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Gene-Edited Fungus Could Imitate Burger Patties as the Next Vegetarian Sensation

Researchers recently unveiled a bioengineered mold designed to imitate burger patties. But don't look for it on the shelves yet.

ByCody Cottier
Koji products commonly take the form of rice or other starches that have been treated with the Aspergillus oryzae mold. (Credit: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock)

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These days, when it comes to meat alternatives, most eyes are on lab-grown and plant-based products. But one of the latest breakthroughs in sustainable, cruelty-free food comes from yet another kingdom of life: fungi.

The human-fungus bond has been cementing for thousands of years, during which our ancestors found countless ways to fit these nutritious organisms into their diet. Now, putting a distinctly modern twist on the relationship, scientists at UC Berkeley reported in Nature Communications earlier this year that they had genetically engineered meat-like patties out of mold.

And not just any mold — Aspergillus oryzae, also known as Koji, has been used in East Asia since prehistoric times to ferment starches into miso, sake, soy sauce, and other products. Vayu Hill-Maini, a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley and lead author of the paper, sees his work as the logical 21st-century extension of that age-old domestication campaign.

“Humans have ...

  • Cody Cottier

    Cody Cottier is a contributing writer at Discover who loves exploring big questions about the universe and our home planet, the nature of consciousness, the ethical implications of science and more. He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism and media production from Washington State University.

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