Field Crop 2025, Vol.8, No.1, 20-31 http://cropscipublisher.com/index.php/fc 25 screening such as whole genome resequencing. Zhang's team did such an experiment in 2014, checking the edited rice inside and out, and found no obvious off-target problems (Zhang et al., 2014). This is like a comprehensive review after surgery. Although it takes some time, it can ensure that there is no risk of error. If you ask me, gene editing must be so rigorous, after all, these new varieties will eventually be served on the tables of ordinary people. 4.3 Public acceptance and regulatory context Ordinary people actually have a very contradictory attitude towards using CRISPR technology to grow rice. On the one hand, this technology is indeed much more accurate and efficient than the old method-just like using a scalpel instead of a machete, you can change any gene you want (Zeng et al., 2020). But on the other hand, many people are nervous when they hear the word "gene editing" and always feel uneasy. In fact, the key is to make it clear: for example, isn't the drought-resistant rice we are developing now just to cope with the increasingly frequent extreme weather? If these tangible benefits are explained clearly, everyone will naturally be more receptive (Elena et al., 2021). In the final analysis, the promotion of new technologies cannot be hidden, and the pros and cons must be laid out in words that ordinary people can understand. The attitudes of different countries towards CRISPR-edited rice are very different-the EU is very strict and treats gene-edited crops and genetically modified crops equally; but the United States and Japan are much more flexible, and they pay more attention to whether the product itself is safe, rather than how it is cultivated (Ansari et al., 2020). This difference in supervision has caused headaches for researchers. The same variety can be promoted in one country, but it may be illegal in another country. To be honest, to promote the commercialization of gene-edited rice, it is not enough to pass the technical test, but also to find out the policy red lines of various countries. Now some teams have begun to "tailor" and develop varieties that comply with local regulations for different markets. This is a very smart move. 5 Case Study Analysis and Comparison 5.1 Differences between yield enhancement and stress tolerance editing When it comes to using CRISPR technology to improve rice, increasing yield and stress resistance are actually two different approaches. In terms of increasing yield, scientists mainly focus on genes that control "appearance"-for example, modifying the GS3 gene can make rice grains larger, and adjusting the OsPIN5b gene can make rice ears longer (Zeng et al., 2020). To put it bluntly, in a good year with good weather and good harvests, rice can maximize its yield potential. But what's interesting is that these changes often only focus on the "external beauty" of rice, just like performing plastic surgery on rice. In contrast, editing for stress resistance is more like training rice's "survival skills" so that they can survive in harsh environments. Both ideas are actually important, and the key is where to plant-choose high-yield varieties for good fields and good land, and naturally choose stress-resistant varieties for saline-alkali land and arid areas. Editing stress tolerance is another matter entirely-it's about creating a "survival skill package" for rice. For example, by tinkering with the OsMYB30 gene, rice suddenly becomes less afraid of cold; by tinkering with the OsSAP gene, drought resistance is directly improved to a higher level (Zeng et al., 2020). Scientists have discovered that these genes are like "panic buttons" for rice, which can activate various defense mechanisms when encountering harsh environments: some can quickly remove harmful substances, and some can maintain normal cell function (Park et al., 2022). The most amazing thing is that complex characteristics such as salt tolerance can actually be achieved by editing specific genes (Nazir et al., 2022). To put it bluntly, this is to install a "stress tolerance program" for rice at the molecular level, so that they will not easily die when they encounter drought, salinity and other troubles. To put it bluntly, the difference between these two editing strategies is like the difference between "adding icing on the cake" and "providing timely assistance". Yield-increasing editing focuses on genes that control "high yields"-for example, making rice ears longer and grains fuller. To put it bluntly, it allows rice to produce high yields while eating well and living well. Stress-resistance editing is much more pragmatic, specifically
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