Featured
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Letter |
A faster Rubisco with potential to increase photosynthesis in crops
The plant enzyme Rubisco is the main enzyme converting atmospheric carbon dioxide into biological compounds, however, this enzymatic process is inefficient in vascular plants; this study demonstrates that tobacco plants can be engineered to fix carbon with a faster cyanobacterial Rubisco, thus potentially improving plant photosynthesis.
- Myat T. Lin
- , Alessandro Occhialini
- & Maureen R. Hanson
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Letter |
Polymerase IV occupancy at RNA-directed DNA methylation sites requires SHH1
In Arabidopsis, RNA-directed DNA methylation is a poorly understood gene silencing pathway in which small interfering RNAs generated by RNA polymerase IV (Pol-IV) target a DNA methyltransferase to its sites of action; here structural and genomic analyses demonstrate that SHH binds chromatin via repressive histone modifications and recruits Pol-IV to enable siRNA production.
- Julie A. Law
- , Jiamu Du
- & Steven E. Jacobsen
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News |
Maize cells produce enzyme-replacement drug
A genetic tweak keeps problematic plant sugars off therapeutic proteins.
- Monya Baker
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Research Highlights |
Engineered plants can use phosphite
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News & Views |
Rooting for more phosphorus
The identification of an enzyme in rice that confers improved plant yields on phosphorus-deficient soils could open up new avenues for generating nutrient-efficient crops that can thrive on marginally fertile soils. See Letter p.535
- Leon V. Kochian
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News |
Monsanto may lose GM soya royalties throughout Brazil
Farmers notch up another victory in legal fight.
- Luisa Massarani
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Letter |
Widespread adoption of Bt cotton and insecticide decrease promotes biocontrol services
The widespread use of Bt crops reduces the outbreaks of certain targeted pests and the need for insecticide use, leading to enhanced biocontrol of other potential pest species in the Bt crops; neighbouring non-Bt crops may also benefit.
- Yanhui Lu
- , Kongming Wu
- & Nicolas Desneux
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News |
India investigates Bt cotton claims
Research council launches probe into how Monsanto gene ended up in its indigenous transgenic cotton.
- K.S. Jayaraman
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Comment |
Preventing hunger: Biotechnology is key
If African countries can't plant genetically modified crops to produce more and healthier food, vulnerable populations will be at risk, argues Calestous Juma.
- Calestous Juma
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News |
Rice seed yields blood protein
Human serum albumin from transgenic rice could ease shortages of donated blood.
- Lauren Gravitz
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News |
Brazil cooks up transgenic bean
Approval draws criticism over transparency and safety tests.
- Jeff Tollefson
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News |
Transgenic grass skirts regulators
Technological advances remove basis for government oversight of genetically modified crops.
- Heidi Ledford
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Correspondence |
Controversy over GM maize in Peru
- Luis Fernando Rimachi Gamarra
- , Jorge Enrique Alcántara
- & Rodomiro Ortiz
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News |
Sterile moths wipe out cotton pest
Arizona farms are all but 'pinkie'-free for the first time in nearly a century.
- Heidi Ledford
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News |
GM maize offers windfall for conventional farms
Farmers using non-transgenic varieties save the most money and help GM plants succeed.
- Joseph Milton
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Editorial |
Transgenic harvest
African nations are laying foundations to extend the use of GM technology on the continent.
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News |
Uganda prepares to plant transgenic bananas
Sweet pepper gene confers resistance to bacterial wilt.
- Linda Nordling
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News |
Plagiarism plagues India's genetically modified crops
Transgenic aubergine still banned after encouraging report is discredited.
- Priya Shetty
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News |
GM crop escapes into the American wild
Transgenic canola found growing freely in North Dakota.
- Natasha Gilbert
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News |
Fears over Europe's GM crop plan
A proposal to let nations opt out of growing European-approved GM varieties is under fire from all sides.
- Andrea Chipman
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News |
GM crop use makes minor pests major problem
Pesticide use rising as Chinese farmers fight insects thriving on transgenic crop.
- Jane Qiu
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News |
A new dawn for transgenic crops in Europe?
Approval of the Amflora potato could signal a fresh approach to genetically modified organisms.
- Declan Butler
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News |
India's transgenic aubergine in a stew
Environment ministry rejects bid to grow genetically modified crop.
- K. S. Jayaraman
Adenylate cyclase activity of TIR1/AFB auxin receptors in plants