UK-based biotech company Tropic used CRISPR-Cas9 to silence the PPO gene, creating non-browning bananas that remain yellow for up to 12 hours post-peel. These gene-edited bananas extend shelf life, reduce global banana waste, save farmers and retailers losses, and could lower CO2 emissions significantly, comparable to removing 2 million cars.
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Picture Courtesy: INDIAN EXPRESS
Scientists have developed a genetically-engineered banana that has a longer shelf-life and less browning.
A banana is a long, curved, edible fruit (botanically a berry) produced by plants in the genus Musa, often characterized by its yellow skin and soft, sweet flesh.
The average length of a banana is about 7 to 9 inches, and it is about 2 to 3 inches in diameter.
Bananas are extensively grown in tropical and subtropical countries.
Bananas are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Particularly vitamin B6, which is important for metabolism and brain development.
Potassium is a key mineral found in bananas, which is important for heart health and muscle function.
Bananas can help with digestion and relieve constipation.
Bananas rank among the world’s most consumed fruits, yet they are also one of the most wasted.
Globally, 40–50% of bananas are lost annually due to their perishable nature, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
In developing countries, poor infrastructure leads to spoilage during transport, while in wealthier nations, consumers and retailers discard overripe or bruised bananas.
A 2017 UK government survey found Britons throw away 1.4 million edible bananas daily. This waste contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, as rotting food in landfills releases methane—a gas 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat.
Bananas ripen rapidly due to ethylene, a hormone they produce continuously even after harvest.
Ethylene activates genes that trigger ripening, including one responsible for producing the enzyme polyphenol oxidase (PPO).
When bananas are peeled, bruised, or cut, PPO reacts with oxygen, breaking down pigments in the fruit and turning it brown.
UK-based biotech company Tropic developed a non-browning banana using CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology. CRISPR editing does not introduce foreign DNA; it tweaks existing genes, a distinction that may ease regulatory and consumer acceptance hurdles.
By precisely silencing the gene that produces PPO, the company disabled the enzyme’s activity without altering other ripening processes. As a result, the bananas stay yellow for up to 12 hours after peeling and resist browning from minor damage during handling.
By maintaining visual appeal longer, these bananas could curb household and retail waste. Tropic claims their innovation could cut global banana waste by half, saving millions of tons of fruit annually.
Farmers and retailers would face fewer losses from bruised or overripe stock. Consumers could buy in bulk without fear of rapid spoilage.
Tropic estimates their bananas could reduce CO2 emissions equivalent to removing 2 million cars from roads yearly by lowering waste-related methane and minimizing resources used in production and transport.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q.Consider the following statements regarding the components of the CRISPR-Cas9 system: 1. Cas9 protein acts as molecular scissors to cleave DNA at a specific location. 2. Guide RNA (gRNA) is a synthetic RNA molecule that complements the target DNA sequence and directs Cas9 to the precise genomic site. 3. CRISPR arrays are short palindromic repeats in bacterial DNA, derived from viral DNA fragments. 4. PAM (Protospacer Adjacent Motif) is a short DNA sequence that must precede the target DNA sequence for Cas9 to bind and cut effectively. Which of the statements given above are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 1, 2, and 3 only C) 2, 3, and 4 only D) 1, 2, 3, and 4 Answer: D Explanation: Statement 1 is correct: Cas9 protein functions as an endonuclease. It precisely cuts both strands of the DNA double helix at a targeted location. Statement 2 is correct: Guide RNA (gRNA) is crucial. It is engineered to contain a sequence complementary to the DNA target. This gRNA guides the Cas9 protein to the correct location in the genome. Statement 3 is correct: CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats. These are repeating sequences found in bacterial DNA. They are interspersed with short sequences derived from viral DNA, acting as a genetic memory of past infections. Statement 4 is correct: A Protospacer Adjacent Motif (PAM) is essential for CRISPR-Cas9 activity. It is a short DNA sequence (2-6 base pairs long) that is necessary for Cas9 binding and cleavage. If the PAM sequence is not present adjacent to the target sequence, Cas9 cannot cut the DNA. |
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