1) If you’re a computer programmer, you can think of a gene as a series of instructions. Code, if you will. More specifically, imagine that each of the base pairs is an op-code. Each op-code is an independent instruction, that in the end, results in a logical sequence of operations. We might think of the list of op-codes as a useful subroutine. Note that each subroutine has anywhere from 20,000 to two million lines of code (base pairs). Have enough of these subroutines, and you’ve eventually constructed a program that closely resembles your genetic makeup.

2) If you’re a cook, you can think of a gene as an ingredient to a recipe for humankind. But, associated with each ingredient, you have a long series of steps on how to prepare that ingredient. Peeling, scrubbing, par-boiling, chopping into cubes, chiffonade, etc. Think of the base pairs as one of the instructions on how to prepare that ingredient. The only thing is, that the ingredients are quite complicated to prepare. It’s not just toss it into a pot as-is. Each ingredient has anywhere between 20,000 and two million steps (base pairs) to prepare it. Obviously, some ingredients(genes) are more complicated than others to prepare. And when you consider that the human body has approximately 20,000 ingredients(genes), it gives you an idea of just how much work we’re talking about.

Now that you have a vague idea of what a base pair is, let’s talk about rice and genetic modification. If you’re still with me, I applaud your persistence.

Oryza sativa is the Latin name for the species of grass that produces what we commonly refer to as Asian rice. Its DNA is composed of over 400 million base pairs.

It was in the 1990’s that work was done on the DNA of rice by copying phytoene synthase (a gene from a daffodil) and phytoene desaturase (a gene from a soil bacterium). They inserted these genes into the genetic structure of rice. This ended up creating a form of rice that provided beta-carotene, a source of dietary vitamin A.

Later, in 2005, this formula was improved by sourcing the phytoene synthase from corn, thus producing a significantly higher amount of beta-carotene than the previous effort.

Why do this?

In many parts of the world, rice is a staple of people’s diet, often to the exclusion of many other food items. Not everyone has immediate access to the diversity of foods that many of us may take for granted.

Since rice has no natural vitamin A, it was found that vitamin A deficiency was reaching epidemic rates in some regions in the world.

In 2005, 190 million children and 19 million pregnant women in 122 countries were estimated to be affected by vitamin A deficiency. Lack of sufficient vitamin A is responsible for 1 to 2 million deaths and 500,000 cases of irreversible blindness each and every year.