Enviornmental Plant Bio. Blog

Researchers in Japan have “silenced” the gene in coffee plants that plays the key role in producing caffeien through RNA interference.  These new coffee plants have a decreased level of caffeine of about 70%.  Researchers state that this is a good GM due to the possible health risks involved in drinking large quantities of caffeine.  Another postive attribute of this processes is that it should make decaffinated coffee less expensive.

The silencing of the gene occurs through the addition of a small bit of RNA that is complimentary to mRNA.  This addition adds and destroys the mRNA therefore inhibiting the production of caffeine. 

These new coffee plants with the silenced gene will take four years to produce beans for consumption so until then no new knowledge about this process will be available.

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/gm-food/dn3851-genetic-engineers-decaffeinate-coffee.html