ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE
While some scientists argue that agricultural gene editing regulations are overly restrictive, a new paper from the University of Adelaide emphasises the importance of clear regulations to ensure new technologies are used safely and responsibly
A recent paper from the University of Adelaide is drawing attention to the crucial role of regulatory frameworks in agricultural gene editing. While some scientists argue that current regulations are overly restrictive, the authors emphasize the need for clear guidelines to ensure these emerging technologies are applied safely and responsibly.
The paper, published in The Plant Journal, features contributions from researchers Dr. Emily Buddle, Michail Ivanov, and Professor Rachel Ankeny. The review underscores how effective regulation not only fosters innovation but also encourages public engagement and builds trust in new gene technologies.
“Regulatory decisions are influenced by value judgements related to safety, risk, and societal benefits,” explains Dr. Buddle. She further stresses the importance of early and ongoing communication between plant scientists and various stakeholders to address potential concerns regarding new technologies. “This engagement should be seen as a mutual learning process, recognizing that no single group can shape regulation in isolation.”
A notable point made in the review is the distinction between scientific equivalency and public acceptance. While certain gene-editing techniques can produce changes that occur naturally in agriculture, public perception relies more on the application and perceived benefits of the technology rather than the methods themselves. Dr. Buddle notes that research findings suggest people might be more open to gene editing that enhances crop resilience to drought than to modifications aimed at altering nutritional content.
Despite the advantages gene editing offers—such as enhancing crops’ ability to withstand environmental stressors—no gene-edited plants are in commercial production in Australia. The ongoing development of these breeding technologies has reignited a global debate about the appropriate regulation of such innovations.
Currently, gene technology in Australia is overseen by the Office…
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Spring Break is Fire for Students Conducting Prescribed Burns in Georgia
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Led by graduate students Maria…
New insights into the evolution of the back-belly-axis
A new study from the University of Vienna reveals that sea anemones use a molecular mechanism known from bilaterian animals to form their back-to-belly body axis. This mechanism (“BMP shuttling”) enables cells to organize themselves during development by interpreting signaling gradients. The findings, published in Science Advances, suggest that this system evolved much earlier than previously assumed and was already present in the common ancestor of cnidarians and bilaterians.
Most animals exhibit bilateral symmetry—a body plan with a head and tail, a back and belly, and left and right sides. This body organization characterizes the vast group known as Bilateria, which includes animals as diverse as vertebrates, insects, molluscs and worms. In contrast, cnidarians, such as jellyfish and sea anemones, are traditionally described as radially symmetric, and indeed jellyfish are. However, the situation is different is the sea anemones: despite superficial radiality, they are bilaterally symmetric – first at the level of gene expression in the embryo and later also anatomically as adults. This raises a fundamental evolutionary question: did bilateral symmetry arise in the common ancestor of Bilateria and Cnidaria, or did it evolve independently in multiple animal lineages? Researchers at the University of Vienna have addressed this question…
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In June 2022, the Licensed Site Professional Association (LSPA) recognized Kristina’s outstanding potential by awarding her one of its coveted scholarships. The LSPA Scholarship Fund, which annually supports students in environmental studies across New England, honored Kristina’s deep commitment to environmental health, selecting her for the award in recognition of both her scholarly promise and her profound passion for the field.
Kristina’s work had a global scope and…
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Highly trained Soldiers from the 172nd Chemical Company (Hazard Response) and the 21st Chemical Company (Hazard Response) joined together with Sailors, Marines and Airmen under the…
Animal Dung Accelerates Ecosystem Development in Melting Andes
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Methane traps about 30 times more heat than carbon dioxide, so this surge in emissions could significantly intensify climate change
By Yves Ducrot / Environmental ReporterA groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Nature highlights the escalating methane emissions from the Arctic, underscoring a troubling feedback loop that may further exacerbate climate change. Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder’s Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) reported significant findings that reveal the intricate relationship between rising temperatures, increased rainfall, and methane release.
The paper’s co-author, climate scientist Xin (Lindsay) Lan, noted a marked rise in atmospheric methane levels over recent years, attributing much of this increase to the expansion of wetlands in the Arctic. The research indicates that warming temperatures have enhanced precipitation in the region, resulting in a 25% increase in wetland areas during the warmer months.
As permafrost—permanently frozen soil beneath the surface—continues to melt due to rising temperatures, newly waterlogged soils are creating optimal conditions for methane-emitting microbes to flourish. This natural progression leads to even higher methane emissions, which in turn accelerates warming in a potentially dangerous cycle.
“This study, along with previous research, provides indirect evidence of climate feedback mechanisms related to methane emissions that may be beyond our control,” Lan explained. The implications of these findings are profound, indicating that the effects of climate change are more complex and intertwined than previously understood.
In addition to the concerning rise in methane levels, the research team observed a 10% increase in atmospheric hydroxyl (OH) radicals since 1984. These radicals play a crucial role in removing methane from the atmosphere, suggesting that earlier estimates of methane emissions might have underestimated both the quantity of methane produced and…
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In addition to highlighting the critical importance of limiting global warming, the findings also emphasize the immediate need for strategies to alleviate the health and economic impacts of OSA as it becomes more common and severe, researchers said.
“This study really highlights the societal burden associated with the increase in OSA prevalence due to rising temperatures,” said Bastien Lechat, PhD, a senior research fellow at FHMRI: Sleep Health at Flinders University.
Previous cross-sectional studies identified a link between ambient temperature and OSA severity. However, this is the first to explain and describe that connection in detail.
For the study, researchers analyzed a consumer database of more than 116,000 worldwide users of an under-mattress sensor validated to estimate OSA severity. The dataset included around 500 repeat measurements per user. Researchers then analyzed this data against 24-hour ambient temperatures extracted from climate models.
Overall, higher temperatures were associated with a 45 percent increased…
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