Sunday Evening News 490/ 2026
Weekly report on genetic engineering, genome editing, biotechnology and legal regulation.
September 2026-09-14 - 2026-09-20 Week 38
Meetings und Veranstaltungen
Gentechnisch veränderte Mikroorganismen - Online Vortrag mit Franziska Achterberg
Press Releases - Media / Presse- und Medienberichte
MPG: Sex ohne Zufall: Eine Pflanze stellt ein Grundprinzip der Genetik infrage
https://www.mpg.de/26975824/sex-ohne-zufall-eine-pflanze-stellt-ein-grundprinzip-der-genetik-infrage
Bruno Studer, wann kommen in der Schweiz trockentolerante CRISPR-Nutzpflanzen auf den Acker?
Glyphosat: Aurelia Stiftung reicht Untätigkeitsklage gegen EU-Kommission ein
https://www.presseportal.de/pm/134345/6352837
Schatt M.: Vom Feld bis zum Teller: Wie das Mikrobiom unsere Gesundheit beeinflusst
ETC Group & GRAIN :Top 10 agribusiness giants: Corporate concentration in food & farming - 2026 Update
Gene-edited soya shows promise in UK field trials
https://www.fwi.co.uk/arable/crop-selection/gene-edited-soya-shows-promise-in-uk-field-trials
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 38
Publications – Publikationen
Saini, K., Giri, D. (2026): Risk governance of transgenic plants: bridging science, policy, and public trust. Transgenic Res 35,
38 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-026-00514-8
Transgenic plants and genome editing technologies are revolutionizing agriculture through sustainable approaches to food security, pest management, and adaptation to climate change; but their widespread use is hampered by regulatory systems that are fragmented, ethics considerations, and an ongoing lack of trust from the general public. In contrast to other literature that evaluates regulation processes and public acceptance separately, our review paper introduces a new, holistic approach that includes both technical risk assessment from a scientific perspective, and Codex Alimentarius and OECD standards, and the socio-legal and judicial environment of how the national policy decisions are actually made. The paper provides a comparative, historical analysis of the key difference between product- and process-based risk governance in the USA, the EU, and India. Through the use of case studies with global significance like MON810 maize, Bt Brinjal, and the April 2024 Philippine Court of Appeals’ order for cease-and-desist of Golden Rice, we discuss the increasing tension between administrative scientific approvals and precautionary judicial orders. We further explore the emerging exemptions to regulation of Site-Directed Nuclease (SDN-1 and SDN-2) genome edited crops which led to India’s revolutionary 2025 commercialization of climate-resilient rice crops. Our review ends with a forward-looking approach to biotechnology regulation policy, making an appeal to shift from static historical dichotomies towards flexible risk-proportionate and internationally coordinated regulatory systems. Finally, we show that global success of agricultural biotechnology is not just about safety verification, but rather about establishment of transparent and communicable institutions that can transform scientific risk assessments into legitimate risk management decisions.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-026-00514-8
Koralesky K. E., Mooney K., Shriver A., Weary D.M. (2026): Public acceptance of emerging biotechnologies in animal
agriculture. Food and Humanity 7, 101456 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foohum.2026.101456
Biotechnologies are being developed in animal agriculture to address societal concerns related to disease, resistance to antimicrobials, and sustainability. Understanding public acceptance of these technologies and views about food produced using them is essential to inform technology development. We conducted a mixed-method survey with North American participants (n = 1340) and used a hypothesized causal trust-acceptability model and open-ended questions to investigate acceptance of two biotechnologies: antimicrobial peptides (AMP) and gene editing (GE). Structural equation modeling showed that trust in institutions had the largest total effect on acceptance, acting primarily through indirect pathways of increased perceived benefit and reduced perceived risk, with a smaller, direct effect on acceptance. Participants had higher levels of trust in institutions and perceived AMP to be more beneficial, acceptable, and less risky compared to GE. In open-ended responses, participants wanted to know more about AMP and GE (e.g., purpose, mechanisms of action) and had specific questions related to biotechnology risks and safety, animal welfare, and human impacts. Participants argued that both biotechnologies could improve or harm animal welfare, weighed implications for disease management, and saw potential benefits for humans. Participants also discussed the naturalness of AMP and GE, and considered their level of trust in the institutions behind technology development. These results offer insight into views about biotechnologies in animal agriculture, can support technology developers and policy makers in evaluating which technologies to develop, and may improve communication between technology developers and publics.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949824426004647
De Storme N. (2026): CRISPR crops are coming to Europe — why bolder would be better
For farmers and consumers to reap the benefits, guidelines for farming gene-edited plants must be implemented with careful thought.
