Final answer:
Golden Rice is genetically modified to produce beta-carotene, addressing Vitamin A deficiency. While it doesn't increase crop yields, it may offer significant nutritional benefits and raises ethical and safety considerations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The specific genetic modification introduced in Golden Rice involves the insertion of genes responsible for the biosynthesis of beta-carotene, a precursor to Vitamin A. This biofortification of rice aims to tackle Vitamin A deficiency (VAD), which is a significant health issue in many low-income countries, leading to preventable blindness and mortality. Golden Rice can produce up to 35 μg beta-carotene per gram, which is expected to contribute to alleviating VAD.
In terms of yield, social impact, and ethical considerations, while Golden Rice has not shown an increase in crop yields, it has sparked debate on its potential nutritional benefits, safety, and the control of genetic information. Ethically, GMOs like Golden Rice are complex constructs; they can be seen as beneficial for increasing the nutritional quality of food and addressing malnutrition issues, yet they also raise concerns about potential unintended effects on consumer health and ecosystem balance.
NASEM's GE Crop Report highlights the necessity of evaluating both new GE crops and traditional crops for potential risks, considering that all forms of breeding alter the genetic makeup of a species.