Local researchers say they have discovered for the first time in the world a way to modify plant genomes without introducing foreign DNA into cells.
 
The researchers from the Institute of Basic Science and Seoul National University’s School of Biological Sciences succeeded in genetically modifying plants using CRISPR-Cas9 without the addition of DNA. 
 
The scientists said the discovery would, thus, be free from the controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms, or GMOs.
 
In Europe and the U.S., plants whose genes are modified using foreign DNA are regarded to be GMOs.
 
The team said the latest breakthrough could immediately be applied to agricultural plants adding that they believe their discovery will contribute to creating new foods.
 
The study was published Tuesday in the online edition of global journal, Nature Biotechnology.