Gene-edited "super tomato" packs as much vitamin D as two eggs
Delivering as much vitamin D as two eggs, a gene-edited "super tomato" created by scientists could help tackle vitamin deficiency around the world.
Using the gene-editing technique known as CRISPR, scientists at the John Innes Centre in Norwich, England, have created a "super tomato" that can provide consumers with a significant amount of vitamin D.
A gene-edited tomato (left) and a non-edited tomato (right) - (Photo: CNN)
According to the research team, the vitamin D from a single "super tomato" could be equivalent to that in two eggs or 28g of tuna, helping meet the daily needs of children and adults with vitamin D deficiency, particularly vitamin D3.
The team said they will next test the approach on other crops such as potatoes and peppers. They argue that creating such "super vegetables" could mark a turning point for a new generation of food sources.
Professor Dominique Van Der Straeten of Ghent University in Belgium, who was not involved in the study, described the team's findings as a "leap forward" that could help reduce reliance on animal-based foods by boosting the nutritional value of crops.
In addition, such alternative foods could also ease the burden on agriculture as farmland and freshwater resources dwindle, while climate change and natural disasters become ever more frequent.
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