Genome-edited foods are finally on the table! -2021 Life sciences you should know 2

Sachiko Takahashi, president of GeneQuest Co., Ltd. and Executive Officer of Euglena Co., Ltd., which provides gene analysis services, is also a life scientist who studies the genome and the mechanism of life. Continuing from the last time, I am listening to the latest information on life science that I should know now in 2021.

Speaking of life science news, the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry announced in October last year. Two researchers who developed the genome editing technology "CRISPR (Crisper) / Cas9 (Cas9)" that manipulates the targeted gene with extremely high accuracy received the award and became a hot topic.

What is the difference between genome editing and genetic modification? What is the "life science thinking" that will be needed in the future?

Genome editing food approved for the first time in Japan

-Mr. Takahashi talked about human genome editing before, but what is the most familiar topic of genome editing for us now?

It is a story that foods that apply genome editing will be distributed in Japan soon. It will be on the market within a year or two.

The first food is "tomato". Genes are manipulated using genome editing technology to contain more of the amino acid "GABA" than general tomatoes. GABA is a component that lowers blood pressure and is said to be good for stress relief and brain fatigue.

In December of last year, the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare judged that there was no problem with the safety of this developed tomato, and it was approved for sale as the first "genome-edited food" in Japan.

"Genetically modified" and "genome editing" are completely different!

-"Genetically modified" also manipulates genes, right? What is the difference from "genome editing"?

Genetic modification and genome editing tend to look the same, but they are completely different.
Genetic modification is an image of incorporating a gene that the plant does not originally have, but genome editing changes the functionality by changing one base of the genome sequence that the plant originally has. It means that there are mutations that can occur in nature. It's completely different from genetically modified.

Until now, genetically modified foods have been pushed out for producer benefits such as being cheap to make and easy to grow, but genome-edited foods are tasty and rich in nutrients. If anything, consumer benefits are claimed.

Genome-edited fresh foods such as eggs that are currently under development and are said to have less allergies, red sea bream with a large amount of meat, and mackerel that is easy to cultivate will appear in the Japanese market in the future.​

-Does genome editing mean that mutations that could occur in nature someday can be targeted and caused without human intervention?

That's right. Since the genes that are originally possessed are edited, the predictability of property changes is high, and since the target gene sequence can be changed, the breeding period can be shortened.

Although the stance differs depending on the country, in Japan, we judge that "genome-edited foods with broken genes are no different from foods by conventional breeding", and in 2019, we will set up a system that can be sold after notification. It was newly established.

But in reality, some people are against genome-editing foods. A survey was conducted as to whether or not they would like to eat genome-edited foods, but about 40% of the respondents answered that they did not want to eat them.

However, on the other hand, when the same people who answered "Do you know what genome editing is like?", About 90% of the respondents "do not know much" or "do not know at all" about genome editing. I answered. In other words, some people are unfamiliar with genome editing and oppose it.

■ When you come across something new or unknown

It's hard to understand everything, but I think it 's dangerous to oppose it without understanding what it's like. The same goes for vaccines against the new coronavirus. I feel that there are quite a lot of people who are talking about emotional theory, "I don't know, but I'm afraid I don't want to hit it." If we treat it with such emotional theory, we will end up in a society where vaccines are not used even if they are very useful. There is a possibility that only information that poses a risk, along with feelings of fear or anxiety, will spread first, resulting in a society in which benefits cannot be taken.

To prevent this from happening, first understand the information without feelings, and then think about the feelings of "then what you want to do". After understanding the genome-edited foods properly, I think it's good if you say "whether you want to eat or not" and "whether you agree or disagree". When you come across something new or unknown, the method of inputting information and outputting it based on your emotions is an important attitude.

■ "Life science thinking" that is useful for surviving the present era

― “First, separate information and emotions” is a necessary way of thinking to live well in this era of information. You may be anxious because of the information that contains negative emotions.

However, having the feeling of anxiety is evidence that the gene is functioning properly. It is a defensive function to detect and avoid a crisis in preparation for a crisis. We, human beings, are also living things, so all actions taken by human beings are based on the principles of living things. Eating rice when you are hungry and sleeping when you get sleepy are proof that you are acting according to the principle of life that survives as an individual and prospers as a seed. We also engage in social activities with others in order to increase the probability of survival through group life.

When you feel anxious, it is important to understand that it is due to the function of genes, clarify what you are feeling anxious about, and think about how to deal with it. is. You don't have to worry about uncertain, non-specific anxieties. Considering the biological mechanism, I think it will be very easy to live.

■ I feel lonely because I really need help

-It is natural to feel lonely when you are alone, considering the biological mechanism.

I agree. For example, I gave birth last year, and it is often said that women who have just given birth tend to feel lonely. This is because the expression level of estrogen drops at once immediately after childbirth, but it is thought to be a function of a gene that encourages childcare in groups rather than alone by making it easier to feel lonely. ..

At that time, it is very nonsense to worry about "I feel very lonely ..." or "I wonder if I am disqualified from my mother because I can't raise my child alone." Thinking from the biological mechanism, by understanding that "childcare must be done in a group" or "it is not because of my own ability problem or inferior ability", I can act It will change and I think it will save you a lot.

-Mr. Takahashi's book, "Life Science Thinking that Changes the" View "of Business and Life," also proposes this way of thinking.

This book talks about the importance of knowing the principles of life as I talked about, and not only thinking in line with biological mechanisms, but also the ability to create a future in which you want to live independently, what you want to do... Nowadays, there may be quite a few people who are worried about the future and outlook, especially in the case of Corona, but I hope it will give you a hint as to what to think in such a case.

Listener / Sentence / Asami Cho

Click here for Mr. Takahashi's new book, "Life Science Thinking that Changes the" View "of Business and Life."