Biotechnology : Genetic Optimization Of Plant Genome And Development Of Biofuel

For the last several decades, the world has been plagued by widespread starvation and poverty. Economies are failing in numerous countries, and developing nations struggle to feed their inhabitants. As a result of the world’s mounting overpopulation, food has become scarce and resources are rapidly dwindling. However, modern science has provided a solution: agricultural biotechnology. Genetically engineered crops represent the bright future of agriculture. Crops like cotton, corn, and soybeans can have genes inserted or deleted into their cell membranes; this modification facilitates pest and virus resistance, drought tolerance, and even provides nutritional enhancement. Genetically altered crops produce much higher

When genetic engineering plants, all minds go on to think about the risks that come with the food. The idea of maintaining the plants, pesticides are used to control plant pathogens, weeds, the resisting to herbicides, has always been controversial. However, these thoughts have been counter-argued with more than 2,000 plants being genetically engineered. These plants then have been approved worldwide, showing the improvements in controlling pesticide, pathogens, and more. There has been a technique to replace the harmful pesticide used for breeding plants. A genetic engineered pesticide has been used to more than 50 plants crops; resulting to only pests to be harmed and not the plants, with the plants then expressing a new gene to control the chemicals given to it. The plants interaction with the environment lead to the results that there were more possible benefits than potential risks. (Yadav,

Genetically improved crops are not a new phenomenon. Plants have been selectively crossbred for centuries to develop heartier and more productive hybrids. Now, Biotechnology offers us the ability to transfer desired traits into plants much faster and more selectively by merely transplanting the desired gene into the grain. Genetically Modified Grain (GMO grain) is now available to the public. It has the potential to

    The development of recombinant DNA techniques have allowed desired genes to be inserted into a plant genomes resulting in plants that are totally different to the parent plant. The first genetically modified plant-antibiotic resistant tobacco and petunias-were produced in 1983, but it was until 1994 that US markets saw the first genetically modified species of tomato, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, several transgenic crops have received FDA

World population projections currently expect another 2 billion people in the world by 2050, and simultaneously, there isn’t expected to be any measurable change in the quantity of arable land to match this level of growth. Already, the United Nations is grappling with the realities of a global food shortage crisis, meaning that, even without the next 2 billion people added to the global population, world leaders are struggling to feed the mouths we presently have. Experts are turning everywhere for solutions, including the already realized prospect of genetically modified (GM) crops that are uniquely resistant to pesticides, harsh winters and other threats as a means to create more food sources and consolidate them.

Researchers at Harvard University, for example, have recently “added a few genes to [E. coli’s] solitary circular chromosome, coaxing the organism to produce lycopene” (“Bacteria into Biotech Factories”). In bacteria, this process allows for useful and vital products like insulin to be produced much more easily, and at lower costs. Likewise, genetic engineering of plants can be used to increase the concentration of beneficial botanical compounds used in medicine and health supplements. Although certainly not without risk, GMO technology has been around for almost two decades now, and has had much fewer negative implications on human beings than, for instance, newly developed cancer treatments. Yet trial and error for cancer treatment does not get the negative publicity that the genetic modification of plants does, despite the fact that both aim at improving health for people who are otherwise very sick (be it cancer or starvation).

For the last decade and a half, many foods found on the shelves of supermarkets have been altered at the genetic level. These genes are added to help a crop resist drought conditions or to help them tolerate powerful pesticides. The genes themselves often from completely unrelated organisms, leading to crops that would never

Among the millions of species that inhabit the planet, only twenty species provide ninety percent of the human food supply (Montgomery 2000). Since the introduction of genetic engineering, however, livestock and crops have a more productive future. Transfer of engineered genes from organism to organism occurs through hybridization, conjugation, and transformation in microorganisms. By the substitution of genes into agricultural species, biodiversity can flourish to improve social and economic development. Although methods of gene and DNA implantation quickly develop advanced products, even precise genetic alterations do not ensure that the environment will remain balanced or that changes in

For years now, scientists have been using this technology to turn bacteria into insulin producing powerhouses (Junod). This is well known and accepted by everyone because of how useful it is to society. But when the tables turn to genetically modified organisms, more commonly referred to as GMOs, people are afraid of the consequences. With recently discovered technologies scientists can now enter the genome of our common crops and change just a single layer of code. This technique could be used to make fruits grow bigger and stay ripe longer or make corn

In addition to helping the economical aspects of the food-consumer market by decreasing the overall cost of food production, genetically-modified species are beneficial to the environment in which they are raised. According to the Ecological Society of America, “Some GEO’s could play a positive role in sustainable agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, bioremediation, and environmental management both in developed and developing countries” (Snow et al.). Studies are underway to develop plants that create less nutrient depletion in the soil, such as is found the in the large-scale growth of many crops like corn. This would decrease the amount of arid land worldwide. Furthermore, GMO’s present a chance to alleviate some of the damage already caused. Research is underway to create plants that can grow in these damaged lands and provide nutrients and life to the seemingly deadened soil.

As the human population continues to rise, the demand for sustainable food resources and associated costs also increase. There is a definitive need for development of innovative solutions to sustain the population as our natural resources diminish. Escalating issues of world hunger have motivated scientists to look into maximizing output by creating methods such as genetically engineering plants or animals to increase yields and grow better quality produce in shorter period of time (Dimayuga 2014).

Fascinating times we are currently living in. A rapid, consistently growing population creating gross demands for food is pushing our resources to capacity. Fulfilling the needs of the world 's population is a monumental task. Limited arable land to cultivate and an ever changing climate has led to environmental degradation. At this rate of exponential human population growth, it is predicted to reach 9 billion people by 2050, however, “it is uncertain whether current agricultural practices will be able to feed the world” at that stage of growth. In the 1970s pioneering biotechnologies began paving the way to providing solutions to supply the world 's food demands,

Plant genetics have been altered throughout history by humans through time consuming and inefficient methods such as artificial selection and mutation breeding. Now the ability to tailor the fundamental genetics of plants through precise gene modification is possible allowing control of the biological mechanisms present. Increasing the efficiency of the growth and maintenance of plants through gene modification could save vast amounts of money and resources. In this essay I will be discussing the recent developments in gene editing technology and their potential applications to plants and agriculture.

For thousands of years, humans have practiced the agricultural methods explained by Mendel in the mid-1800s; namely, cross-breeding and artificial selection. These “old” biotechnologies allowed the first domestic farmers to mate the strongest, most pest-resistant and fruitful plants in order to produce healthful foods in large quantities. The ability to

The field of plant biology has gone through a rebirth in recent decades. Advances in synthetic biology, recombinant DNA technologies, and molecular biology have brought new applications and possibilities to this field. The study of plants has evolved from scientific research into understanding biological mechanisms, to engineering plants to benefit mankind. Engineering of plants has great potential to do good. With it we can produce crops that are resistant to disease, herbicides, pesticides, and give higher yields. We can engineer plants to create pharmaceuticals at lower costs. We can produce bio-fuels to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. We can even engineer plants that get rid of heavy metals from contaminated ground. Yet, with the great potential of biotechnology also comes a need for responsibility in its use. Trans gene escape is an issue with potentially dire environmental consequences. Plant biotechnology when used responsibly, has amazing potential to benefit mankind. When used irresponsibly, it could cause severe environmental repercussions.