Golden Rice is genetically modified rice that contains three introduced genes capable of beta-carotene synthesis, giving the rice kernels a golden yellow color. It was developed to combat vitamin A deficiency, a major cause of blindness and death in children in Southeast Asia where rice is a staple food but does not provide vitamin A. The development of Golden Rice involved transferring three genes - two from daffodils and one from bacteria - to allow the rice to produce beta-carotene. While it provides a sustainable solution and its seeds can be resown, Golden Rice also faces challenges in increasing its beta-carotene levels and transferring the genes to local rice varieties.

1. GOLDEN RICE Vitamin A enriched transgenic Rice

8. Inventors

9. Daffodils Gene transfer Golden Rice Erwinia uredovora Gene Sources

10. Genes transferred Bacteria ( Erwinia uredovora ) Phytoene desaturase ctrl Daffodils Lycopene β cyclase icy Daffodils Phytoene synthase psy Source Enzyme coded Gene

11. Beta Carotene Biosynthetic Pathway GGDP Tocopherols Gibberellins Chlorophyll Phytoene Phytoene synthase (psy) Phytoene desaturase (ctrl) Lycopene Lycopene β cyclase (icy) β Carotene

12. pB19hpc (Golden Rice Cassette) T L T R aphIV 35S Gt1 psy 35S rbcS crtl Hygromycin Resistance Phytoene Synthase Phytoene Desaturase T-DNA Border T-DNA Border Selectable Marker Gene of Interest Gene of Interest Insertion Sequence Insertion Sequence

20. Golden Rice deserves a chance