Sunday Evening News 464 / 2026
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
February 2026-02-23 - 2026-03-01
10 Jahre Sunday Evening News - 10 Jahre SENews
10 Years Sunday Evening News - 10 Years SENews
10 Jahre Sunday Evening News
Die erste Ausgabe der ► Sunday Evening News (SENews) wurde am Sonntagabend der neunten Woche 2016 versandt. Die Aussendung erfolgte offen als e-mail mit zahlreichen pdf-Dateien als Anhänge an die WGG-Mitglieder (m/w) und einige ausgewählte Journalisten und Politiker. Der Verteiler umfasste lediglich 53 Adressen. Ab Januar 2018 wurden die SENews zusätzlich zu dem e-mail-Versand auch der interessierten Öffentlichkeit über die bgf-Webseite zugänglich gemacht. Aus organisatorischen Gründen wurden die SENews erst Jahre später in die WGG-Webseite eingestellt. Heute gelangt sowohl über die bgf-Webseite (https://www.biotech-gm-food.com/sunday-evening-news-weekly-review-genetic-engineering-new-genomic-techniques-genome-editing) und die WGG-Webseite (https://www.wggev.de/) zu den SENews. Die SENews sind auf der bgf-Webseite (https://www.biotech-gm-food.com/sunday-evening-news/archive) ab Januar 2023 gespeichert. Alle SENews sind natürlich auf Anfrage erhältlich. Anfangs umfasste der Verteiler lediglich 53 Adressen aus Deutschland; heute, Stand 22.02.2026 umfasst er 798 Adressen weltweit und dem entsprechend haben sich Themen und Umfang etwas verändert.
Bereits in der 1. Sunday Evening News wurde die Thematik der neuen Züchtungsmethoden angesprochen. Hieraus entwickelte sich auch die ► Webseite „Neue genomische Techniken -Genomeditierung – Quo vadis – Der lange Weg durch die Instanzen in der Europäischen Union Teil 1“.
10 years of Sunday Evening News
The first edition of ► Sunday Evening News (SENews) was sent out on Sunday evening of the ninth week of 2016. It was sent openly as an e-mail with numerous PDF files as attachments to WGG members and a few selected journalists and politicians. The distribution list comprised only 53 addresses in Germany. From January 2018, in addition to being sent by e mail, SENews was also made available to the interested public via the bgf website. For organizational reasons, SENews was not added to the WGG website until years later. Today, SENews can be accessed via both the bgf website (https://www.biotech-gm-food.com/sunday-evening-news-weekly-review-genetic-engineering-new-genomic-techniques-genome-editing) and the WGG website (https://www.wggev.de/). SENews will be stored on the bgf website (https://www.biotech-gm-food.com/sunday-evening-news/archive) from January 2023. All SENews are available on request. Initially, the distribution list comprised only 53 addresses in Germany; today, as of February 22, 2026, it comprises 798 addresses worldwide, and the topics and scope have changed accordingly.
The topic of new breeding methods was already addressed in the first Sunday Evening News. This also led to the development of the ► website “New genomic techniques – genome editing – quo vadis – the long road through the authorities in the European Union, part 1.”
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Schwägerl C.: Neue Nutzpflanzen auf dem Acker dank Genschere?
https://www.faz.net/aktuell/wissen/leben-gene/neue-nutzpflanzen-dank-genschere-accg-110840759.html (pdf-Datei -vorhanden)
Jorasch P.: NGTs IN EUROPA – REGELN WERDEN REFORMIERT UND IN DER EU NEU GEORDNET
https://www.saatbau.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/inform-2026-01-2026-screen-einzelseiten.pdf
POINT NEWSLETTER NR. 285 – FEBRUAR 2026: Aktuelle Biotechnologie
https://www.scienceindustries.ch/_file/39313/point-2026-02-284-d.pdf
EU-Commission: Commission authorises and renews use of two safe genetically modified crops as food and animal feed
https://ec.europa.eu/newsroom/sante/newsletter-archives/view/service/327
Europe sets course for a new era in plant breeding with NGT regulation
Watson E.: Guest article: America invents, Brazil and China deploy. Can the Farm Bill fix Washington’s ag biotech
bottleneck?
