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Genetically Engineered Flax: Potential Benefits, Risks, Regulations, and Mitigation of Transgene Movement
Author(s) -
Jhala Amit J.,
Weselake Randall J.,
Hall Linda M.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
crop science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.76
H-Index - 147
eISSN - 1435-0653
pISSN - 0011-183X
DOI - 10.2135/cropsci2009.05.0251
Subject(s) - linum , biology , biosafety , microbiology and biotechnology , genetically modified organism , transgene , genetically modified crops , nutraceutical , polyunsaturated fatty acid , eicosapentaenoic acid , docosahexaenoic acid , bioenergy , fatty acid , botany , biofuel , food science , gene , biochemistry
Flax ( Linum usitatissimum L.) has been grown for more than 6000 years, primarily for oil and fiber. Advances in plant biotechnology have resulted in flax cultivars with increased herbicides resistance and there is potential to produce transgenic flax with seed oil containing fatty acids with nutraceutical properties. Flax oil is a rich source of α‐linolenic acid (ALA, 18:3 cis Δ9,12,15 ), a precursor of the very long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (VLCPUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5 cis Δ5,8,11,14,17 ), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 cis Δ4,7,10,13,16,19 ). Current research on medicinal applications of ω‐3 fatty acids, especially to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, suggests that genetic modification of flax may provide substantial health benefits. There are concerns, however, with the commercialization of genetically engineered (GE) flax (which includes the potential movement of transgenes by pollen and seed, and subsequent introgression with weedy and wild relatives, impact on non‐target organisms, and changes in biodiversity). A prerequisite to the unconfined cultivation of transgenic flax is an environmental risk assessment analysis. In this paper, we discuss the history and current status of genetic transformations in flax, potential benefits and consequences of GE flax, and the government regulatory framework in Canada for regulating novel flax. Finally, we discuss the best management practices to mitigate transgene movement from transgenic flax. Our intent was to evaluate biology and agronomy to predict the environmental biosafety of GE flax before commercial cultivation.