What is Golden Rice?

About Golden Rice:

• It is a new type of rice that contains beta carotene (provitamin A, a plant pigment that the body converts into vitamin A as needed). This compound is what gives this grain its yellow-orange or golden color.
• It is developed through genetic engineering.
• While ordinary rice does produce beta carotene, it is not found in the grain. Thus, scientists used genetic engineering to add the compound to the grain – a minor tweak that improved the grain’s nutritive value.
  • The beta carotene in Golden Rice, which was made possible by the addition of two new enzymes, is identical to the beta-carotene found in green leafy and yellow-colored vegetables, orange-colored fruit, and even in many vitamin supplements and food ingredients.
• Like ordinary rice, Golden Rice does not require any special cultivation practices, and generally has the same yield and agronomic performance.
• This rice is expected to cost and taste the same as regular rice, its beta carotene content makes it a valuable asset in the battle against Vitamin A deficiency (VAD).
  • Vitamin A is an essential micronutrient for growth, development, and keeping the body’s visual and immune systems healthy.
  • VAD weakens the body’s resistance to diseases and infections, causes blindness, and may even result in death if left untreated.

Q1: What is Genetic engineering?

It refers to the direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using advanced DNA technology. It involves the introduction, deletion or modification of genes within an organism’s DNA to produce desirable traits.

Source: What is golden rice — and why has a Philippine court put a stop to its commercial production?

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