A decade and a half ago, GM tomatoes enriched with useful anthocyanins were created in the UK. But only now they have been allowed to grow freely — and then only in the USA. This decision was made by the APHIS state inspectorate, which controls the turnover of plants and animals. It is described in the message of the British John Innes Center.
Back in 2008, Cathy Martin and her colleagues from this research center demonstrated unusual GM tomatoes enriched with anthocyanins. These plant pigments are considered very useful: they play the role of antioxidants, reduce the level of inflammation, the risk of diabetes and hypertension. It is anthocyanins that give the blue-purple color of blueberries and many other berries.
The purple skin of some tomato varieties is also associated with anthocyanins, although plants produce them in small quantities, and the pigments do not even stain the pulp of the fruit. Therefore, Martin and her colleagues created GM tomatoes carrying a gene-regulator of anthocyanin synthesis borrowed from snapdragon plants. The fruits obtained were not only unusual in appearance, but (according to the assurances of biologists) also useful. In the same work, scientists showed that mice — a laboratory line that easily develops oncological and other diseases — live noticeably longer if they are fed purple GM tomatoes.
At the same time, Katie Martin and her co-authors launched the company Norwich Plant Sciences, which is engaged in bringing new products to the mass market. The process turned out to be even more complicated and lengthy than the creation of the “Big Purple Tomato” itself, as the scientists called their project. Only a few days ago, GM tomatoes finally received official permission from the American Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Now everyone in the United States can freely grow such plants as the most common garden crops, but soon a similar decision is expected in the UK.
Meanwhile, the participants of Big Purple Tomato are popularizing their product and preparing to accept online orders for seeds. Their main goal remains the same — obtaining an official permit for the use of GM tomatoes in food. How many more years it will take is unknown.
A source: https://naked-science.ru/
