Horizon Scanning

During the horizon scanning process, scientific publications are screened and evaluated to identify and analyze possible environmental effects of new technical developments and their applications in the field of genetic engineering/biotechnology considering the precautionary principle. The results of the horizon scanning are made available to the public in form of short summaries. It is an ongoing collection of current literature that does not claim to be complete and is continuously updated.
The current focus of the horizon scanning process can be found → here and a glossary with explanations of the most important terms can be found  here

Template plasmid integration in germline genome-edited cattle

Scientist at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) evaluated whole genome sequencing data of cattle that have been genetically modified so that they do not grow horns (polled). The cattle were originally modified with TALENs and the polled property was introduced into the cattle genome using a SDN-2/3 approach (original publication: Carlson, DF et […]

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The complex architecture and epigenomic impact of plant T-DNA insertions

Scientists detected structural irregularities, unwanted changes and T-DNA (transfer DNA from plasmids) integration by using whole genome sequencing methods after transformation of the plant using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens plasmid. They used a novel sequencing method called Nanopore long-read DNA sequencing technology, that enables the sequencing of long stretches of DNA. Apparently, the integration of T-DNA […]

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An EU Perspective on Biosafety Considerations for Plants Developed by Genome Editing and Other New Genetic Modification Techniques (nGMs)

The paper examines risks posed by plants produced using new genetic modification techniques (nGMs). For this purpose, a literature survey was conducted from January 2011 to June 2017 and important aspects for a suitable risk assessment were discussed using market-orientated applications in plants. The authors conclude that even small changes in the genome and the […]

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What is the available evidence for the range of applications of genome editing as a new tool for plant trait modification and the potential occurrence of associated off-target effects: a systematic map

This is a systematic review that provides an overview of publications in which genome editing was used to change the genome of plants and investigates the occurrence of off-target effects (from January 1996 to May 2018 inclusive). Applications of genome editing techniques (CRISPR/Cas, TALENs, ZNF, meganucleases, ODM and base editors) on agriculturally relevant plants, as […]

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