Search the database for deliberate release of GM plants

The genetically modified maize plants have an altered composition of their cell wall resulting from the introduction of a mutation in the CCR1 and/or CCR3 genes. These mutations lead to the inactivation of these genes. The plants have up to 20% less lignin in their cell walls which is expected to contribute to a better digestibility of the maize thereby improving the feed conversion rate.

The maize plants have been edited using the CRISPR/Cas9 system resulting in the mutation of either the ATR or ATM gene. There are three events: one event with one additional DNA basepair in the ATR gene, one event with one additional DNA basepair in the ATM gene and one event with a 1272 bp deletion in the ATR gene. The result of these alterations is that these genes are no longer functional. The ATR and ATM genes gene plays a role in the repair of DNA damage and in these plants faults in the DNA are believed to accumulate to a higher degree.