Genetically Modified Crop Plants

Genetically Modified Crop Plants

Introduction

Biotechnology is a branch of science that includes wide range of technologies for different functions i.e. to increase the yield of plant and animal population, characterization genetically and diagnosis of disease etc. Various latest technologies are applied in agriculture, livestock and fish sectors. Modification of genetic material has nowadays given rise to a technology related to recombinant DNA also known as genetic engineering. The molecular use of DNA markers/genetic modification, tissue culture technique in crops and forest, transfer of embryo in livestock and for sex reversal in fishes are the latest techniques applied in genetic engineering. The main approach of using these techniques is to boost productivity of products which humans consume especially the old and new ones. Biotechnology products which are consumed mainly include food items like genetically engineered crops, pharmaceutical products like insulin etc.

Discussion

The study of gene technology is based on different techniques mainly to extract DNA and multiple copies by identifying the desired genes from cells, to produce gene products, and engineering segments, DNA molecules which are obtained from more than one 'parent'. The DNA is known as recombinant DNA and, if in the tissue or cell it is transplanted by targeting the genes, is called a DNA construct.

Therefore, biotechnology/ genetic engineering is known as that field of science which is developed by the latest research and innovation where scientists can select and develop genetically modified organisms using specific genes/genetic traits from an organism for the required purpose. Genetic engineering usually consists rudiments of conventional breeding techniques, microbiology, bioinformatics, molecular genetics/ biology, plant physiology and biochemistry.

Biological Basis

Currently scientists are using the diagnostic tools like Hybridization which is the main technique applied in selective breeding of plants, crossing and production of offspring's from genetically distinctive parent plants desired parental traits is normally involved. This process can be observed between same or different species of seeds and plants. Additional techniques which are used in plant breeding includes: • Cross pollination artificially • Saving fertilized embryo of plant and it's rescue otherwise it would die. • Using the natural male fertility factor for cross pollination from one parent other, but vice versa it is not possible. • Using tissue culture techniques to grow plant tissue artificially • following techniques cytogenetically using DNA as chromosomes. • Mutations are also induced by the help of physical and physical agents like azide, gamma radiations experimentally by the plant breeders randomly and the process is recognized as mutagenesis, that speeds up generating abundant rates of productivity.

The main tools used in recombinant DNA technology is the use of specially designed molecular markers for plant breeding. Short DNA segments that are associated with gene are usually called Molecular markers are short which and are present or found in the nucleotides in DNA segments. These markers can be induced in the selection of assisted- markers related to amplified fragment length polymorphisms and level of single nucleotide known as 'single nucleotide polymorphism. Usually the markers are used by the plant breeders to screen ...