Steeplechase

Russia is joining the global race in the field of gene editing

Original publication: Russia joins in global gene-editing bonanza (Nature).

Olga Dobrovidova, InoSMI.Ru

Russia has decided to actively address the issues of genetic editing. The goal of the federal program, which will spend 111 billion rubles ($1.7 billion), is to create 10 new species of genetically edited plants and animals in the period up to 2020 and another 20 new species in the period up to 2027.

Alexey Kochetov, Director of the Novosibirsk-based Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), welcomed the adoption of this research program and noted that genetics in Russia is "chronically underfunded," and this situation has persisted for decades. Funding for science declined sharply in the 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and Russia still lags behind other countries in other important areas: in 2017, it spent 1.11% of its gross domestic product (GDP) on scientific research, while China has allocated 2.13% of GDP for these purposes, and the United States – 2.79%.

However, some experts doubt that the set goals can be achieved in a timely manner. In addition, they are concerned that the adopted program does not address some other issues, including significant bureaucratic obstacles.

It is still not clear whether these 111 billion rubles are included in the existing federal budget for the development of science in civilian areas – in 2018 it amounted to 364 billion rubles, and at the same time 22 billion were spent on genetic research – or whether we are talking about additional funds.

This program, which was presented in April of this year, is also of interest because some genetically edited products will not be subject to the provisions of the law adopted in 2016 prohibiting the cultivation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Russia, except for research purposes. Previously, it was not clear whether this ban applies to genetically edited organisms.

Transgenic differences

The law adopted in 2016 calls such organisms genetically modified, "which cannot appear as a result of natural processes." However, in the decree of the Government of the Russian Federation on the new program, such gene modification technologies as short palindromic cluster repeats, or CRISPR-Cas9 (they do not necessarily involve the use of someone else's DNA) are considered equivalent to conventional breeding methods.

This is good news for Russian researchers, many of whom were deprived of incentives to work due to the uncertainty of the 2016 ban. This was told by one scientist from the leading institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow, who asked not to mention his name because of concerns about possible consequences for his professional activities.

The wording of the new regulation is in line with the position of the US Department of Agriculture, whose employees last year stated that there were no plans to regulate "plants that in other cases can be cultivated using traditional breeding techniques," including genetically edited species, although the situation with animals is less clear, since this area is controlled by the Food and Drug Administration. medicines of the USA.

In contrast, the ruling of the Supreme Court of the European Union emphasizes that genetically edited plants are regulated by the same rules as conventional genetically modified organisms, and this, according to many scientists, will hinder research.

Konstantin Severinov, a specialist in the field of molecular genetics, who participated in the development of this government program, in an interview with a correspondent of the journal "Nature" noted that Russia is not on the sidelines in the rapid development of CRISPR methods, and one of the goals of this program is to make Russia less dependent on imported crop products.

"Although Russia is considered a breadbasket, it is heavily dependent on imports when it comes to elite crops, and therefore the government decided to do something in this area," says Severinov, who divides his working time between Rutgers University in New Jersey and the Skolkovo Institute located in the suburbs of Moscow science and technology. "Fortunately, some members of the Russian Academy of Sciences have stated that using the CRISPR–Cas9 method is a good thing."

Barley and beets

This decree mentions four types of crop products as priorities – barley, sugar beet, wheat and potatoes. Russia is the world's largest producer of barley, as well as a major producer of the other three crops. These data are provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Programs for the development of genetically edited species of these crops are already underway. Scientists from the institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences located in Moscow are developing pathogen-resistant types of potatoes and sugar beets. And research in the field of gene editing, aimed at making barley and wheat more pliable for processing and more nutritious, is currently being conducted at the Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Crop Production in St. Petersburg, as well as at the Institute of Cytology and Genetics of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

However, it is not yet clear whether Russian scientists will be able to achieve the goals set in the recently adopted ambitious program. Although Severinov hopes to help in the implementation of the tasks set, he once compared the work in Russia with "swimming in a pool without water," he believes that this program does not affect the "inhumanely poor" working conditions of specialists in the field of biological sciences, including bureaucracy and poor supply of materials and equipment.

The scientist who asked not to be named also doubts the timetable for the implementation of the new program. "I am sure that the government will spend the allocated money and declare that this program is a huge success. But I am less sure that some new species will appear next year. Maybe it will happen later."

According to Kochetov, the goals contained in the new program are realistic. "This research program will allow us to obtain promising products – there is no doubt about it." He believes that private companies can increase funding for research in the field of gene editing, since the law is now formulated more clearly. However, he believes that some legislative uncertainties remain, and therefore additional regulation will need to be introduced so that any organisms obtained during the implementation of this program can be put on the market.

Yi Li, biologist from The University of Connecticut in Storrs considers the launch of this program a "significant step" both for Russia and for the whole world. In his opinion, this may encourage China to increase investment in gene editing technologies, and will also help increase interest in such technologies in The United States. "For European countries, this could be a very interesting development, given the decision of the European Court of Justice on gene editing," he adds.

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