The five: genetically modified fruit
by Bertille Duthoit from on (#46WE1)
New varieties created through genetic editing and engineering promise to beat disease, and offer enticing new flavours
It was reported this week that Brazilian scientists are hoping to create spicy tomatoes using Crispr gene-editing techniques. Although tomatoes contain the genes for capsaicinoids (the chemicals that give chillies their heat) they are dormant - Crispr could be used to make them active. This is desirable because, compared to tomatoes, chillies are difficult to farm - and capsaicinoids have other useful applications besides their flavour - in pepper spray for example.
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