Nature 657, 576 | https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-02848-zhttps://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-02848-z
Gao Y.-H., Lin Q., Wang Y.-J., Cao Y. et al. (2026): Transgene-free genome editing in plants. aBIOTECH 7 100057 |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abiote.2026.100057
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?via%3Dihub
Awopetu M.J., Isiaka I.D., Merenini I.F., Oyejobi V.I., Michael S.V., Abubakari A. (2026): Genome editing in Africa: A review of
technological advances, applications, and the path forward. Scientific African 33, e03445 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sciaf.2026.e03445
Genome editing, particularly CRISPR-Cas9, represents an essential toolset for modern biotechnology with broad applications in health and agriculture. This review assesses the current landscape of genome editing in Africa, charting the evolution from expensive, protein-guided systems like ZFNs and TALENs to the accessible RNA-guided CRISPR platform that has democratized the technology across the continent. We examine its growing application in developing solutions for Africa-specific challenges, including climate-resilient crops, pest- and disease-resistant staples such as Striga-resistant sorghum and virus-resistant cassava, and disease-tolerant livestock. In human health, we highlight the development of low cost diagnostics for infectious diseases and the significant therapeutic potential for genetic disorders like sickle cell disease, which disproportionately affects African populations. Concurrently, we analyze the multifaceted challenges that impede wider adoption and equitable access. These barriers include fragmented regulatory frameworks that create regional inconsistencies, systemic infrastructural deficits driven by limited domestic funding, and critical shortages in trained human capital. We also explore the complex social and ethical considerations, from the global debate on human germline editing to the pressing need to ensure affordable access to transformative therapies. By providing a comprehensive analysis of both the progress and the pitfalls, this paper offers a forward looking perspective and strategic recommendations designed to unlock the potential of genome editing for sustainable development in Africa.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2468227626002693
Sharmin Islam, S., Gupta D.R., Islam R. (2026): CHAPTER 21 - Developing rice tolerance to abiotic stress through gene editing technologies. Advances in Rice Research for Abiotic Stress Tolerance | 10.1016/B978-0-443-33465-8.00003-7
Rice (Oryza sativa L.), a staple crop feeding over half the global population, faces mounting threats from climate-driven abiotic stresses such as drought, salinity, flooding, extreme temperatures, and heavy metal toxicity. Conventional breeding and transgenic methods struggle to address polygenic stress tolerance. Still, emerging gene or genome editing toolkits (e.g., clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated, CRISPR-Cas, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, TALENs, base editing and prime editing [BE and PE]) now enable precise and nontransgenic engineering for stress-resilient rice varieties. This chapter updates and discusses the breakthroughs in editing critical stress-responsive genes, including OsPYL9 (ABA-mediated drought adaptation), SUB1A (submergence tolerance), OsNramp5 (cadmium exclusion), and DST (salinity resilience), with field-validated outcomes such as OsSRL1-knockout lines (drought and salinity tolerance) and OsWRKY63-edited plants (cold tolerance). BE and PE further expands possibilities through single-nucleotide precision and multiplex edits, exemplified by herbicide-resistant rice via OsALS1 and OsEPSPS modifications. Despite