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Health

Genetically modified plant grows ‘fishy’ fatty acids

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of heart disease and are crucial for brain development 鈥� now they can be grown in cress

A PLANT has been genetically engineered to make a 鈥渇ishy鈥� fatty acid.

Long-chain omega-3 fatty acids reduce the risk of heart disease and arthritis, and are essential for brain development. Fish are a great source, but few people eat enough.

Now Allan Green of Australian research organisation CSIRO in Canberra and his team have created thale cress (Arabidopsis thaliana) that produces the long-chain omega-3 DHA. The team inserted genes for enzymes from marine algae (Functional Plant Biology DOI: 10.1071/fp05084).

Other teams have created plants that make the omega-3 EPA. But the longer-chained DHA is particularly beneficial for brain development.

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