Sunday Evening News 488/ 2026
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
September 2026-09-07 - 2026-09-13 Week 37
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
Testbiotech: NGT plants: Correcting flaws of the EU Regulation?
https://www.testbiotech.org/en/news/ngt-plants-correcting-flaws-of-the-eu-regulation/
Statement: Requirements for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2026/1388 on plants obtained by certain new genomic techniques and their products in regard to category 1 NGT plants
Morrison O.: Gene-edited soybeans thrive in UK trial as Corteva eyes home-grown protein futureOpens in new window
Chinese Academy of Sciences: Crispr fine-tuning unlocks vitamin C-rich potatoes without yield loss
Verteilung gentechnisch veränderter Pflanzen
Leppert G.: EU genehmigt Sanofi-Förderung: Frankfurts Insulinfabrik soll Europa unabhängig von Importen machen
Only some selected press releases or media reports are listed here. The daily up-date of the press releases and
media reports are
►here: September Week 37
Publications – Publikationen
Li C, Mei D., Cheng H., Pan X., Zhang B. (2026): CRISPR genome editing in plants without tissue culture.Trends in Biotechnology 44, (9), 2611-2628 |https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2025.12.017Get rights and content
Conventional plant genome editing relies on tissue culture-mediated somatic cell regeneration, a technically demanding process that limits its application across diverse species. Emerging strategies now circumvent this bottleneck by enabling direct genome editing of meristematic or germline cells. Key advances include (i) genome editing via de novo meristem induction or dormant meristem activation; (ii) germline editing facilitated by graft-mobile tRNA-like sequence systems and haploid induction technologies; and (iii) optimized viral delivery platforms that exploit mobile RNA elements and compact editors such as TnpB to achieve efficient, transgene-free, heritable modifications across a broad range of genotypes and species. The development of robust, tissue culture-free editing platforms promises to revolutionize crop improvement pipelines and accelerate trait development for sustainable agriculture.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167779925005384
Gao Y.-H., Lin. Q., Wang Y.-J., Cao Y. et al. (2026): Transgene-free genome editing in plants. aBIOTECH, 7 (3), 100057 |
Genome-editing tools for the precise, efficient modification of DNA have led to groundbreaking advances in crop improvement and basic plant science research. However, conventional genome editing may result in the integration of unintended gene fragments into the host genome, along with off-target effects and the risk of genetic drift of resistance genes. By contrast, transgene-free genome editing represents a revolutionary breakthrough due to its ability to 1) achieve precise and stable genomic modifications while minimizing foreign DNA integration through DNA-free or transient delivery of CRISPR components; and 2) deliver ribonucleoprotein complexes (RNPs) or mRNA into the host. In this review, we discuss the core principles of transgene-free genome-editing technologies, including the direct delivery of RNPs, mRNA delivery systems, the precise substitution of single nucleotides using cytosine or adenine base editors (CBEs, ABEs), and the mechanisms behind multiple types of prime editing that use templates for reverse transcriptases. These techniques have driven the development of crops considered nongenetically modified, as they do not contain stably integrated foreign DNA. Finally, we discuss future prospects, including the development of transgene-free genome-editing tools that combine delivery systems with artificial intelligence–assisted optimization, with promising applications for agriculture.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2662173826000718
Solti L. and Fébel H-. (2026): Genetically Modified and Gene-Edited Organisms—Objectives, Public Perception and
Applications . Biology 15 (17), 1563 | https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15171563
Genetic modification and genome editing have become important tools in agriculture, animal production, biotechnology, and human medicine, but their safety and societal acceptance remain subjects of debate. This review examines genetically modified (GM) and gene-edited organisms, distinguishing transgenesis from precision genome editing technologies, including CRISPR/Cas9, base editing, and prime editing. Representative applications in crops, livestock, pharmaceutical production, and xenotransplantation are discussed, together with their regulatory framework and public perception. Current scientific assessments indicate that approved GM foods are not inherently more hazardous to human health than their conventional counterparts when evaluated case by case. Potential benefits include improved nutritional quality, biofortification, disease resistance, increased agricultural efficiency, production of therapeutic proteins, and applications in animal health and medicine. Possible concerns include allergenicity, toxicity, unintended genetic or phenotypic effects, altered nutritional composition, environmental consequences, animal welfare issues, and uncertainties associated with long-term or large-scale deployment. Public acceptance varies substantially according to geographical region, application, cultural and ethical considerations, regulatory environment, scientific literacy, and institutional trust. Overall, GM and gene-edited organisms should not be considered a homogeneous category. Their benefits, risks, and societal acceptability depend on the specific organism, genetic modification, intended trait, and context of use, supporting a balanced, evidence-based, and case-specific approach.
