Genetically Modifying Rice to Fight Iron Deficiencies
School Name
Center for Advanced Technical Studies
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Botany
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
In an effort to eliminate or lessen the effects of iron deficiencies, there will be research on genetic modification of rice to contain a greater amount of iron that the human body can actively absorb. Iron deficiencies are the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world, especially among third world and developing countries, which is where this modified rice would be most applicable. The hypothesis is that if genetic modification of rice occurs, the body will be able to uptake more iron and be less prone to iron deficiencies. The plan is to research iron, rice varieties, said rice varieties’ genomes, other potential plants that the iron gene(s) could come from and their genomes, methods of genetic modification down to exact steps and what all would be needed, and then if time and availability to resources permits, attempt the actual modification of rice. It is unlikely that the research will get to the actual genetic modification, but the project will at least get through all of the initial research needed to do so. However, if the research were to get to the point of genetic modification of rice, doing the process of modification is all that would happen, not researching the outcome as the best way to do so would be to grow the modified rice plant. Due to time constraints, there will not be a fast enough way to be able to test the modified plants, but hopefully that will be possible in later years.
Recommended Citation
Faris, Rachel, "Genetically Modifying Rice to Fight Iron Deficiencies" (2019). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 102.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2019/all/102
Location
Founders Hall 111 B
Start Date
3-30-2019 9:00 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
Genetically Modifying Rice to Fight Iron Deficiencies
Founders Hall 111 B
In an effort to eliminate or lessen the effects of iron deficiencies, there will be research on genetic modification of rice to contain a greater amount of iron that the human body can actively absorb. Iron deficiencies are the most common micronutrient deficiency in the world, especially among third world and developing countries, which is where this modified rice would be most applicable. The hypothesis is that if genetic modification of rice occurs, the body will be able to uptake more iron and be less prone to iron deficiencies. The plan is to research iron, rice varieties, said rice varieties’ genomes, other potential plants that the iron gene(s) could come from and their genomes, methods of genetic modification down to exact steps and what all would be needed, and then if time and availability to resources permits, attempt the actual modification of rice. It is unlikely that the research will get to the actual genetic modification, but the project will at least get through all of the initial research needed to do so. However, if the research were to get to the point of genetic modification of rice, doing the process of modification is all that would happen, not researching the outcome as the best way to do so would be to grow the modified rice plant. Due to time constraints, there will not be a fast enough way to be able to test the modified plants, but hopefully that will be possible in later years.
