Applied Plant Genetics - Booklet B.docx

**Plant Breeding and Genetics** **Genetic engineering** is the artificial manipulation or alteration of a gene.  This may be done in a plant or animal to provide a benefit to the plant, animal, environment or farmer. This is known as **genetic improvement. ** When genes are altered in a variety o...

**Plant Breeding and Genetics** **Genetic engineering** is the artificial manipulation or alteration of a gene.  This may be done in a plant or animal to provide a benefit to the plant, animal, environment or farmer. This is known as **genetic improvement. ** When genes are altered in a variety or species it is known as a **Genetically Modified Organism (GMO). ** **Principles of Genetic Improvement: ** +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ | 1. **Natural Selection: ** | 2. **Progeny Testing: ** | | | | | Process where organisms with | Is the comparison of a plants | | genetically controlled | offspring with other plant | | characteristics that allow them | offspring under the same | | to adapt to their environment | conditions.  | | will survive and reproduce to | | | pass on their genes to their | Progeny with traits that are | | offspring.  | desired are used for pollination | | | | | Charles Darwin is responsible for | | | the Theory of Natural Selection. | | | The theory is based off 3 | | | observations and 2 conclusions:  | | +===================================+===================================+ | 3. **Performance Testing** | **4.. Genotyping and Genomic | | | selection** | | Compares two plants kept under | | | the same conditions.  | Genotyping is the process of | | | determining the differences in | | | the genetic makeup of an | | | organism.  | | | | | | Genomics is the study of | | | structure, function of the | | | organism\'s genome. A genome is | | | an organism\'s complete set of | | | DNA.  | +-----------------------------------+-----------------------------------+ **Agricultural Biotechnology ** Seeks to bring genetic improvements in agriculture through biotechnology. Biotechnology refers to editing DNA. Farmers improve crops through selective breeding.  Farmers chose crop varieties depending on certain characteristics:  1. Disease resistance  2. Pest resistance  3. Yield  4. Drought resistance  5. Flavour (palatability)  6. Resistance to lodging  **Genetic engineering:** is the artificial manipulation or alteration of a gene.  Issues surrounding GMO's:  1. Ethical  2. New technology - lack of understanding  3. Herbicide resistant crops may transfer into weeds and therefore will not be able to be killed.  **Advantages of GMO** 1. Disease resistance: less risk of diseases reduces the amount of applications of sprays needed to be applied in a given year. In turn this reduces damage and compaction to soil, therefore, improving soil health and improving future prospects for crops.  2. Pest resistance: reduction of the number of applications of sprays to crops reduces damage to plant and improves biodiversity.  3. Increased yields: more crop production, income and profitability.  4. Drought resistance: crop will survive hot summers and in areas of low rainfall. This in turns improves profitability and need for irrigation systems on farms.  5. Herbicide resistance: Spraying for weeds will not damage the crop. Less weeds will lead to better germination and establishment of crops.  **Gene Editing: ** A change to an organisms DNA. Genetic material can be added, removed or altered within the genome.  \*\*Genomic editing deals with specific genes in the genome.  **CRISPR/Cas9**: Is subgenic engineering. A subgenic form of genetic engineering. This alters genome without inserting genes from another/same species. It is used to change the genome of a crop's DNA. Cas9 is an enzyme.  - The target gene is identified.  - RNA molecule is created to mimic the DNA within the target gene.  - Enzyme Cas9 is created to act as a scissors to edit the gene.  - RNA + Cas9 is introduced into the cell.  - The sequence of bases within the RNA matches to the correct DNA sequence.  - Cas9 acts as a genetic scissors and cuts DNA at the specific target location.  - The DNA is removed or added and then repairs itself.  **Micropropagation (Tissue Culture)** Is a method of genetic engineering in which plants are produced on/in a sterile nutrient medium in a laboratory from plant tissue.  **Ethical and Economic Considerations of Biotechnology ** 1. Increased production (economic): gene editing is producing crops capable of producing increased yield to meet the growing global demand for food.  2. Biodiversity (ethical): producing crops that are pest and diseases resistant reduces the need for chemical sprays to be applied. Therefore, reducing pollution of habitats.