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-7737/15/17/1563
Dong, C.Y., Fei, C.J., McCarl, B.A. et al. (2026): Genetically engineered crop adoption support yields and cultivation under
climate change. Nat. Clim. Chang. | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-026-02737-3
Climate change is altering agricultural production conditions by intensifying heat stress, precipitation extremes and pest pressures. One way of adapting to such changes involves development of plant varieties for increased resilience. Here we conduct a US national-level spatial analysis of the impacts of genetically engineered (GE) crop adoption over the past four decades to show that GE adoption is broadly associated with yield benefits. We show higher yields and lower yield volatility for corn and soybean, with partial attenuation of adverse climate effects on yield, and more modest effects for upland cotton, implying that GE development and associated forces have improved resilience to climate-induced stress. Moreover, GE crop adoption is shown to contribute to dampening the northward shift in US crop cultivation driven by climate change. These results demonstrate that GE crops have functioned not only as productivity-enhancing tools but also as key instruments of climate adaptation.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41558-026-02737-3
Abdullah, M.I., Lamlom, S.F., Emwas, AH. et al. (2026): Genome-wide identification, characterization, evolutionary analysis,
and expression profiling of the FCS-like zinc finger (FLZ) gene family in soybean (Glycine max L.) under abiotic stresses. Sci Rep 16, 28067 | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-67801-6
Drought and salinity limit soybean yield. Despite their role in the SnRK1 energy-sensing complex, a systematic study of FCS-Like Zinc Finger (FLZ) proteins in soybean has not been reported. We performed a genome-wide identification of the GmFLZ gene family, identifying 40 members distributed across 18 of the 20 soybean chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis of 87 FLZ proteins from Glycine max, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Oryza sativa revealed four major evolutionary clades, suggesting that diversification predates the separation of monocots and dicots. Structural analysis identified ten conserved motifs, with Motifs 1 and 2 present in all family members. Gene duplication analysis identified 304 paralogous pairs, most arising from segmental duplication. Ka/Ks analysis indicated localized positive selection in six gene pairs and purifying selection in 97.9% of pairs. Tissue-specific expression profiling across nine tissues showed that GmFLZ5, GmFLZ15, GmFLZ25, and GmFLZ34 had the highest expression levels detected across the GmFLZ family, with GmFLZ5 the most highly expressed member in leaves, nodules, and stem and showing moderate expression in pod, root, and root hairs, whereas GmFLZ18, GmFLZ23, and GmFLZ37 showed root-preferential expression. RT-qPCR validation under drought (20% PEG-6000) and salt (200 mM NaCl) treatments in the Giza 5 cultivar showed that 36 and 34 of the 40 GmFLZ genes, respectively, exhibited at least a two-fold change in expression, with GmFLZ21 and GmFLZ35 among the most strongly induced under salt stress. These findings provide an evolutionary and functional framework for the GmFLZ family and identify candidate genes for future functional studies in soybean stress tolerance.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-67801-6
Bo Zhang B., Luo W., Zhang S., Zhong Y. et al.: (2026): Balancing tuber vitamin C improvement with trade-off side-effect by
fine-tuning regulation of StGGPs, Horticulture Research, uhag191 | https://doi.org/10.1093/hr/uhag191
Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a globally important staple crop. Improving its nutritional quality without compromising yield—a classic manifestation of the growth–defense trade-off—remains a major challenge in modern agriculture. Traditional breeding in potato is hindered by its highly heterozygous genomes and tetrasomic inheritance, making it difficult and time-consuming to introduce and fix new traits. To address this, we applied a gene-editing approach to enhance vitamin C (Vc) content in tubers by mutating the upstream open reading frame (uORF) of two potato GDP-L-galactose phosphorylase (GGP) genes. New variants, with significantly elevated Vc levels, well-balanced nutrient profiles, and maintained yield, were created. The nutritionally enriched tubers retained high Vc content after culinary processing and exhibited substantially increased antioxidant activity. Importantly, we also found that excessive Vc enrichment can disrupt auxin activity, leading to developmental arrest and yield penalties. Thus, our study not only provides an effective strategy for multi-trait improvement in potato, but also offers broader insights into the physiological mechanisms governing the balance between yield and nutritional quality in horticultural crops.
