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Gene-edited lettuce: A new approach to fighting micronutrient deficiencies

A research team led by Prof. Alexander Vainstein from the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food, and Environment at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem has developed a new variety of lettuce with significantly higher levels of essential vitamins and antioxidants.

Their findings, in Plant Biotechnology Journal, demonstrate how CRISPR gene-editing technology can enhance the nutritional content of lettuce by increasing the amounts of β-carotene (provitamin A), zeaxanthin, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C), making it a more nutrient-rich food option.

This achievement was made possible by combining modifications in different biochemical pathways, allowing the researchers to enhance multiple nutritional values simultaneously rather than targeting a single nutrient.

CRISPR, short for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats, is a powerful and precise tool for editing DNA. Unlike traditional genetic modification (GMO) methods, which introduce foreign DNA, CRISPR allows scientists to make targeted changes within a plant's own genetic code. This technology enables researchers to enhance crop traits such as nutritional content, disease resistance, and environmental adaptability more efficiently than ever before.

By modifying key genes that regulate vitamin and antioxidant production, the researchers were able to increase β-carotene levels by 2.7 times, improving its role as a precursor to vitamin A, which is essential for vision, immune function, and skin health. Zeaxanthin, an important antioxidant that helps protect the eyes from blue light damage and age-related macular degeneration, was boosted to levels not typically found in lettuce. The researchers also achieved a 6.9-fold increase in ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C, which strengthens the immune system and enhances iron absorption.

Despite these genetic modifications, the lettuce retained its normal growth, appearance, and yield, demonstrating that its improved nutritional profile does not come at the expense of its agricultural performance. "Gene editing provides us with an unprecedented ability to improve the nutritional quality of crops without altering their growth or yield," said Prof. Vainstein. "This study is an important step toward developing healthier food options that can help address widespread nutrient deficiencies in modern diets."

This breakthrough represents a significant step in the fight against micronutrient deficiencies, often referred to as "hidden hunger," which affects millions of people worldwide. By applying cutting-edge gene-editing techniques, scientists are developing ways to improve the nutritional quality of everyday foods, making healthier diets more accessible.