![]() Alternatively, genes from within the organism's genepool or from other organisms can be inserted into precise locations within the genome to knock-in a new trait. These modifications can result in knockout or knockdown of one or multiple genes without the permanent insertion of any foreign DNA. Gene editing is a method to generate DNA modifications at precise genomic locations. In response to these challenges, the use of gene editing, also referred to as genome editing or genome engineering, has emerged as a method to either aid in the adaptation of organisms to climate change or help mitigate the effects of climate change on agriculture. Productivity of major commodity crops will be affected, especially in lower latitudes where the effects of climate change on yield will be more severe ( Shukla et al., in press). Under a range of warming scenarios, agricultural output is expected to decline globally. ![]() Simultaneously, global food supplies are declining as droughts and floods impact agricultural output. One meta-review of more than 130 studies has estimated that one in six species may go extinct due to the changing climate ( Urban, 2015). Rising temperatures and shifting precipitation regimes will drastically alter the biological landscape, resulting in species migration, invasion, and extinction ( Urban, 2015 Nunez et al., 2019). In both natural ecosystems and agricultural settings, plants and animals are being forced to contend with novel conditions that change more quickly than their pace of adaptation. Indeed, many of these effects are already being observed ( IPCC, 2018 Nunez et al., 2019 Shukla et al., in press). ![]() The magnitude of the effects depends on the amount of emissions in general, more frequent heatwaves, droughts, floods, and persistent sea level rise and global temperature increases are expected ( IPCC, 2018). Even if warming were to be halted at 1.5☌, which would require drastic and immediate global action, long-term effects of past emissions would linger for centuries or millennia ( IPCC, 2018). ![]() Due to these human emissions, the average temperature of the planet has risen by nearly 1☌ since 1850 ( IPCC, 2018 Nunez et al., 2019). The primary cause of climate change is the anthropogenic addition of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. While only few applications of gene editing have been translated to agricultural production thus far, numerous studies in research settings have demonstrated the potential for potent applications to address climate change in the near future.Ĭlimate change poses a severe threat to the future of the environment as it pertains to agriculture, biodiversity, human society, and nearly every facet of our world. Here, we present examples of emerging gene editing applications and research initiatives that are aimed at the improvement of crops and livestock in response to climate change, and discuss technical limitations and opportunities therein. Many of the targeted phenotypes include attributes that could be beneficial for climate change adaptation. Meanwhile, efforts in crop and livestock gene editing have been undertaken to improve performance across a range of traits. 5Department of Global Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United StatesĬlimate change imposes a severe threat to agricultural systems, food security, and human nutrition.4Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States.3Plant Gene Expression Center, US Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service, University of California, Berkeley, Albany, CA, United States.2Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.1Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States.Karavolias 1,2, Wilson Horner 1,3, Modesta N.
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