One New Jersey teenager used gene-editing technology called CRISPR to create a rice plant that can grow more easily and withstand harsh conditions. High school senior Nandini Rastogi, just 18 years old, showcased her breakthrough at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair. She inserted growth-promoting properties into rice plants, making their biological processes active at all times. This created plants that grew faster and were more resilient.
Rastogi worked with cells removed from live plants due to strict government regulations. She observed the cells to see if certain proteins were activated, which they were. This showed that editing the genes of live plants would increase stress tolerance.
Growing crops is becoming increasingly difficult due to pollution, overheating, and changes in weather patterns. Scientists are using CRISPR to create versions of common crops that can withstand harsh conditions, such as fruits that combat drought or tomatoes that need less water.
While reversing planetary overheating and air pollution is still crucial, more resilient crops could be important in the near term.
Source: https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/rice-superplant-crispr-technology-nandini-rastogi/