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How likely is a random mutation in a plant to be dangerous to the eater? E.g. a protein sequence changed such that a toxic molecule is produced. If subtle or sl
by hirundo 5y ago
How likely is a random mutation in a plant to be dangerous to the eater? E.g. a protein sequence changed such that a toxic molecule is produced. If subtle or slow acting that could pass a lot of expensive testing and make it to market. But is it risky enough to worry about?
Sure it could occur with natural mutations too but at a much lower rate.
- DominoTree 5y agoI think the most likely scenario would be the plant expressing a new (or modified) allergenic protein, and it seems like there are some decent methods to look for those things already in use. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251449018_Mitigating_Allergenicity_of_Crops https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251449018_Mitigatin...
- tlb 5y agoAlso likely is that part of the genome that produces toxins in one part of the plant that isn't normally eaten gets turned on in edible part. For example: asparagus berries are toxic, but the toxin doesn't appear in the stalk. The mechanism to produce the toxic chemical is there, just turned off in those cells. Enabling it is the sort of thing that small mutations might do.