Someone Just Ate the First-Ever CRISPR Genetically Modified Meal
The meal of the future is here
The new DNA splicing tool, CRISPR, got a lot of coverage this year, including its own joke hashtag. Nishimasu et al, 2014
For the first time ever, scientists have prepared and served an entire meal of foods genetically altered using the CRISPR editing enzyme.
Swedish researchers served pasta and fried vegetables to two people—and both the vegetables and the grain used in the pasta had been edited.
CRISPR is making some big news this week: the first product edited with the enzyme, corn, may be on sale in the near future.
Genetically modified crops would be easier to grow successfully, and CRISPR has endless potential to make them more healthy, visually appealing, to give them longevity on shelves, and to make them taste better.
Whether genetic modification can get us to eat more vegetables is another question altogether.