crispr

Gene-edited yeasts transform bread and give rice wine a banana taste

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Yeast - Saccharomyces cerevisiae

An illustration of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), which can be genetically modified to transform foods Shutterstock/ART-ur By editing the genomes of yeast, we can make bread with a stronger rise, potato chips that contain fewer potential carcinogens and rice wine that tastes like bananas. Yeasts have been used in food production for millennia. The microorganisms direct … Read more

CRISPR-edited trees reduce the energy and water required to make paper

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CRISPR-edited poplar trees (left) and unedited poplar trees (right)

CRISPR-edited poplar trees (left) and unedited poplars (right) Chenmin Yang Using CRISPR to genetically edit trees could dramatically cut the energy footprint of the paper industry. Making paper is both energy and water intensive, says Jack Wang at North Carolina State University. In 2021, the industry’s global carbon footprint was estimated to be 190 million … Read more