"is Golden Rice Really All It's Cracked Up To Be?"

Golden Rice is rice that has been genetically engineered so that the genes that code for the production of beta-carotene, this is the molecule that produces Vitamin A in the gut, are present in the part of the rice plant that we eat. This way people who live in poorer countries where there is a vitamin A deficiency can consume Vitamin A in the simple food rice.

Synthesizing beta-carotene is complex, but most of the enzymes needed are present in the endosperm. In order for the metabolic pathway to be activated in these cells, 2 genes must be inserted into the rice genome. These genes code for Phytoene synthase (from daffodil plants) and Crt 1 enzyme (from bacteria in the soil). These genes are inserted into the rice genome and this activates genes associated with endosperm development and so were expressed as the endosperm grew. Although this rice contains Beta-carotene it was estimated that someone would have to eat large amounts to take in a sufficient quantity of beta-carotene.

Golden rice has been grown with local rice cultivars in the Philippines, Taiwan and with the American rice cultivar `Cocodrie`. The first field trials of these golden rice cultivars were conducted by Louisiana State University Agricultural Centre in 2004. Field testing will allow a more accurate measurement of the nutritional value of golden rice, and will enable feeding tests to be performed. Preliminary results from the field tests have shown field-grown golden rice produces 4 to 5 times more beta-carotene than golden rice grown under greenhouse conditions.

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? A new variety of Golden rice which was developed in laboratories in the UK has been proven to produce more beta-carotene, and possibly within the next 5 years research centres across Asia will begin field trials on the rice.

Golden rice could be a great breakthrough in helping combat nutrient deficiencies, although the best way to do this would be through balanced diets, many countries cannot afford for their inhabitants to have such a diet and so the second best option is using genetically modified foods such as golden rice to get them the nutrients they need, for a lower cost. Distribution of Golden rice to people who need it would also be very simple and the cost a lot lower than getting vitamin supplements to them. Vitamin A deficiency is a major problem in large parts of the developing world. An estimated 250,000 to 500,000 VA-deficient children go blind every year. It can also weaken the immune system, therefore increasing the risk of infectious diseases and increasing infant mortality rates. For adults, the implications can be serious too, especially for pregnant women. Nearly 600,000 women die from childbirth-related causes each year, many of them from complications which could be reduced through better provision of vitamin A. Genetically modified rice would also increase rice yields throughout the world as it could be modified to be resistant to pesticides, herbicides and diseases.

? Although some groups believe that golden rice is not the best answer to Vitamin A deficiency. They say that an overall better balanced diet is a better solution, as people who are deficient in Vitamin A are most likely deficient in other things as well. GM crops have been found to be unstable in their genetic makeup and this can result in some unintended effects on consumers, evidence has shown that this can cause a negative effect on animals and this is likely to be the same with Golden Rice. Also Golden Rice has not been proven safe to eat, it has not been tested on animals and there are serious doubts to whether Golden rice would be ok for humans to consume, Golden Rice could in fact cause harmful effects on people who eat it. Some of the breakdown products of beta-carotene can be extremely dangerous and toxic, especially to infants and during pregnancy. These effects have not been tested and so may actually be a real danger with Golden Rice. It is especially important to carry out such tests of GM foods because unexpected toxins could arise from the production process itself, this could cause different enzymes to be produced which could cause an unintended effect. Defenders of Golden Rice say that beta-carotene is broken down differently in animals than it is in humans and so animal testing would not be relevant. Golden Rice is not a direct source of Vitamin A and does not contain it; it is unknown how much Vitamin A is actually released from the Golden Rice.

In conclusion if effective Golden Rice could be a great source of Vitamin A and could be a great help in the fight against poverty and vitamin deficiency. Although on the other hand Golden Rice is not a single solution and until it has been properly tested and all side effects explored it should not be sold to the public for consumption.