Synthesis on GMO Role Essay

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The role of Biotechnology in Agriculture is defined as any technique that uses live organisms viz. bacteria, viruses, fungi, yeast, animal cells, plant cells, etc. to make or modify a product, to improve plants or animals, or to engineer micro-organisms for specific uses.

Agricultural biotechnology is a collection of scientific techniques used to improve plants, animals, and microorganisms.

Before Agricultural Biotechnology:

The Green Revolution led to a tremendous increase in food production worldwide between the 1930s and 1960s.

This revolution included the use of high-yielding crop varieties, increased use of fertilizers, and improved methods of irrigation.

Although the Green Revolution tripled the worldwide food supply, it was still not enough for a growing population.

Farmers have also used agrochemicals (pesticides and fertilizers) to increase crop yields.

Is there a way to use our knowledge of plant genetics to produce new varieties and increase yields? Can we reduce the use of pesticides and fertilizers and use a more environmentally friendly approach? Yes, agricultural biotechnology has given rise to genetically modified crops that solve all the above problems.

Genetically Modified Organisms:

You must have heard the term GMO used by people around you or in the news. what does this mean? GMO stands for ‘genetically modified organism’. GMOs are plants, animals, bacteria, or fungi whose genes have been modified by genetic manipulation. Genetically modified crops or GM crops are used in the following ways:

They are more tolerant of stress such as drought, cold, heat, etc.
They are insect-resistant and therefore less dependent on chemical pesticides.
Genetically modified crops help reduce post-harvest losses.
They help increase mineral utilization by plants, thereby preventing early exhaustion of soil fertility.
Genetically modified crops have increased nutritional value. Example – Vitamin A-rich rice.

Genetic modifications help industries tailor plants to provide alternative resources, such as fuels, starch, and pharmaceuticals.

BT Cotton:

This is a genetically modified version of cotton. Bt stands for the microbe Bacillus thuringiensis.

This microbe produces a pesticide protein or toxin that kills oats

Insects such as tobacco germs, flies, mosquitoes, beetles, etc. This is because it is dormant in the bacillus. It is activated only once when the insect meets the alkaline pH in the intestine when the insect swallows it. The active toxin then binds to the surface of epithelial cells and makes pores in it. This causes the cells to swell and louse, eventually leading to insect death.

Scientists isolated the BT toxin genes from Bacillus thuringiensis and incorporated it into various crop plants such as cotton. This variety is ‘Bt cotton’. Since most BT toxins are insect-group specific, the choice of genes to be incorporated depends on the crop and the targeted pest. A gene named cry codes for the toxin protein and there are a number of these genes. For example, the genes cryIAc encode toxins that control cotton bollworms whereas the gene cryIAb controls the insect corn borer.

Pest Resistant Plants:

Many nematodes live as parasites on many hosts such as plants, animals, and even humans. A specific nematode affects the roots of ‘Meloidiagnae’ and causes a huge reduction in yield. To prevent this violation, a novel strategy was adopted which is based on the RNA interference (RNAi) process.

RNAi is a method of cellular defense in all eukaryotes. It involves the silencing of a specific mRNA by a complementary double-stranded RNA that binds and inhibits the translation of this mRNA. The complementary RNA can come from infection by viruses that have RNA genomes or genetic elements called ‘transposons’.

Scientists took advantage of this process and introduced nematode-specific genes into host plants using Agrobacterium vectors. The introduced DNA produces both sense and anti-sense in host cells. These complementary strands then produce dsRNA, initiate RNAi, and thus silence specific RNA of the nematode.

As a result, the parasite cannot survive in the host that expresses this RNA, leading to resistance against that parasite.

Related work on Biotechnology in Agriculture:

Modern biotechnology represents distinctive applications of science that can be used for the betterment of society through the development of crops with improved nutritional quality, resistance to pests and diseases, and reduced cost of production and vice versa. The following are given below:

Micropropagation of disease-free plants like Banana:

Banana is generally grown in developing countries where it is a source of food, employment, and income. Micro-propagation represents a means of regenerating disease-free banana plantations from healthy tissues. It has all the advantages of being a relatively inexpensive and easily applicable technique.

Agriculture on acid soils:

Improving aluminum tolerance in grains: To maintain the pH of the soil, lime can be added to the soil to increase pH. This treatment is expensive and temporary. Advanced farming that is tolerant to aluminum can be developed alternatively. Rye shows a fourfold increase in aluminum tolerance over wheat.