Ethiopia approves commercial release of TELA GM maize
https://millingmea.com/ethiopia-approves-commercial-release-of-tela-gm-maize/
Perro M.: Genetically Modified Microorganisms: A New Frontier
https://gmoscience.org/2026/02/24/genetically-modified-microorganisms-a-new-frontier/
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are ►here: January week 09/2026
Publications – Publikationen
Salomón L., Capell-Capell T., Christou P.,∙Vaquer A. (2026): Legal consequences of breaching a European mandatory
regulation on genome-edited crops. Trends in Biotechnology, | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.12.008
Genome editing enables targeted mutations indistinguishable from those in conventional breeding. In December 2025, the EU adopted more permissive regulations for some genome-edited crops, in line with other jurisdictions. We discuss consequences and principles available to stakeholders to protect their commercial interests should member states fail to comply with such regulations.
https://www.cell.com/trends/biotechnology/abstract/S0167-7799(25)00525-6?rss=yes
Goudar, P., & Hall, A. (2026): The influence of GMO media strategies on public perceptions of CRISPR crop technologies in
Southern Ontario. GM Crops & Food, 17 (1) | https://doi.org/10.1080/21645698.2026.2620131
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have often divided public opinion, one factor influencing perceptions of GMO technologies has been misunderstood or poorly communicated scientific messaging. However, advancements in gene editing tools like CRISPR/Cas9 offer new crop modification possibilities, prompting different regulatory frameworks than traditional GMO technologies. This research examines public understanding of GMOs, awareness of CRISPR crops, and how prior experiences with GMOs shape perceptions of new genetic technologies. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining a public survey of adults in the Greater Toronto-Hamilton area and interviews with science journalists. Results show hesitance toward GMOs and CRISPR crops, with acceptance most impacted by consumer behavior and cost. Key interview themes include journalist’s concerns about levels of public education, the role of social media, and the cost of goods. Our findings suggest increased transparency and effective communication could improve public acceptance of GMOs and CRISPR crops. While CRISPR crops do not come under the GMO regulatory framework in Canada, our findings show that the public does not recognize this distinction. Without increased transparency and more effective communication CRISPR crops may become widely associated with the negative media frames that have shaped perceptions of GMOs.
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645698.2026.2620131
FAO: Regulatory frameworks for cell-based food and precision fermentation-derived products - An overview of legal issues
and solutions
This Legal Paper draws on existing frameworks such as the Codex Alimentarius, World Trade Organization agreements, and other agreements, to highlight gaps and challenges in regulating new food technologies. It also addresses the legal perspective on broader societal and ethical implications, particularly concerning sustainable development, human rights, and environmental sustainability. The Legal Paper explores observed approaches in regional and national legislation applicable to cell-based and precision fermentation-derived foods, highlighting that current national regulatory frameworks for food safety, particularly those addressing new food sources and production systems or genetically modified foods (where present), generally would apply to cell-based food and precision fermentation-derived products. While in some countries food safety authorities need to clarify which provisions from food legislation apply to cell-based and precision fermentation-derived products and which do not, in other countries, reforms and updates to legislation may be necessary.
https://openknowledge.fao.org/items/3cf295a5-19b4-46af-8e24-100c168d7dc5
https://openknowledge.fao.org/handle/20.500.14283/cd8165en
van der Heijden, M. 2026. Regulatory frameworks for cell-based food and precision fermentation-derived food products – An overview of legal issues and solutions. FAO Legal Papers, No. 114. Rome, FAO.| https://doi.org/10.4060/cd8165en
Nan Su N., Wang M., Zhang R., Xiao Y. et al. (2026): Precision editing without footprints: Advancing transgene-free systems
in plants. Current Plant Biology 46, 100588 |https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpb.2026.100588
The rapid advancement of CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing has revolutionized plant biotechnology, yet the integration of exogenous DNA into plant genomes raises biosafety concerns and regulatory hurdles. Transgene-free genome editing technologies, which eliminate foreign gene remnants while enabling precise modifications, are critical for the commercialization and ecological sustainability of edited plants. This review provides a comprehensive and integrated analysis of transgene-free editing strategies, focusing on the latest advances in three core innovations: (1) Optimization of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) components: A systematic side-by-side comparison of editing efficiencies between Cas variants and gRNA variants—enhancing editing specificity, reducing off-target effects, and eliminating transgene integration; (2) Delivery systems, including PEG-Ca²⁺ mediated, particle bombardment delivery and nanomaterial-based platforms, which enable transgene-free of CRISPR components while bypassing tissue culture; (3) gene module molecular toolkits, including high-frequency regeneration modules, negative selection module and visualization module, which represent an underexplored frontier in previous reviews. By integrating these innovations, transgene-free editing technologies hold immense potential for perennial plants, enabling trait improvements in yield, stress tolerance, and disease resistance without compromising genetic integrity. This review highlights remaining challenges, including delivery efficiency in recalcitrant species and scalability for high-throughput applications, while underscoring the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning in advancing next-generation editing tools. This work not only synthesizes key technological advances but also provides a clear roadmap for addressing challenges related to delivery efficiency, regulatory hurdles, and public acceptance, thereby paving the way for sustainable agriculture and the global adoption of CRISPR-edited plants.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214662826000101
Nagalakshmi, U., Rodriguez, J.E., Nguyen, T. et al. (2026): High-efficiency, transgene-free plant genome editing by viral
delivery of an engineered TnpB. Nat. Plants | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02237-4
Genome editing has revolutionized plant biology research1, yet the efficient delivery of editing reagents remains a challenge. Current methods are labour intensive, involving lengthy tissue culture and complex transformation and regeneration steps. Viral delivery can mitigate these issues2 but CRISPR–Cas nucleases exceed viral cargo limits, restricting guide RNA (gRNA) delivery into Cas9-expressing transgenic plants2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11. This requires generating an initial Cas9 transgenic line. Furthermore, gRNAs delivered by plant viral vectors can induce somatic edits, although only a few produce heritable edits3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12. Some engineered plant negative-strand rhabdoviruses can deliver both Cas9 and gRNA, but they face other challenges, including the need for tissue regeneration or pruning infected plants, and some rhabdoviruses can be delivered only through vector transmission13,14,15,16. Recently, smaller editors such as TnpBs were discovered, but they are significantly less active than Cas917,18,19. Here we optimized a tobacco rattle virus-based system to deliver recently engineered, highly active ISDra2 TnpB variants. The eTnpBc variant enables effective somatic editing in systemic leaves and achieves up to 90% editing efficiency at target loci. In addition, up to 89% of offspring exhibit a mutant phenotype, with editing efficiencies reaching 100%. The design principles outlined here could promote wider use of eTnpBc for efficient, transformation- and transgene-free plant genome editing.
