中英對照讀新聞》Genome-edited tomato enters Japanese market基因組編輯的番茄在日本上市
日本利用基因編輯改良的富含降血壓成分番茄上市,這是日本國內第一個上市基因編輯食品。示意圖。(路透檔案照)
◎陳成良
Sicilian Rouge High GABA is a special type of tomato designed to contain high levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an amino acid believed to aid relaxation and help lower blood pressure.
「高GABA西西里胭脂」是一種特殊的番茄,富含「γ-氨基丁酸」(GABA),據信這種氨基酸可以讓人放鬆,並有助於降低血壓。
Tokyo-based startup Sanatech Seed Co. teamed up with scientists at the University of Tsukuba to develop a new variety of tomatoes using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. Named Sicilian Rouge High GABA, this new type of tomato contains five to six times the normal level of GABA.
總部在東京的新創企業Sanatech Seed和築波大學的科學家,利用CRISPR/Cas9基因編輯技術,聯合研發出這種名為「高GABA西西里胭脂」的新品種番茄。這種新種番茄的GABA含量是普通番茄的5到6倍。
According to Japanese media, the company removed an inhibitory domain within the tomato’s genome to enable it to produce these high levels of GABA.
日本媒體報導,該公司移除了番茄基因組中的一個抑制域,從而使其能夠生成大量GABA。
Unlike genetically modified foods, genome-edited plant varieties are considered just as safe as varieties improved using conventional methods because no outside gene is introduced during the process.
和基因改造食品不同,基因組編輯植物被認為和用傳統方法改良的新品種一樣安全,因為在基因編輯過程中沒有加入外來基因。
新聞辭典
startup:名詞,新創立的公司。例句:A more established company might be safer, but startups are more dynamic.(一個較為成熟的公司或許較有工作保障,但新創公司較有活力。)
team up:片語,合作。例句:They teamed up to win this game.(他們合作爭取贏得這場比賽。)