accelerated carrot improvement through an advanced understanding of stress biology, increasing carrot productivity and resilience for sustainable carrot production.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s44279-025-00361-x
Loegler, V., Thiele, P., Teyssonnière, E. et al. (2025): From genotype to phenotype with 1,086 near telomere-to-telomere
yeast genomes. Nature | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09637-0
Unravelling the genetic basis of the remarkable phenotypic diversity observed in natural populations remains a central challenge in biology1,2,3,4. Despite major advances5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19, no species has yet been characterized with a truly comprehensive atlas of genetic variation. Here we present an extensive genomic and phenotypic resource for the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae based on near telomere-to-telomere assemblies of 1,086 natural isolates. Leveraging these high-contiguity assemblies, we generated a highly complete species-wide structural variant atlas, gene-based pangenome and graph pangenome. By incorporating the full spectrum of genetic variation captured across the species, we conducted genome-wide association studies across 8,391 molecular and organismal traits19,20,21,22. The inclusion of structural variants and small insertion–deletion mutations improved heritability estimates by an average of 14.3% compared with analyses based only on single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Structural variants were more frequently associated with traits and exhibited greater pleiotropy than other variant types. Notably, the genetic architecture of molecular and organismal traits differed markedly. Together, this work provides a unique dataset that illuminates how diverse forms of genetic variation shape phenotypic diversity and lays the groundwork for integrative, genome-scale studies in other eukaryotic systems.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09637-0
EFSA
FEZ Panel (2025): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme arabinan endo-1,5-α-L-arabinanase from the non-genetically modified
Aspergillus aculeatinus strain CBS 148915. EFSA Journal, 23(10), e9667. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9667
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9667
GMO Panel (2025); Assessment of genetically modified soybean MON 94637 (application GMFF-2023-21116). EFSA Journal, 23,
e9581. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9581
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9581