A team of Indian scientists have developed a genetically modified potato which they claim is packed with up to 60 per cent more protein than an ordinary tuber. The potato variant created by researchers at National Institute for Plant Genome Research (NIPGR), here was also found to have increased levels of essential amino acids, which are otherwise limited in potatoes.
Reporting their findings in the journal ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences'', the scientists said these transgenic potatoes will gain much public acceptance than other genetically-modified crops as it uses a gene from another edible crop -- the amaranth seed. "Because potato constitutes an important part of the diet of many people in developed as well as developing countries, it is apparent that this can add value to potato-based products with enhanced benefits for better human health," said Subhra Chakraborty, the lead researcher of the project.
"Our strategy also offers unique opportunities for the genetic engineering of unique traits into the next-generation crop to accrue nutritional benefits," Chakraborty said. The NIPGR scientists inserted the gene called AmA1 (Amaranth Albumin 1) into seven types of potatoes and then grew the transgenic potatoes over two years.
They found that there was a 35-60 per cent increase in total protein content in all varieties of the transgenic potatoes. The tubers were also found to have increased levels of amino acids, notably lysine, tyrosine and sulphur, which are usually limited in potatoes.
Apart from that, the new crop also had more yield per hectare compared to ordinary potatoes. In field trials, the transgenic plants produced 15 to 25 per cent more potatoes per hectare by weight.
The researchers carried out tests on rats and rabbits and found that the new crop has no toxic or allergic effects on them. "This study represents a major technological advance in translational research in which the engineering of a seed storage protein has led to nutritional improvement with essentially no negative collateral effects on crop yield or quality," the researchers said.
"The commercial potential of genetically modified plants depends on stable integration and expression of the transgene under the different genotypic backgrounds of host species, on their wider environmental applicability. "Therefore, our strategy may prove to be more acceptable to the general public than currently used genetically modified crops," they said.
These potatoes have to be cleared by biotech regulators before introduction for commercialisation.
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