Non-GMO GMO
A plant that includes a gene or genes from another organism, such as bacteria, is considered a GMO. ~ Chinese botanist Yi Li
Genome editing involves using bacterial gene segments – called CRISPR – to introduce foreign genes, or to modify existing genes.
CRISPR was adapted from the defense systems of bacteria. These bacterial CRISPR systems have been modified to edit the DNA of plants, animals, human cells, and microorganisms. ~ Yi Li
Because CRISPR makes it easier to edit the genome of a targeted organism, it has become the ubiquitous technique for genetic modification.
Whereas the definition of genetic modification is straightforward, the American government decided to split imaginary hairs and declare genetically modified organisms as non-GMO. On 28 March 2018, the USDA stated that it did not consider plants modified by “genome editing” to be GMO.
USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants developed through genome editing. ~ USDA (28 March 2018)
