ABSTRACT
Genome editing (GE) is a mode of gene modification to develop elite crop varieties expressing desirable traits. There are different GE technologies which could be distinguished based upon the nuclease enzyme being used, namely, meganucleases, zinc finger nuclease (ZFNs), transcription activator like effector nuclease (TALEN), CRISPR/Cas9 technology, CRISPR/Cpf1 system and base editors. Micronutrient deficiency or hidden hunger is the insufficiency of one or multiple micronutrients such as Fe, folate, Zn, vitA, vitB12, and vitD, in the body. Hidden hunger is seen in people who can only afford, for example cheap rice but not fruits, vegetables, etc., which although makes one feel full but lacks essential nutrients. Micronutrient deficiency causes weakness, mental, and physical retardation in children, impaired immune system and can even lead to death. Biofortification is an attempt to develop nutritionally-enriched staple food crops that even lower income communities can include in their diet. GE approach is currently in trend to develop novel crop varieties in far less time as compared to traditional breeding programs. Researchers have developed food crops enhanced with carbohydrate, vitamins, minerals, proteins, and quality fats, along with those efforts have been put to reduce are phytic acid (PA), Cd, etc., like antinutrients from the plant. Limitations associated with the release of crops in 304the market, developed by gene editing technology are the biosafety concerns related to off-target mutation and the undesirable effects generated due to unwanted genetic changes in plants and the social acceptance.