Harnessing wild relative diversity for engineering tomato resilience. Nat Genet (2026).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-026-02510-4
We constructed a super pangenome for the tomato, incorporating 20 newly assembled telomere-to-telomere (T2T) genomes and 27 previously published genomes. This comprehensive, genus-wide resource enables insight into tomato pan-centromere diversity and evolution, provides a catalog of structural variants and molecular markers linked to salinity tolerance, and led to the discovery of an immune receptor that confers resistance to fungal infection.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-026-02510-4
Lu J., Wu H., Wang F., Li J. et al. (2025): Telomere to telomere flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) genome assembly unlocks
insights beyond fatty acid metabolism pathways. Horticulture Research 12 (8), uhaf127, https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhaf127
One of China’s most important resources is flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), an ancient crop with significant nutritional and therapeutic benefits. Despite its importance, existing flax reference genomes remain incomplete, with many unassembled sequences. Here, we report a gapless 482.51 Mb telomere-to-telomere (T2T) flax genome assembly, predicting 46 634 genes, of which 42 805 were functionally annotated. Repetitive sequences constitute 60.05% of the genome, and we identified 30 telomeres and 15 centromeres across the chromosomes. Whole-genome duplication (WGD) events were detected at approximately 11.5, 53.5, and 114 million years ago (MYA) based on synonymous substitution rates (Ks). The T2T assembly enabled the reconstruction of the fatty acid metabolic pathway, identifying 49 related genes, including six newly annotated ones. Furthermore, genomic colocalization was observed between fatty acid metabolism pathway-related genes and transposable elements, suggesting that functional differentiation of these genes in flax evolution may have occurred through transposon-mediated duplication events. Phylogenetic analysis of SAD and FAD gene families revealed that FAD genes segregate into FAD2 and FAD3/7/8 subfamilies. Gene structure and motif analyses demonstrated conserved exon–intron architectures and motif organization within each phylogenetic clade of SAD and FAD genes. Promoter region characterization identified numerous cis-acting elements responsive to phytohormones (MeJA and abscisic acid) and abiotic stresses (low temperature and anaerobic induction) in both SAD and FAD genes. Our knowledge of the evolution of the flax genome is improved by this excellent genome assembly, which also offers a strong basis for enhancing agricultural attributes and speeding up molecular breeding.
https://academic.oup.com/hr/article/12/8/uhaf127/8126318
Skaliter O., Gura A., Livneh Y., Cohen R. et al. (2026): Targeted Gene Modification of HMGR Enhances Biosynthesis of
Terpenoid and Phenylpropanoid Volatiles in Petunia and Lettuce. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 27 ( 3), 1522 | https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031522
Terpenoids constitute the largest class of plant-specialized metabolites, playing essential roles throughout the plants’ life cycle and having diverse applications for humans in nutrition, medicine, and flavor. 3-Hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGR) is a rate-limiting enzyme of the mevalonate (MVA) pathway, producing sesquiterpenes, saponins, and other terpenoids. HMGR is post-translationally regulated by downstream MVA products through its N-terminal regulatory domain, limiting terpenoid production. To overcome this bottleneck, we employed a virus-based CRISPR/Cas9 system to genetically modify the N-terminal regulatory domain of HMGR in petunia (Petunia × hybrida) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). In petunia, HMGR1-edited lines exhibited vigorous growth, larger flowers, and increased production of sesquiterpenes. Interestingly, they also showed enhanced production of phenylpropanoid volatiles, revealing a connection between these pathways. Transcript analysis revealed altered expression of genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis, pyruvate metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and gibberellin- and auxin-related pathways, indicating enhanced carbon flux through these metabolic networks. In lettuce, HMGR7-edited plants displayed elevated emission of sesquiterpenes, apocarotenoids, and the phenylpropanoid benzaldehyde. Together, these results establish a transgene-free strategy to enhance the production of terpenoid and phenylpropanoid volatiles, and provide a framework for developing resilient, nutrient-enriched crops.
