ChatGPT grows insect-toxic genetically engineered plant - Blind ...
For the first time, it has been proven that artificial intelligence (AI) can be used to design a genetically modified plant that is toxic to insects but can be released without risk assessment under the EU's draft genetic engineering legislation.
The Breakthrough
With the help of a publicly available version of the AI bot ChatGPT 4.0, a joint proof-of-concept project by the Aurelia Foundation, Testbiotech, and Save Our Seeds (SOS) was able to generate the blueprint for an insect-toxic maize that meets all the conditions of the EU's current draft GMO legislation to be released without risk assessment.
NGT 1 Plant
The insect-toxic genetically engineered maize is a so-called NGT 1 plant. NGT 1 genetically engineered plants may not contain any foreign genetic material and can be modified at a maximum of 20 sites in the genome.
Concerns and Implications
However, as the insect-poisonous NGT 1 maize clearly shows, Kl-supported genetic engineering can also be used to create NGT 1 plants that pose risks to pollinators and other insects, which must be investigated.
Call for Action
The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has initiated a profound transformation of biotechnology. The EU Commission is lagging behind in its legislation, as the recent developments have highlighted the inadequacy and potential dangers of the current proposals.
Expert Insights
Experts have long been calling for a case-by-case risk assessment for all genetically modified plants. Organizations such as the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN) and the Society for Ecology (GfÖ) emphasize the importance of assessing even "small" interventions in the plant genome to prevent risks to ecosystems.
Conclusion
The breakthrough in using AI for genetic engineering raises important questions about the regulatory frameworks in place and the need for a more comprehensive approach to assessing the environmental impacts of such innovations.
Note: This article has been translated using a computer system without human intervention. The original article in German can be found here.
