AGRICULTURE AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
Muzyyain Nazir
167125
Bioethics
Content
Introduction
Definition
History
Used
Benefits
Biotechnology
Biotechnology : is the application of scientific
techniques to modify and improve plants,
animals, and microorganisms to enhance their
value. Biotechnology allows for the
manipulation, synthesis and eventual creation
of genes.
Genes are the encoded road map for an
organism's development. Thus, by
manipulating genes, agricultural biotechnology
are able to engineer the plants they desire
down to the "roots."
Agriculture Biotechnology
Agricultural biotechnology : is a collection of
scientific techniques used to improve plants,
animals and microorganisms. Based on an
understanding of DNA
.Scientists have developed solutions to Increase
agricultural productivity.Enhances breeders’
ability to make improvementsin crops and
livestock.Enables improvements that are not
possiblewith traditional crossing of related
species alone
History
Agricultural biotechnology has been practiced for a long time.
For about 10,000 years , farmers have been improving wild
plants and animals through the selection and breeding of
desirable characteristics.
In The first food product of biotechnology (an enzyme used
in cheese production and a yeast used for baking) appeared
on the market
.In1995, farmers have been growing GE crops.In 2003, 7
million farmers in 18 countries—more than 85 percent of
them resource-poor farmers in the developing world—were
planting biotech crops. Almost one third of the global biotech
crop area was grown in developing countries..
Applications
Genetic engineerig
Molecular diagnostic
Tissue culture
Genetic engineering: all crops improved with
transferred DNA to date have been developed
to aid farmers to increase productivity by
reducing crop damage from weeds, diseases or
insects
Molecular markers: scientists can use
molecular markers to select plants or animals
that possess a desirable gene, even in the
absence of a visible trait. Thus, breeding is
more precise and efficient.
Molecular diagnostics: Molecular diagnostics
are methods to detect genes or gene products
that are very precise and specific. Molecular
diagnostics are used in agriculture to more
accurately diagnose crop/livestock disease.
.Vaccines: Biotechnology-derived vaccines are
used in livestock and humans. They may be
cheaper, better and/or safer than traditional
vaccines. They are also stable at room
temperature, and do not need refrigerated
storage;
Tissue culture: Tissue culture is the
regeneration of plants in the laboratory from
disease-free plant parts. This technique allows
for the reproduction of disease-free planting
material for crops. Examples of crops produced
using tissue culture include citrus, pineapples,
avocados, mangoes, bananas, coffee and
papaya.
Benefits
Following are a few examples of benefits resulting
from applying currently available genetic
engineering techniques to agricultural
biotechnology.
Increased crop productivityBiotechnology has
helped to increase crop productivity by introducing
such qualities as disease resistance and increased
drought tolerance to the crops. , researchers can
select genes for disease resistance from other species
and transfer them to important crops.
Benefits …cont… Enhanced crop
protection
It provides cost-effective solutions to pest
problems crops such as corn, cotton, and potato
have been successfully transformed through
genetic engineering to make a protein that kills
certain insects when they feed on the plant
Virus resistance
Many plants are susceptible to diseases caused
by viruses, which are often spread by insects
(such as aphids) from plant to plant across a
field. it can be very difficult to control and crop
damage can be severe.
Insecticides often have little impact on the
spread of the disease.
Scientists have discovered new genetic
engineering methods that provide resistance to
viral disease.