progress, challenges persist, including off-target effects, inefficient delivery in recalcitrant cultivars, and a fragmented regulatory landscape. We highlight strategic innovations, enhanced homologous recombination (HDR), nanoparticle-mediated delivery, and AI-guided trait predictions as keys to scaling climate-resilient rice. Harmonizing global regulations and fostering public trust are equally critical for adoption. By bridging molecular discoveries with agronomic applications, this chapter offers a roadmap for researchers, policymakers, and breeders to accelerate the development of next-generation, climate-smart rice, safeguarding food security in an era of environmental instability.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/chapter/edited-volume/abs/pii/B9780443334658000037
Demir, B., Aydin, E.A. & Sağlam, A. (2026): Bridging the bench-to-field gap: a quantitative multi-omics and CRISPR/Cas9
framework for climate-resilient agriculture. Transgenic Res 35, 36 | https://doi.org/10.1007/s11248-026-00513-9
Global climate change and shrinking freshwater supplies threaten agricultural sustainability. A major translational bottleneck exists: drought-tolerant genotypes developed in labs often fail in open-field conditions due to phenotypic mismatch. Traditional single-gene approaches and static lab tests overlook genotype-by-environment (G × E) interactions, hormonal tradeoffs (involving Abscisic Acid, Jasmonic Acid, Brassinosteroids, and Melatonin), and artificial effects of pots. This review presents an integrated quantitative selection framework to bridge lab and field results. In this review, we propose a conceptual three-stage Predictive Translational Workflow designed to bridge lab and field outcomes by integrating multi-omics envirotyping with advanced mixed models like (G × E)-BLUP and MegaLMM. These methods group complex transcriptomic and metabolomic data into functional networks, filtering out lab artifacts and pinpointing core regulatory nodes stable in real climates. Finally, we show how this pipeline enables precise CRISPR/Cas9 editing of native promoters, reducing agronomic yield penalties in normal conditions and offering a streamlined, non-GMO path to field-resilient crops.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11248-026-00513-9
Liu, Y., Li, W., Li, R. et al. (2026): Pan-genome-based resequencing of 2,320 accessions reveals structural variations and
accelerates breeding advances in cultivated peanut. Nat Genet | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-026-02765-x
The cultivated peanut is a crucial global legume crop that is essential for food security and nutrition, particularly in developing regions. However, its limited genetic variation hampers breeding progress and yield improvement. Here we constructed a graph-based pan-genome for peanut, incorporating 14 genomes that represent all 6 peanut varieties. Using this pan-genome, we genotyped 2,320 accessions, covering 88.03% of ICRISAT and 59.21% of USDA core germplasm, enriching valuable resources for genomic studies and breeding. We cataloged genomic structural variations and investigated the role of homoeologous exchanges in population divergence. Through our pan-genome approach, we overcame the challenges of genotyping posed by homoeologous exchanges and identified key genes associated with flowering and dwarfism in peanut. By integrating superior haplotypes and germplasm resources guided by the pan-genome, we further developed high-yield dwarf lines. This work provides essential genomic resources to accelerate functional gene discovery and modern peanut breeding.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-026-02765-x
Van Haeften, S., Brunner, S.M., Hayes, B.J. et al. (2026): Crop legacies as genetic targets for sustainable farming systems.
