Agricultural Biotechnology Lecture Notes (PDF)

Agricultural Biotechnology Introduction to biotechnology BT301 Dr. Osama Saad  Ancient biotechnology early history as related to food and shelter; Includes domestication Classical biotechnology built on ancient biotechnology; Fermentation promoted food pro...

Agricultural Biotechnology Introduction to biotechnology BT301 Dr. Osama Saad  Ancient biotechnology early history as related to food and shelter; Includes domestication Classical biotechnology built on ancient biotechnology; Fermentation promoted food production, and medicine Modern biotechnology manipulates genetic information in organism; Genetic engineering  Plant Tissue Culture and Applications – Plant Tissue Culture – Micro-propagation Somatic Embryos Chemicals from Plants – Other Uses of Tissue Culture Protoplast Fusion Somaclonal Variation Germplasm Storage Plant Genetic Engineering – Plant Transformation – Transgenic Plant What are the new products of agricultural biotechnology? Animal growth hormones, e.g., bST What are the new products of agricultural biotechnology? Herbicide tolerant crops, e.g., Roundup Ready soybeans and corn and Liberty Link corn What are the new products of agricultural biotechnology? Insect resistant crops commercially available, e.g., Bt corn, cotton, and potatoes Corn rootworm resistance in 2001? What are the new products of agricultural biotechnology? Identity-preserved or specific-attribute crops (vaccines, higher oil or starch content, additional amino acids) Who are the stakeholders? Farmers Who are the stakeholders? Agribusiness Who are the stakeholders? Consumers Who are the stakeholders? Environmentalists Who are the stakeholders? International traders Who are the stakeholders? Policy makers Biotechnology Critics What are their concerns? Food Safety Allergenicity Food Safety Allergenicity Unknown diseases or future health consequences Food Safety Allergenicity Unknown diseases or future health consequences Safety of animal products from livestock that consume GMO-feed Who regulates agricultural biotechnology? Environmental Protection Agency Who regulates agricultural biotechnology? Food and Drug Administration The International Trade Controversy over GMOs Who are our customers for agricultural commodities? Your Questions  What is a GMO crop? Transfer of a gene from a soil bacteria that codes for a protein  What is a GMO crop? Protein becomes a toxin and kills selected insects Some genome editing tools before CRISPR-Cas9: 1- Restriction enzymes: Various types of endonucleases enzymes that recognize characteristic DNA sequences and cut them. In the early 2000s, scientists went searching for tools they could better control. By cobbling together parts of natural proteins, they found they could synthesize artificial proteins able to target mutations at desired locations in a genome One of the more capable creations, called : 2-Zinc finger nucleases “ ZFNS ” 3-Transcription activator like effector nucleases “ TALENS ”  Protoplast Fusion When a plant is injured, a mass of cells called a callus may grow over the site of the wound. Callus cells have the capability to de-differentiated into shoots and roots, and a whole flowering plant can be produced at the site of the injury. The natural potential for these cells to be "reprogrammed" makes them ideal candidates for genetic manipulation. Like any plant cells, however, callus cells are surrounded by a thick wall of cellulose, a barrier that hampers any uptake of new DNA. Fortunately, the cell wall can be dissolved with the enzyme cellulose, leaving a denuded cell called a protoplast. The protoplast can be fused with another protoplast from a different species, creating a cell that can grow into a hybrid plant. This method called protoplast fusion PCR for pest disease detection for bananas and papaya Productivity: Evidence for Bt Cotton Gains Bt cotton in: United States: yield effect 0 – 15% China: yield effect 10% South Africa: yield effect 20%-40% India: yield effect 60 – 80 % Won’t intellectual property issues interfere? SOURCE: David Zilberman (UC Berkeley), Gregory Graff (UC Berkeley), Matin Qaim (University of Bonn) and Cherisa Yarkin (UC Berkeley) Challenge 1: Healthy, safe and sufficient food supply Goals: Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable food (storage compounds; nutritional, sensory & processing char; less deleterious to quality) Foods for specific consumer groups and needs (carotenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, allergenicity, cancer prevention) Production of safe, high quality, sufficient and sustainable feed (less mycotoxins & heavy metals; optimise macro-& mironutrient conc & digestability)  Challenge 2: Sustainable agriculture, forestry and landscape Goals: Securing sustainability of agriculture by improving plants productivity and quality potential (yield stability, tolerance to non-biotic factors) Reduce and optimize the environmental impact of agriculture (better use of water / crop protect. agents – less needed) Enhance biodiversity (use natural diversity for crops, domesticate new species) Viable and pleasant landscape (ornamentals, landscape management)  Challenge 3: Green Products Goals: Renewable resources / renewable raw material, incl. biofuel / energy (novel functions; cheaper conversion to bioethanol / chemicals; novel oils for fules etc; replacement feedstocks) Development of novel specialty products from plant production platforms (plant medicinals; protein/peptide based pharmac & diagnostics; diagnostics for env hazard monitor / remediate pollutants) Challenge 4: Competitiveness, consumer choice and good governance Goals: Vibrant Basic Research (genome sequences & biodiv inventory; PSB; genomics tools; genetic systems for crop improvement) Human Resources, infrastructure and networking (virtual institute plant science) Public / consumer involvement (knowledge, trust, fun) Ethics, Safety, legal and financial environment (choice; co-existence; supportive environment)