Golden rice was developed to address vitamin A deficiency in rice-dependent populations. It contains genes from maize and soil bacteria that produce beta-carotene, a vitamin A precursor. Over 400 million people worldwide are vitamin A deficient due to their reliance on rice, which lacks vitamin A and other micronutrients. Golden rice aims to biofortify rice to help prevent blindness and deaths from vitamin A deficiency.

1. SUSHANTA SARMA
1st
SEMESTER
DU, C.S.B
ROLL NO: 02

2. Vitamin A deficiency: TheVitamin A deficiency: The
ProblemProblem
• Weakens the immune systemWeakens the immune system
• Can lead to blindness which increases theCan lead to blindness which increases the
risk of deathrisk of death

3. • 400 million poor in rice-based societies are400 million poor in rice-based societies are
Vitamin A deficient. Vitamin A deficient.
• 500,000 children go blind per year.(UNICEF)500,000 children go blind per year.(UNICEF)
• 1.15 million VAD-precipitated deaths among1.15 million VAD-precipitated deaths among
children world wide.(UNICEF)children world wide.(UNICEF)
• Rice is the main staple crop for most ofRice is the main staple crop for most of
these children, but rice lack pro-vitamin Athese children, but rice lack pro-vitamin A
and other micronutrients.(UNICEF)and other micronutrients.(UNICEF)

4. Vitamin A deficiency: TheVitamin A deficiency: The
SolutionSolution
• Golden RiceGolden Rice
– Development by Ingo Potrykus and PeterDevelopment by Ingo Potrykus and Peter
BeyerBeyer
– Contains a gene from maize or daffodil plantsContains a gene from maize or daffodil plants
and common soil bacterium (and common soil bacterium (ErwiniaErwinia))

5. Who Began the GoldenWho Began the Golden
Rice Project?Rice Project?
• Started in 1982 by Ingo Potrykus-Started in 1982 by Ingo Potrykus-
Professor emeritus of the Institute forProfessor emeritus of the Institute for
Plant Sciences,SwiterlandPlant Sciences,Switerland
• Peter Beyer-Professor of Centre forPeter Beyer-Professor of Centre for
Applied Biosciences, Uni. Of Freiburg,Applied Biosciences, Uni. Of Freiburg,
GermanyGermany
• Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation,Funded by the Rockefeller Foundation,
the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology,
and Syngenta, a crop protection company.and Syngenta, a crop protection company.

6. How gene is introduced into rice:How gene is introduced into rice:

7. MECHANISM:MECHANISM:
• Golden rice was created by transforming rice with only two beta-caroteneGolden rice was created by transforming rice with only two beta-carotene
biosynthesis genes:biosynthesis genes:
• psypsy (phytoene synthase) from daffodil ( (phytoene synthase) from daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissusNarcissus pseudonarcissus))
• crtIcrtI (carotene desaturase) from the soil bacterium (carotene desaturase) from the soil bacterium Erwinia uredovoraErwinia uredovora
• (The insertion of a (The insertion of a lyclyc (lycopene cyclase) gene was thought to be needed, but (lycopene cyclase) gene was thought to be needed, but
further research showed it is already being produced in wild-type rice endosperm.)further research showed it is already being produced in wild-type rice endosperm.)
• The The psypsy and and crtIcrtI genes were transformed into the rice nuclear genome and genes were transformed into the rice nuclear genome and
placed under the control of an endosperm-specific promoter, so they are onlyplaced under the control of an endosperm-specific promoter, so they are only
expressed in the endosperm. The bacterial expressed in the endosperm. The bacterial crtIcrtI gene was an important inclusion to gene was an important inclusion to
complete the pathway, since it can catalyze multiple steps in the synthesis ofcomplete the pathway, since it can catalyze multiple steps in the synthesis of
carotenoids up to lycopene, while these steps require more than one enzyme incarotenoids up to lycopene, while these steps require more than one enzyme in

8. The Golden Rice Solution
Geranylgeranyl diphosphate
Phytoene
Lycopene
β -carotene
(vitamin A precursor)
Phytoene
synthase
Lycopene cyclase
carotene desaturase
Daffodil gene
Bacterial gene
β-Carotene Pathway Genes Added
Vitamin A
Pathway
is complete
and functional
Golden
Rice

9. Why rice?Why rice?
• Other plants, such as sweet potatoes have varieties that areOther plants, such as sweet potatoes have varieties that are
either rich (orange-fleshed) or poor (white fleshed) in pro-either rich (orange-fleshed) or poor (white fleshed) in pro-
vitamin Avitamin A
It is difficult to manage even two times meal for the poor people.It is difficult to manage even two times meal for the poor people.
• Global staple food. CultivatedGlobal staple food. Cultivated
for over 10,000 yearsfor over 10,000 years
• Rice provides as much as 80Rice provides as much as 80
percent or more of the dailypercent or more of the daily
caloric intake of 3 billioncaloric intake of 3 billion
people, which is half thepeople, which is half the
world’s populationworld’s population

10. Interesting fact about golden rice:Interesting fact about golden rice:
• The yellow colour of golden rice is due toThe yellow colour of golden rice is due to
the presence ofthe presence of ββ- carotenoid.- carotenoid.
• In one transgenic line, theIn one transgenic line, the ββ-carotene-carotene
content was as high as 85% of the totalcontent was as high as 85% of the total
carotenoid present in the grain.carotenoid present in the grain.

11. Negative impact:Negative impact:
• HealthHealth
– May cause allergies or fail to perform desired effectMay cause allergies or fail to perform desired effect
– Supply does not provide a substantial quantity as theSupply does not provide a substantial quantity as the
recommended daily intakerecommended daily intake
• EnvironmentEnvironment
– Loss of Biodiversity. May become a gregarious weedLoss of Biodiversity. May become a gregarious weed
and endanger the existence of natural rice plantsand endanger the existence of natural rice plants
– Genetic contamination of natural, global staple foodsGenetic contamination of natural, global staple foods
• CultureCulture
– Some people prefer to cultivate and eat only whiteSome people prefer to cultivate and eat only white
rice based on traditional values and spiritual beliefsrice based on traditional values and spiritual beliefs