MADE BY X B

TRANSGENIC CROPS
 What are Transgenic Crops?

• Are also known as genetically modified or GM crops.

•A transgenic crop plant contains a gene or genes which have been

artificially inserted instead of a plant acquiring them through pollination.

•The inserted gene sequence (transgene) may come from another

unrelated plant, or completely different species.

•Throughout history all crops have been genetically modified from their
original wild state by domestication, selection, and control of breeding over
long periods of time.

•Genetic engineering speeds up the process and increases the variety of

genes which can be inserted into a particular plant.
 History
Was under trial and error for almost 9900 years.
The first genetically modified plant was produced in 1982, using an
antibiotic-resistant tobacco plant.
The first genetically modified crop approved for sale in the U.S., in 1994,
was the FlavrSavr tomato, which had a longer shelf life, as it took longer
to soften after ripening.
As of mid-1996, a total of 35 approvals had been granted to commercially
grow 8 transgenic crops and one flower crop of carnations, with 8
different traits in 6 countries plus the EU. In 2000, with the production
of golden rice, scientists genetically modified food to increase its nutrient
value for the first time.

FlavrSavr tomato
An Overview of the Crop Genetic Engineering cycle
Leaf Disk Method for A. t. Mediated Transformation

Leaf Disk Preparation Co-cultivation with Agrobacterium Selection for Transformation

Regeneration of Shoots
 Examples
The introduction of foreign germ plasm into crops has been achieved by
traditional crop breeders by artificially overcoming fertility barriers.
A hybrid cereal was created in 1875, by crossing wheat and rye.
Since then important traits have been introduced into wheat,
including dwarfing genes and rust resistance.
Plant tissue culture and the induction of mutations have also enabled
humans to artificially alter the makeup of plant genomes.

Hybrid Cereals
 Types of Genetic Engineering

Transgenic plants: have genes inserted into them that are derived from another species. The
inserted genes can come from species within the same kingdom (plant to plant) or between
kingdoms (for example, bacteria to plant). Transgenic carrots have been used to produce the
drug Taliglucerase alfa which is used to treat Gaucher's disease.

Cisgenic plants: are made using genes found within the same species or a closely related
one, where conventional plant breeding can occur.

Subgenic Plants: In 2014, Chinese researcher Gao Caixia filed patents on the creation of a
strain of wheat that is resistant to powdery mildew. The strain lacks genes that encode
proteins that repress defenses against the mildew. The researchers deleted all three copies of
the genes from wheat's hexaploid genome. The strain promises to reduce or eliminate the
heavy use of fungicides to control the disease.
 Food consisting of living organisms, e.g.
soybean, maize
CLASSIFICATION
Food derived from GMO e.g. soy oil, corn
GM FOOD

flour

Foods containing ingredients produced by

GMO, e.g. Vitamins or essential amino acids

Foods containing ingredients processed by

enzymes produced by GMO, e.g. high fructose
corn syrup produced using recombinant
glucose isomerase
 BT- COTTON

 Bt-cotton - First GM crop – 2002

 Second in global cotton production
 Area – 8.0 million hectares – 2008
 Yield gain - 31%
 Reduction in pesticide sprays – 39%
“Golden Rice”

*Expression of enzymes of
β-carotene pathway in
rice endosperm
*Amelioration of Vitamin A
deficiency
ADVANTAGES OF GM CROPS
IMPROVED NUTRITIONAL QUALITY
INCREASED CROP YIELD
INSECT RESISTANCE
DISEASE RESISTANCE
HERBICIDE RESISTANCE
SALT TOLERANCE
BIOPHARMACEUTICALS
SAVING VALUABLE TOPSOIL
ABILITY TO GROW PLANTS IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS
DISADVANTAGES OF GM CROPS
DAMAGE TO HUMAN HEALTH
ALLERGIES
HORIZONTAL TRANSFER AND ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
EATING FOREIGN DNA
CHANGED NUTRIENT LEVELS
DAMAGE TO THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
CROP-TO-WEED GENE FLOW
LEAKAGE OF GM PROTEINS INTO SOIL
REDUCTIONS IN PESTICIDE SPRAYING: ARE THEY REAL?
DISRUPTION OF CURRENT PRACTICES OF FARMING AND FOOD PRODUCTION IN DEVELOPED
COUNTRIES
CROP-TO-CROP GENE FLOW
DISRUPTION OF TRADITIONAL PRACTICES AND ECONOMIES IN LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES.
LACK OF RESEARCH ON CONSEQUENCES OF TRANSGENIC CROPS.
 Myths related to Genetic modification

Foods produced using biotechnology has not Been establised

as safe and are not adequately regulated.
Crops produced using biotechnology will negatively impact
the environment.
The longterm effects of foods developed using biotechnology
are unknown.
 Conclusion
Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the
world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and
preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance
upon chemical pesticides and herbicides.

Yet there are many challenges ahead for governments, especially in

the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food
labeling.

Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of

the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has
such enormous potential benefits.

However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended

harm to human health and the environment as a result of our
enthusiasm for this powerful technology.