What is genetic engineering?
Genetic engineering is an umbrella term for methods that intentionally alter the genome of a living organism. A distinction is made according to the field of application between red, green, and white genetic technology. Red genetic technology deals with applications in medicine, such as those used in pharmaceutical research, while green genetic technology focuses on plants and agriculture—also known as agrogenetic technology. White genetic technology refers to industrial uses, such as the production of enzymes for detergents.
State of research
Switzerland, as a research location, has made some decisive contributions to genetic technology research. A well-known example is the so-called Golden Rice, a rice variety that has been modified to contain particularly high amounts of Vitamin C (1). This aims to address the problem of Vitamin C deficiency, which is prevalent in many regions of the world (2). The rice variety was developed by researchers at ETH Zurich and the University of Freiburg. After more than 20 years of development, the first harvest of Golden Rice took place in 2022 (3). On one hand, there is hope that this will make a significant contribution to human health. On the other hand, there are concerns that farmers may become dependent on large corporations that sell the seeds.
Another example of green genetic technology is the so-called Bt maize. This is a maize variety genetically altered to produce a toxin that kills pests (4). The aim is to achieve higher yields while using fewer pesticides. Here, there is concern that resistance could be transferred to other plants. These effects on other animals and plants are currently being thoroughly investigated (5).
In the production of pharmaceutical agents, genetic technology is indispensable. For example, insulin is produced using genetically modified microorganisms. Vaccines such as the one against hepatitis B are also produced in this way.
Regulation
An important milestone in the regulation of genetic technology was the Asilomar Conference, which took place in the USA in 1975 (6). Experts from the fields of molecular biology, medicine, and law gathered there to discuss the legal regulations surrounding genetic technology. Laws in many countries were drafted and implemented as a result of these discussions.
Research on genetically modified organisms is permitted in Switzerland. Since 2005, there has been a moratorium on the cultivation of genetically modified plants. This is expected to be extended by the parliament for another five years in 2025 (7). In 2024, the first field trial involving CRISPR/Cas was approved: a type of barley in which a gene was switched off to achieve increased yield (8). The Swiss Federal Council is now calling for an exception to allow the cultivation of plants modified with CRISPR/Cas (7). In many other countries, however, the cultivation of genetically altered plants is permitted. For example, herbicide-resistant canola is widely grown in the USA and Canada.
Sources
1. Ye X, Al-Babili S, Klöti A, Zhang J, Lucca P, Beyer P, et al. Engineering the provitamin A (beta-carotene) biosynthetic pathway into (carotenoid-free) rice endosperm. Science. January 14, 2000;287(5451):303–5.
2. Dubock A. Golden Rice: To Combat Vitamin A Deficiency for Public Health. In: Queiroz Zepka L, Vera De Rosso V, Jacob-Lopes E, editors. Vitamin A [Internet]. IntechOpen; 2019 [cited May 15, 2025]. Available at: https://www.intechopen.com/books/vitamin-a/golden-rice-to-combat-vitamin-a-deficiency-for-public-health
3. Lahrtz S. Golden Rice: the world's first harvest in the Philippines. Neue Zürcher Zeitung [Internet]. December 2, 2022 [cited May 15, 2025]; Available at: https://www.nzz.ch/wissenschaft/golden-rice-die-erste-ernte-konnte-in-den-philippinen-ohne-probleme-eingebracht-werden-ld.1714576
4. Zaugg S. Minor impact of Bt maize on non-target organisms [Internet]. Agrarforschung Schweiz. 2022 [cited May 15, 2025]. Available at: https://www.agrarforschungschweiz.ch/2022/07/geringe-auswirkungen-von-bt-mais-auf-nichtzielorganismen/
5. Meissle M, Naranjo SE, Romeis J. Database of non-target invertebrates recorded in field experiments of genetically engineered Bt maize and corresponding non-Bt maize. BMC Res Notes. June 6, 2022;15(1):199.
6. Berg P, Baltimore D, Brenner S, Roblin RO, Singer MF. Summary statement of the Asilomar conference on recombinant DNA molecules. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. June 1975;72(6):1981–4.
7. Fopp A. Albert Rösti fights for new genetic technology exceptions in agriculture. Neue Zürcher Zeitung [Internet]. April 2, 2025 [cited May 15, 2025]; Available at: https://www.nzz.ch/schweiz/albert-roesti-will-neue-zuechtungsmethoden-zulassen-anti-gentech-lobby-wittert-verschwoerung-ld.1878333
8. First Swiss field trial with barley modified via CRISPR/Cas9 [Internet]. [cited May 15, 2025]. Available at: https://www.news.admin.ch/de/nsb?id=100045