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/27/3/1522
Zhang, X., Zhou, S., Guo, J. et al. (2026): A feedback regulatory loop by MAPK–CCA1 engages auxin signalling to stimulate
root foraging for nitrate. Nat. Plants | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02225-8
In eucaryotes, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are evolutionarily conserved signalling modules crucial for growth regulation and stress tolerance. However, the regulatory role of MAPK in nutrient sensing by plants remains largely unclear. Here we uncovered MEKK14 and its paralogue MEKK13 determine lateral root elongation via enhanced cell division and expansion. We further fine-mapped a naturally occurring histidine-to-glutamine substitution in MEKK14 that weakens protein kinase activity and attenuates lateral root growth and response to nitrate (NO3−). We further demonstrate that NO3− transcriptionally upregulates MEKK13/14 depending on NLP7 to activate a MKK3–MPK1/2/7/14 signalling module. Downstream of this signalling cascade, the core oscillator of the circadian clock CCA1 is phosphorylated and stabilized to feedback induce MEKK13/14 expression and to activate auxin signalling-dependent lateral root foraging for NO3−. Our findings reveal a positive-feedback phosphorylation–transcriptional regulatory loop in root NO3− foraging, extending the regulatory function of MAPK signalling in the nutrient sensing.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-026-02225-8
Chen A., Martin G., Viljoen A., Sun J. et al. (2026): Identification of a QTL conferring resistance to the Subtropical Race 4 of
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense in Calcutta 4 (Musa acuminata ssp. burmannica). Horticulture Research, DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhag001
https://academic.oup.com/hr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/hr/uhag001/8418207
Dorey, J.B., Gilpin, AM., Johnston, N.P. et al. (2026): Estimating global bee species richness and taxonomic gaps.
Nat Commun 17, 1762 | doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69029-4
Robust species richness estimates are critical for meaningful conservation prioritisation, understanding ecosystem resilience, and studying evolutionary processes. Yet, they remain elusive even for some of the best-studied groups and regions. As keystone pollinators, bees are crucial for the maintenance of healthy ecosystems, yet rigorous estimates of their species richness are lacking. Here, we statistically estimate global, continental, and country lower bounds of bee species richness. Globally, we estimate 24,705–26,164 bee species, an 18–25% increase, representing at least 32–45 years of taxonomic research. We estimate particularly high undescribed biodiversity from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. We find that taxonomic gaps are correlated with gross domestic product per capita (GDPc), observed species richness, number of occurrence records, and completeness of occurrence databases. Our statistical R-package framework will progress our understanding of lesser-known groups, downstream consensus, and mobilise existing occurrence datasets to quantitatively estimate species richness on global scales.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-69029-4
EFSA
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme containing endo-1,4-β-xylanase and endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase from the
non-genetically modified Aspergillus tubingensis strain CBS 138353. EFSA Journal 24 (2), e9958 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9958
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9958
FEZ Panel (2026). Revised safety evaluation of the food enzyme protein-glutamine γ-glutamyltransferase from the non-genetically
modified Streptomyces mobaraensis strain M2020197. EFSA Journal, 24 (2), e9948 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9948
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9948
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo-1,4-β-xylanase from the non-genetically modified Trichoderma
citrinoviride strain TCLSC. EFSA Journal 24 (2), e9953 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9953
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9953
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme subtilisin from the genetically modified Bacillus paralicheniformis strain
AP-GKY. EFSA Journal 24 (2), e9956 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9956
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9956
CEP Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme acid prolyl endopeptidase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger
strain GEP. EFSA Journal 24 (2), e9952 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9952
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9952
FEZ Panel (2026): Updated safety evaluation of the food enzyme glucan 1,4-α-maltohydrolase from the genetically modified Bacillus
subtilis strain BABSC. EFSA Journal, 24 (2), e9957 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9957
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9957
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme serine endopeptidase from the genetically modified Aspergillus niger strain
NZYM-MG. EFSA Journal 24 (2), e9959 | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9959
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9959
FEZ Panel (2026): Safety evaluation of the food enzyme ribonuclease P from the non-genetically modified Penicillium citrinum strain
AE-RPE. EFSA Journal, 24 (2), e9954. | https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9954
https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.2903/j.efsa.2026.9954