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Researchers Find Key Gene for Cadmium Tolerance and Accumulation in Rice
Cadmium is a toxic heavy metal found in some farming soils that can seep into rice crops, posing a serious threat to global food safety. To tackle this, scientists discovered a specific gene in rice, Os79, that accidentally acts as an open door for this toxin. By using gene-editing technology to turn this gene off, researchers at the Chinese Academy of Sciences created a modified rice plant that is much better at defending itself. When the gene is disabled, the rice plants grow normally even in polluted soils and absorb significantly less cadmium, keeping the grain much safer for consumers.
