biotechnology

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biotechnology
new tool for progress or threat to our
environment?
R. Daniel Lineberger Professor of
Horticulture Texas AM University
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biotechnology
the development of products and processes using
living organisms
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Biotechnology...

• Narrow sense definition
• use of recombinant DNA methods to alter
  living organisms
• Broad sense definition
• use of all tools of modern biology to improve
  products and processes
• (including tissue culture, embryo transfer,
  monoclonal antibodies, etc.)

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Test your knowledge...

• Which of the following is (are) TRUE?
• A. We are eating genetically engineered food.
• B. We can be eating genetically engineered food
  without knowing it.
• C. Humans have been genetically engineered.
• D. Biotech companies are making lots of money!

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Test your knowledge...

• Which of the following is (are) TRUE?
• A. We are eating genetically engineered food.
• B. We can be eating genetically engineered food
  without knowing it.
• C. Humans have been genetically engineered.
• D. Biotech companies are making lots of money!

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Whats been done...

• Animal biotechnology
• cloning and transplanting embryos
• elevated hormone production
• altered chemical composition of milk
• altered fat production

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Hello...Dolly,...Dolly??!
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Whats been done...

• Plant biotechnology
• autogeneous BT production
• herbicide resistance
• altered ethylene synthesis
• altered flower color
• virus resistance

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Biotech in the field...

• Herbicide tolerant
• bromoxynil cotton
• glufonisate beet, canola, corn, soybean
• glyphosate beets, corn, cotton, soybeans
• sulfonyl urea cotton, flax
• Insect protected (Bt) corn, cotton, potato,
  tomato
• Virus protected papaya, potato, squash
• Male sterile canola, corn, radicchio
• Ripening modified tomato

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Petitions to APHIS for release of GMOin last 10
years
Beets Canola Corn Cotton Soybean Potato Squash Tom
ato Others
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3
14
5
5
5
2
12
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Source APHIS, http//www.aphis.usda.gov/biotech/
petday.html
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Varieties in production...

• slower ripening/softening tomatoes
• FlavrSavr, SummerFresh
• virus resistant squash
• Freedom II squash
• BT producing plants
• Sweetcorn, NewLeaf potato, BollGARD cotton
• altered flower color

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What are the issues?

• Its fundamentally wrong!
• Well lose the effectiveness of all our
  pesticides as resistant populations develop.
• Genetic resources of underdeveloped nations are
  being unfairly exploited.
• Corporate biotech firms will dominate.

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Debating the issues...

• Public resistance to biotechnology has largely
  ended in this country--
• not so in Europe!

grown increasingly hostile
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Outlook for the future...

• Plant scientists must use every tool at
  their disposal to improve plant and animal
  production systems to meet the needs of a rapidly
  growing population for ample and healthful food.
  And they must inform the public of the safety and
  necessity for their choice of tools.

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Looming on the horizon...

• Genetic pollution???
• escape of herbicide resistance
• Development of tolerance to Bt toxin
• effects on non-target organisms
• Pleiotrophic effects
• Vegetables as minor use crops