Nat Genet | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-026-02744-2
Food production must rise while its environmental footprint falls, an imperative sharpened by pressure to use fewer external inputs. Meeting this challenge requires gains from aspects that crop breeding has so far overlooked. One such source is the soil, because every crop transforms the environment in which it grows, shaping the conditions experienced by the next crop. We propose that these legacy effects, expressed through altered soil nutrients, water, structure and microbial communities, could offer new breeding targets. Many traits that modulate these effects vary within major crop species, and this variation is heritable and therefore selectable. We advocate breeding for farming systems to exploit this untapped genetic dimension. We outline the mechanisms underpinning this relationship, the frameworks needed to quantify it and the practical challenges of integrating legacy-aware selection into breeding pipelines. Every crop leaves a legacy, and understanding this provides a pathway to a more sustainable agricultural future.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41588-026-02744-2
Ruden D.M. (2026): Prime Editing for Precision Genetic Medicine: A Systematic Review of Technologies, Delivery, and
Therapeutic Applications. Genes 17 (9), 1138 | https://doi.org/10.3390/genes17091138
Background: Prime editing has rapidly evolved from a CRISPR-based “search-and-replace” approach for precise sequence modification into a diverse family of genome editing technologies. This systematic review maps the technological evolution of prime editing, with emphasis on editor architecture, guide RNA engineering, delivery, therapeutic applications, computational approaches, and emerging capabilities. Methods: PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched for studies in which prime editing constituted a substantive experimental, technological, computational, delivery, or therapeutic component. After deduplication and screening, candidate studies underwent manual re-screening against prespecified eligibility criteria. Reviews, corrections, plant and bacterial studies, conventional CRISPR or base editing studies without a substantive prime editing component, and other non-relevant records were excluded. A total of 294 studies were included in the final systematic evidence synthesis. Because of substantial heterogeneity in editor architectures, targets, experimental models, outcomes, and reporting, the literature was synthesized using systematic mapping and qualitative thematic analysis rather than meta-analysis. Results: The evidence demonstrates rapid diversification from the original Cas9 nickase–reverse transcriptase–prime editing guide RNA architecture through improvements in pegRNA design, Cas and reverse transcriptase engineering, DNA repair modulation, delivery, computational design, and increasingly complex sequence modification. Therapeutic studies span disease modeling, correction of pathogenic variants, ex vivo applications, and direct in vivo editing; however, high editing efficiency does not necessarily translate into functional or therapeutic rescue. Large-sequence insertion and replacement strategies further extend the capabilities of prime editing, although these approaches remain less mature than small-sequence correction and face substantial challenges in efficiency, fidelity, cargo delivery, and genomic safety. Conclusions: Prime editing has developed into a versatile precision genome editing platform, but the evidence base remains heterogeneous and predominantly preclinical. Translation to genetic medicine will require improvements in reproducibility across targets and cell types, delivery to clinically relevant tissues, product purity, genomic safety, and demonstration of meaningful functional benefit. Emerging large-sequence editing approaches broaden the potential scope of prime editing but should be distinguished from technologies with established experimental and therapeutic evidence.
https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4425/17/9/1138
Fletcher, S., Gunasekara, S., Narva, K. et al .(2026): Advancing the adoption of RNA interference-based biopesticides.
Nat. Plants | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41477-026-02409-2
RNA interference (RNAi)-based biopesticides use a natural cellular mechanism to specifically silence genes essential for pest or pathogen fitness, offering a targeted and potentially safer alternative to conventional chemical sprays. The recent registration of the first products targeting Colorado potato beetle and varroa mite marks the transition of this technology from proof of concept to practical reality. With technical feasibility established, attention is shifting to the drivers determining adoption into pest management strategies. The potential for uptake by farmers can be framed within a decision-making process that weighs the choice to deploy this new tool against a backdrop of environmental concerns, widespread pesticide resistance and increasing regulatory restrictions related to conventional synthetic chemistries. Shifting dynamics have influenced the return-on-investment proposition, where agricultural utility (safe and reliable efficacy against pests and pathogens), regulatory reality (barriers to availability) and social licence (public perception and acceptance of novel biotechnologies) act as the levers shifting the cost–benefit ratio of RNAi-based biopesticides relative to conventional options. Advancements in bioinformatics-driven double-stranded RNA design, risk assessment and delivery systems position RNAi-based biopesticides as an alternative to fill the market gap created by the withdrawal of conventional chemistries. However, widespread adoption must navigate fragmented international regulatory harmonization and the challenges of developing a social licence to operate, specifically regarding public perceptions of safety, residues and the use of novel biotechnology tools.