Transgenic Crops

Transgenic Crops

Group #7 Jeremiah Johnson Anna Zaklikowski Jessica Frasier

Introduction •

Background

•

Transgenic Crop – A plant that contains a gene or genes which have been artificially inserted instead of the plant acquiring them through pollination

Description  Overview

of the process for creating transgenic plants

History & Methods 

1983 Disarming of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Ti plasmid) for use in gene transfers 1987 Invention of gene gun

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Present status



Worldwide production area of transgenic crops and traits Crop Area planted in 1999 (millions of acres) Soybean 53.4 Corn 27.4 Cotton 9.1 Canola 8.4 Trait Herbicide Bt insect Bt + herbicide Virus (source: Science 286:1663, 1999).

69.4 22 7.2 <0.3

Applications & Advantages 

Use of bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis   



Natural Insecticide Targets specific receptors Cotton, Potatoes, Tomatoes

Dutch Elm Disease   

Caused by fungus – Ceratocystis ulmi Controlled by bacterium Pseudomonas syringue Research in seedlings and mature trees

Image:Results of insect infestation on Bt (right) and non-Bt (left) cotton bolls. Source: USDA

Applications & Advantages 

Flavr-Savr Tomatoes  



Kanamycin resistance (kan-r gene) Allows tomatoes to ripen longer on vine for fuller taste and still be transportable

 

Round-up Herbicide Resistance  

Enable plants to tolerate glyphosate                           Cotton, corn, tobacco, tomatoes, soybeans

Risks & Concerns  Loss

of Biodiversity

 Superweeds  Transgenic

Crop Effectiveness

Risks and Concerns  Human

Health Risks

 Corporate

Control of Food Supply

Conclusions  Future

possibilities

 Turfgrass

for lawns  Plant-based vaccines  Transgenic  Risks

crops offer hardier varieties

cannot be ignored