Scientists Fortify Corn with Vitamins

Scientists created vitamin-fortified corn with three key nutrients, according to a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The genetically modified African corn has 169 times the normal about of beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A; six times the amount of vitamin C; and two times the amount of folate. This is the first time scientists have been able to amplify multiple vitamins in a single plant.

The researchers, from Spain and Germany, targeted this combination of vitamins because deficiencies in them cause many diseases in the developing world.

The team inserted five genes from other organisms into a South African white corn variety by attaching them to microscopic gold particles and shooting them into immature corn embryos in a laboratory dish. When the cells divided, they contained the new genes. The genes have stayed intact over four generations so far, according to the study.