Fortification of crops:

Certain crops are enriched with nutrients to reduce the malnutrition of children in developing countries. ‘Protato’ which is a genetically engineered potato in India produces about one-third to one-half more protein than usual, it also has substantial amounts of all the essential amino acids such as lysine and methionine Protein deficiency is widespread in developing and under-developing countries. Potato is the staple and cheapest food of the poorest people. Similarly, Golden rice has been genetically engineered to produce

Beta-carotene is the precursor to vitamin A.

So, it can be used to recover the vision problem caused by Vitamin A.

Breeding and reproducing in Aquaculture:

Reproductive biotechnology in fisheries provides opportunities to increase the growth rate improve the management of cultivated species and limit the fertility of genetically engineered species. Genetic engineering is an active area of research and development in aquaculture. The large size and hardy nature of many fish eggs allow them to be easily manipulated and possible in gene transfer by direct injection or electro-orientation of a foreign gene, with an electric field aiding gene transfer. Gene transfer in fish typically involves genes that produce growth hormones and has been shown to dramatically increase growth rates in carp, salmon, tilapia, and other species. In addition, a gene from a winter founder that produces an antifreeze protein was put into salmon in hopes of expanding the fish farming range. The gene did not produce sufficient amounts of protein in cold water, but it did allow the salmon to grow during the colder months when non-transgenic salmon would not grow. These applications are still in the research and development phase and currently no transgenic aquatic animals are available to the consumer.

Artificial insemination (AI) and Multiple Ovulation/ Embryo Transfer in Livestock:

Advances in artificial insemination (AI) and ovulation after embryo transfer (MOET) have a major impact on livestock improvement and development programs already in developed countries and many developing countries as they speed up the process of genetic improvement, risk Reduce transmission of the disease and expand the number of animals that can be bred with better parents.

Genetically Modified Crops as Animal Feed:

Genetically modified crops, products derived from them, and enzymes derived from genetically modified microorganisms are widely used in animal diets. Mixed feeds are mainly used for poultry, pigs and dairy cows and are prepared from a range of raw materials, including maize and other grains and oilseeds such as soybeans and canola. There was no evidence regarding adverse effects in animals fed transgenic products for any measured parameters, such as nutrient composition, rumen fermentation, growth performance, or carcass characteristics.

Pest and Herbicide Resistant Cultivars:

The common soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis gene has been inserted to produce a specific protein in the cotton crop. This protein is toxic to some insects such as pink bollworms and cotton bollworms (Helisoverpa zea), and is partially effective in controlling tobacco worm worms and armyworms.

Genetically engineered Herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops:

A gene from the soil bacterium Agrobacterium tomfaciens is used in genetically engineered HT crops. This makes the recipient plant tolerant to the broad-spectrum herbicide glyphosate. HT crops can reduce production costs and help with weed management. An HT crop named Roundup Ready (RR) was developed.

Genetically engineered Drought Resistant crops:

The technique of gene transformation of crop plants has been applied to identify genes responsible for drought resistance and their transfer. There are mainly two approaches, namely the targeted and short gun approach facilitating genetic engineering to obtain transgenic plants that face drought resistance. Similarly, RAJ cultivation of wheat is developed for rain-fed areas of Pakistan.

For this purpose, wheat content from international and local germplasm is seen with special emphasis on drought tolerance and disease resistance. RAJ was evaluated for grain yield, diseases drought resistance, and other agronomic traits. This variety produced the highest number of grains.

Production of Biofuel by Agricultural waste:

Biofuel is a great substitution for fossil fuel. Many agricultural waste products are used for the production of biofuel. In India, banana plants are used. A banana pseudo stem is commonly available to be used as a lignocellulosic substrate. Banana pseudo stem is a source for bioethanol production. Aspergillus ellipticus and Saccharomyces cerevisiae are used in pre-treatment saccharification of cellulosic substrate.

Diagnostics and epidemiology:

Advanced biotechnology-based diagnostic tests make it possible to identify disease-causing agents and to monitor the impact of disease control programs to a degree of precision not previously possible. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests have become the standard methodology for the diagnosis and surveillance of many animal and fish diseases worldwide, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique is especially helpful in diagnosing plant diseases and is proving increasingly so also for livestock and fish diseases.

Vaccine development:

Genetically engineered vaccines are being developed to protect fish and livestock against pathogens and parasites. Recurring vaccines can provide various advantages over traditional vaccines in terms of safety, specificity, and stability. Today, quality-improving vaccines are available, for example, Newcastle disease, classical swine fever, and rinderpest. In addition to technological improvements, advances in biotechnology will make vaccine production cheaper, and therefore improve supply and availability for smaller shareholders.

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