Transgenic Plants In Agriculture

Transgenic crops offer the promise of increased agricultural productivity and better quality foods. But they also raise the specter of harmful environmental effects. In this new book, a panel of experts examines: • Similarities and differences between crops developed by conventional and transgenic methods • Potential for commercialized transgenic crops to change both agricultural and nonagricultural landscapes • How well the U.S. government is regulating transgenic crops to avoid any negative effects. Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants provides a wealth of information about transgenic processes, previous experience with the introduction of novel crops, principles of risk assessment and management, the science behind current regulatory schemes, issues in monitoring transgenic products already on the market, and more. The book discusses public involvementâ€"and public confidenceâ€"in biotechnology regulation. And it looks to the future, exploring the potential of genetic engineering and the prospects for environmental effects.

Development of efficient transformation protocols is becoming a complementary strategy to conventional breeding techniques for the improvement of crops. Thus, Transgenic Plants - Advances and Limitations covers the recent advances carried on improvement of transformation methods together with assessment of the impact of genetically transformed crops on biosafety. Each chapter has been written by one or more experienced researchers in the field and then carefully edited to ensure throughness and consistency.

The aim of Transgenic Plants: Methods and Protocols is to provide a source of information to guide the reader through a wide range of frequently used, broadly applicable, and easily reproducible techniques involved in the gene- tion of transgenic plants. Its step-by-step approach covers a series of methods for genetically transforming plant cells and tissues, and for recovering whole transgenic plants from them. The volume then moves on to the use of sele- able and reporter markers, positive selection, marker elimination after rec- ery of transgenic plants, and the analysis of transgene integration, expression, and localization in the plant genome. Although contributors usually refer to model plants in most chapters, the protocols described herein should be widely applicable to many plant species. The last two sections are devoted to me- ods of risk assessment and to exploring the current and future applications of transgenic technology in agriculture and its social implications in a case study. Transgenic Plants: Methods and Protocols is divided into six major s- tions plus an introduction, comprising 27 chapters. Part I, the Introduction, is a review of the past, present, and perspectives of the transgenic plants, from the discovery of Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a feasible transformation vector, to its use as a tool to study gene expression and function, and the current and possible future applications of this technology in agriculture, industry, and medicine.

Axel Kahn's book, published late in 1996, which provided an overview of the opinions expressed by the Commission of Biomolecular Engineering about genetically modified plants, was a great success. Given the scale and importance of the phenomenon, the French Ministry of Agriculture and publishers John Libbey Eurotext have decided to publish an English-language version of this fundamental book about the introduction and development of genetically modified plants. For some years now, plant biotechnology, especially genetic engineering, has enabled us to modify the cycle of plant production, strengthening resistance to weedkillers and pests, improving yields and quality, adapting plants to unfavourable environments and creating new species. In France, the Biomolecular Engineering Commission (CGB) is responsible for authorising the marketing of these modified products. Over the past ten years it has certified 450 new products for public consumption. This book, which is suitable for the general public, reports on the experience acquired by the CGB and the studies it has conducted: What are the potential risks associated with so-called transgenetic plants? Are there any undetectable phenomena involved? - How can such plants be produced more safely? Axel Kahn is a world-renowned geneticist and clinician, chaired the Biomolecular Engineering Commission until 1998. Here he explains the "philosophy" of the CGB, which has gained unrivalled experience in Europe, and sets out ethical and scientific guidelines for the use of genetic engineering techniques.

Development of transgenic crop plants, their utilization for improved agriculture, health, ecology and environment and their socio-political impacts are currently important fields in education, research and industries and also of interest to policy makers, social activists and regulatory and funding agencies. This work prepared with a class-room approach on this multidisciplinary subject will fill an existing gap and meet the requirements of such a broad section of readers. Volume 1 with ten chapters contributed by 31 eminent scientists from nine countries deliberates on the basic concepts, strategies and tools for development of transgenic crop plants, including topics such as: explants used for the generation of transgenic plants, gene transfer methods, organelle transformation, selection and screening strategies, expression and stability of transgenes, silencing undesirable genes, transgene integration, biosynthesis and biotransformation and metabolic engineering of pathways and gene discovery.

This book provides thorough coverage of transgenic plants with methods on plant transformation, biotechnological application of transgenic plants, and future developments. Chapters are grouped into sections focusing on transformation model and crop plants, genome engineering, and transgenic event characterization. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and cutting-edge, Transgenic Plants: Methods and Protocols aims to broaden the utility for readers, provide additional references for further understanding, and present the technology’s potential for solving some of our most urgent global challenges in food security.

With contributions from nearly 130 internationally renowned experts in the field, this reference details advances in transgenic plant construction and explores the social, political, and legal aspects of genetic plant manipulation. It provides analyzes of the history, genetics, physiology, and cultivation of over 30 species of transgenic seeds, fruits, and vegetables. Stressing the impact of genetic engineering strategies on the nutritional and functional benefit of foods as well as on consumer health and the global market economy, the book covers methods of gene marking, transferring, and tagging public perceptions to the selective breeding, hybridization, and recombinant DNA manipulation of food.

This book provides a comprehensive and in-depth discussion on the development of herbicide resistance during the past 50 years, emphasizing the biochemical pathways of herbicide resistance in weeds. It discusses the principles of plant genetics, different methods of genetic engineering, makingof transgenic plants, various transgenic crops conferred with herbicide resistance, evolution of weed, problems subsequent to growing of transgenic crops, benefits and risks of growing transgenic crops, and management of transgenic crops. Packed with up-to-date information, the book includes relevant references, data, figures, and illustrations.

Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.