Gene technology carries with it social and ethical implications—many of which engender personal views and discussion. Write a four to six (4-6) page paper in which you: 1. Select one (1) of the...

Genetically Modified Crop Plants
Genetically Modified Crop Plants
Introduction:
Genetic Engineering is the manipulation of genome of a living cell by experimental methods in the laboratory. Recombinant DNA is formed by combining DNA's from two different sources or different organisms related or unrelated. The recombinant DNA is also known as heterologous DNA. The transgenic organisms may be bacteria (micro-organisms), plants or animals. Genetic engineering or recombinant DNA technology is the latest technique for improving the genome and the beneficial characters of crop plats. Its objective is introduction of one or more genes into and organism (plant). The plants that receive foreign gene or genes from some other source are called transgenic plant. The technique requires identification and isolation of a fragment of foreign DNA for a desirable character or function. Then there is introduction of this foreign DNA into plant cell genome, and growing the transformed cell by tissue culture technique to produce new transgenic plants. Transgenic or transgenic organisms are called genetically modified organisms. Transgenic GM crops are being developed for improving various characters of crop plants like: insect-pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, stress resistance, better quality. GM crops are already in cultivation in USA, Europe and several other countries.
The cereal grain production is required to be increased by one billion tonnes in the 21st century because of the increase in world population to 9 billion. (Borlaug, 2001). There is a requirement for new technology to raise crop yield, improvement of quality of nutrition in food and to reduce losses in agriculture due to decrease in land area which is available for production of crop and livestock and because of a decreasing rate of crop improvement through usual breeding methods. Pressure of the society suggests this should be acquired by taking guarantee of safety for the public and the surroundings. Tillman (1999) noted that this foremost test to reduce the impact of agriculture on environment as well as to improve productivity and sustainability of crops, there is no single easy solution. Genetically modified (GM) crops are considered as one of the best possible ways to obtain elevated food products, with improved quality and with environmentally friendly agricultural methods. (Phipps and Beever, 2000).In industry, this technique is used in the synthesis of certain enzymes required in processing agricultural products.
Genetic Engineering in Plants
Plants like tomatoes, potatoes, tobacco, cabbage, etc. can be grown by tissue culture from a single somatic cell. The genetic manipulation is performed on a single somatic cell which is then cultured to produce a new plant with a new trait. The usual DNA vector for gene transfer into plant cells is the plasmid of the bacterium, Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The DNA segment of this plasmid integrates into chromosomal DNA of host plant cell. At first an agronomical important gene is identified and is isolated from a known source. Then Ti plasmid...