7 ms·

They did this by suppressing four genes to minimize polyphenol oxidase production. What negative effect does this have on the apple? They do address this on t

by jly 10y ago

They did this by suppressing four genes to minimize polyphenol oxidase production. What negative effect does this have on the apple? They do address this on the website, but I wonder what pesticide requirement these have. They state themselves PPO production plays a defensive role in many plants. I dislike this kind of manipulation for what amounts to practically zero benefit, especially if it further necessitates a stock regimen of chemicals to successfully grow.

noobermin 10y ago
The link is in the article, but here it is[0]. >What role does PPO play in the plant, you might ask? In some plants, PPO plays a defensive role – for example, tomatoes produce high levels of PPO when attacked by pests or pathogens. In contrast, apples produce very low levels of PPO, and only in very young fruit. Its presence is probably left over from apples of ages ago, playing no role in today’s apples. It sounds like the appendix or tail bones in humans. He does mention in the last paragraph that PPO's may be antioxidants, but whether PPO's are needed or not is not known. Unfortunately, if this takes off it will be much later down the line if we find out there are adverse side-effects. To be fair, there is currently no known health issues with GMO plants, AFAIK. [0] http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-apple/ http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-appl...
- Grazester 10y ago
  There may be some use for the appendix. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170109162333.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170109162333.h... When would they discover a use for PPO in Apple's?
ivraatiems 10y ago
It's definitely not zero benefit. Tons of food is wasted because it looks slightly 'off' or was let sit out too long. Brown apples aren't dangerous, they just don't look/taste as good, but people still won't eat them. I agree that it'd be interesting to see some data on what exactly the change has done, if anything, but there's no guarantee it requires anything like what you suggest. Edit: If you look to the comments section on their website's post on this[0], they address this and other issues. Would be ideal to have some peer-reviewed research available, though. [0]http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-apple/ http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-appl...

by jly 10y ago

noobermin 10y ago

The link is in the article, but here it is[0]. >What role does PPO play in the plant, you might ask? In some plants, PPO plays a defensive role – for example, tomatoes produce high levels of PPO when attacked by pests or pathogens. In contrast, apples produce very low levels of PPO, and only in very young fruit. Its presence is probably left over from apples of ages ago, playing no role in today’s apples. It sounds like the appendix or tail bones in humans. He does mention in the last paragraph that PPO's may be antioxidants, but whether PPO's are needed or not is not known. Unfortunately, if this takes off it will be much later down the line if we find out there are adverse side-effects. To be fair, there is currently no known health issues with GMO plants, AFAIK. [0] http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-apple/ http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-appl...

Grazester 10y ago
There may be some use for the appendix. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170109162333.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/01/170109162333.h... When would they discover a use for PPO in Apple's?

ivraatiems 10y ago

It's definitely not zero benefit. Tons of food is wasted because it looks slightly 'off' or was let sit out too long. Brown apples aren't dangerous, they just don't look/taste as good, but people still won't eat them. I agree that it'd be interesting to see some data on what exactly the change has done, if anything, but there's no guarantee it requires anything like what you suggest. Edit: If you look to the comments section on their website's post on this[0], they address this and other issues. Would be ideal to have some peer-reviewed research available, though. [0]http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-apple/ http://www.arcticapples.com/how-did-we-make-nonbrowning-appl...