Agricultural Biotechnology

Sacha StallmanMarch 23, 2014

Presentation Outline

*Definition of agricultural biotechnology

*Explanation of Genetically Modified Organism

*Benefits of Genetically Modified Organism

*Risk of Genetically modified Organism

*Biotechnology- any technique that uses whole or part of a living thing to make new products, improve or develop plants, animals and other organisms for specific use

- includes Cheese, Wine, and Pharmaceutical drugs

What is Agricultural Biotechnology?

What is Agricultural Biotechnology?

*Agricultural Biotechnology-Refers specifically to food products-Includes techniques such as selective

breeding, cloning, and genetic modification

What is a Genetically Modified Organism?

*A genetically modified organism is an organism whose genetic material has been changed using recombinant DNA technology.

*Recominant Technology is the ability to take two different DNA molecules (both coming from different sources) and combing them.

What is a Genetically Modified Organism?

*A gene is the basic physical and functional units of heredity which carries information for the expression of a particular trait

*This is an example of a tobacco plant that has been spliced with firefly genes.

What is a Genetically Modified Organism?

How is it Done?

*Find an organism with the desired trait

*Isolate the gene sequence that codes for the desired trait

*Insert the gene sequence into the genome of the plant cell

Common Products developed through genetic engineering

What is a Genetically Modified Organism?

Increased Harvest of Genetically Modified FoodsIncreased Harvest of Genetically Modified Foods

11.00

27.80

39.9044.20

52.60

1.70

58.70

-

10.00

20.00

30.00

40.00

50.00

60.00

70.00

1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

in Million hectaresin Million hectaresin Million hectares

Increase of 12%, 6.1 million hectares or 15 million acres between 2001 and 2002.

Source: Clive James, 2002

Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms

*Improve crop yields by creating crops that can be grown in marginal conditions

-frost resistant crops

-drought resistant crops

-salt-tolerant crops

-crops that make more efficient use of nitrogen and other nutrients

Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms

*Reduced use of pesticides -Development of pest

resistant crops -herbicide resistant crops

*Improved nutritional quality-Development of foods

designed to meet specific nutritional goals

Risks of GeneticallyModifiedOrganisms

*Insects might develop resistance to the pesticide-gene in the crops

*Herbicide-tolerant crops may cross-pollinate weeds, resulting in "superweeds"

Risks of GeneticallyModifiedOrganisms

*Certain gene products may have allergens, causing harm to human health

*Pesticide genes in GM crops may cause unintended harm to wildlife and beneficial insects

Photo courtesy of T. W. Davies, Cal. Acad. of Sciences.

References

Agricultural Biotechnology of Agricultural Economics Retrieved on 3/23/14 from www.agecon.purdue.edu/extension/resources

Biotechnology Industrial Organization. Retrieved on 3/25/14 from http://www.bio.org/category/40

Biotechnology Mentor’s Kit. Retrieved on 3/23/14 from www.isaaa.org/resources o

Colinger, Curtis et al. Genetically Modified Foods . Retrieved on 3/25/13 from www.clfs.umd.edu/grad/mlfsc/res/GeneticallyModifiedFoods

Schlenker, E and Roth, S. (2011). Williams' essentials of nutrition and diet therapy: Tenth Edition. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby

Shutske, John, M (2011) The Impact of Biotechnology and Information Technology on Agricultural Worker Safety and Health Retrieved on 3/24/14 from http://www.nasdonline.org/document/1845/d001780/the-impact-of-biotechnology-and-information-technology-on.html