https://academic.oup.com/hr/advance-article/doi/10.1093/hr/uhag191/8677343?login=false
Shimazoe, M.A., Iida, S., Minami, K. et al. (2026): Cohesin prevents local mixing of condensed euchromatic domains in
living human cells. Nat Genet | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-026-02736-2
The human genome is folded into chromatin loops by the cohesin complex, forming functional chromatin domains that underlie transcription and DNA replication/repair. However, how cohesin organizes these domains in living cells, especially in active euchromatin, remains elusive. Here, to address this question, we combined single-nucleosome imaging/tracking and super-resolution three-dimensional structured illumination microscopy with euchromatin-specific labeling of histone variant H3.3. Using this nanoscopic approach, we revealed that euchromatin forms condensed domains that are constrained by cohesin-mediated loops. This organization refines the classical view of euchromatin as largely open, in line with emerging evidence. Transcription machinery appears to be located near the condensed domain surfaces/borders. Cohesin loss increased nucleosome-level fluidity within these domains without altering their overall compaction, leading to local mixing of domains and compromising transcriptional insulation. These findings suggest a physical role of cohesin in maintaining the integrity of condensed euchromatic domains and ensuring proper higher-order regulation of gene expression.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-026-02736-2
Wu Z., Liu F., Cai N., Fang W. et al. (2026): Plant growth regulating compounds from microbial resources: Structural
diversity, biological activities, and applications in sustainable agriculture. Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology 223, 107285 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pestbp.2026.107285
Plant hormones play important roles in plant growth and development and in response to abiotic and biotic stress. The endogenous phytohormones had been widely applied to improve the productivity and the quality of crop products, and enhance the resistance of plant to abiotic stress. Many microbes produce the endogenous phytohormones, like auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acids, jasmonic acids, ethylene, and their analogues, of which some had been commercialized through fermentation and applied in large scale in crop production and ornamental. Other than the endogenous plant growth regulators, microbes also produced structurally diverse secondary metabolites with plant growth regulating (PGR) activities, like amino acid derivatives, peptides, nucleosides, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, and organic acids, esters, lactones and macrolides, amines, etc. With the limited amount of the compound isolated from the microbial cultures, they were only evaluated for the plant growth regulating activities on some model plants, like Arabidopsis thaliana, lettuce and rice, etc. To accelerate the discovery of the microbial secondary metabolites with PGR activities, it is necessary to set up sensitive, robust high-throughput screening system because of the low production titre of the secondary metabolites microbes produce. With the progress in gene editing and synthetic biology, it will help to increase the production tier of the discovered microbial secondary metabolites with PGR activities and accelerate their commercialization. So, this review focuses on endogenous/non-endogenous PGR compounds from microbial resources, especially for their diverse structure, bioactivities, modes of action and applications in sustainable agriculture, which will offer opportunities to discover novel PGRs or biostimulants for green and sustainable development of agriculture.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048357526003469?via%3Dihub
Ghazali M.F.S.M and Muskhazli M. (2026): Potentials of Filamentous Fungi for the Second Generation of Bioethanol
Production: Recent Advances, Enzymatic Strategies, and Biorefinery Integration Biomass 6 (5), 76 | https://doi.org/10.3390/biomass6050076
The increasing global demand for sustainable energy has intensified interest in bioethanol as a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. While first- and second-generation bioethanol technologies have advanced considerably, challenges related to production cost, efficiency, and sustainability remain. Filamentous fungi have emerged as promising biocatalysts due to their ability to produce cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic enzymes that efficiently degrade lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars. Genera including Trichoderma, Aspergillus, Fusarium, Neurospora, and Penicillium play significant roles in enhancing biomass saccharification and improving ethanol production. Co-cultivation strategies involving filamentous fungi and yeasts further enhance substrate utilization, ethanol yield, and process stability, although scalability and culture compatibility remain challenging. Recent advances in metabolic engineering, mutagenesis, and CRISPR-based genome editing have enabled the development of improved fungal strains with enhanced enzymatic performance and substrate conversion efficiency. Beyond bioethanol production, filamentous fungi are increasingly recognized as key components of integrated biorefinery systems through their capacity to utilize diverse feedstocks and generate value-added products, including organic acids, industrial enzymes, and bioactive compounds. Despite limitations such as variable growth rates, substrate heterogeneity, and inhibitory by-products, filamentous fungi represent versatile and sustainable platforms for advancing second-generation bioethanol production and supporting future circular bioeconomy and biorefinery development.