Agriculture
Responsible biotechnology is not the enemy; Hunger. Not have enough food at affordable prices, we can not expect world health or peace.
Crop performance
Using the techniques of modern biotechnology, one or two genes (Smartstax Monsanto will use 8, from 2010) can be transferred to a highly developed variety to give a new character that will increase efficiency. However, while increasing crop yields is the most obvious applications of modern biotechnology in agriculture is also the most difficult. Current genetic engineering techniques to best effect controlled by a single gene. Many of the genetic characteristics associated with performance (eg, enhanced growth) are controlled by many genes, each of which has a minimal effect on overall performance. It is, therefore, much scientific work done in this area.
Reduced vulnerability of crops to environmental stresses
These crops contain genes that provide resistance to biotic and abiotic stress can be developed. For example, drought and excessively salty soil are two important factors limiting crop productivity. Biotechnologists studying plants that can adapt to these extreme conditions, with the hope of finding the genes that allow them to do so and eventually transferring these genes to the more desirable crops. One of the most recent developments is the recognition of a plant gene, At-DBF2 of Thale cress, a small herb that is often used for plant research because it is very easy to grow and its genetic code is well prepared. When this gene was introduced tomato and tobacco (see RNA interference), these cells can withstand environmental stresses such as salt, drought, cold and heat, rather than the ordinary ones. If these preliminary results of success in major trials, then in May DBF2 gene crops help technology that can better withstand the harsh environments. Researchers have also created transgenic rice plants resistant to rice yellow panachure virus (RYMV). In Africa, the virus destroys the majority of rice crops and makes the survival of plants more susceptible to infection by fungi.
Increased nutrition and quantity of food
Protein in foods can be modified to increase its nutritional properties. The protein in legumes and cereals can be transformed to provide the amino acids required by humans on a balanced diet. A good example is the work of Professors Ingo Potrykus and Peter Beyer of the so-called Golden Rice (see below).
Improved taste, texture or appearance of food
Modern biotechnology can be used to slow the degradation process, so that the fruit to ripen longer on the vine, then to the consumer with a reasonable lifetime for the moment. This alters the flavor, texture and appearance of the fruit. More importantly, could expand the market for farmers in developing countries due to the reduction of spoilage. However, there is sometimes a lack of understanding by researchers in developed countries on the real needs of beneficiaries in developing countries. For example, soybeans to resist mechanical distortion, it is less appropriate for tempeh production of an important source of protein, which depends on the fermentation. The use of modified soy leads to crumbly texture that is less palatable and less convenient when cooking. The first GM product was a tomato which was transformed into a delay of maturation. Researchers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam are being delayed ripening, papaya, in collaboration with the University of Nottingham and Zeneca. Biotechnology in cheese production of enzymes produced by micro-organisms offer an alternative to animal rennet - a cheese coagulant - a variation on the cheese makers. This also eliminates possible concerns with the material of animal origin, although there are currently no plans to develop the synthesis of milk, making this argument less strong. Enzymes offer pet friendly alternative to animal rennet. While providing comparable quality, and is theoretically less expensive. Approximately 85 million tonnes of flour is used each year in pain. By adding an enzyme called maltogenic amylase to flour, bread stays fresh longer. Assuming that 10-15% of bread is thrown away, as usual, it can be kept fresh for another 5-7 days, then perhaps 2 million tonnes of flour per year could be saved. Other enzymes that cause pain may be extended to make a lighter bread, or to change the bread in a number of ways.
Reduced dependence on fertilizers, pesticides and other agrochemicals
Most current commercial applications of modern biotechnology in agriculture to reduce the dependence of farmers on agrochemicals. For example, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a soil bacterium that produces a protein with insecticidal properties. Traditionally, a fermentation process used to produce an insecticidal spray from these bacteria. In this form, the Bt toxin is listed as inactive protoxin, which requires digestion by an insect to be effective. There are several Bt toxins and each is specific to certain target insects. Cultivated plants are now designed to contain and express genes from the Bt toxin, which produces the active form. When a susceptible insect ingests the transgenic crop variety in the expression of Bt protein, stop feeding and die shortly after in response to the Bt toxin binding to the walls of the intestine. Bt corn is now available in a number of countries to control the European corn borer (an insect Lepidoptera), which is otherwise controlled by spraying (more difficult). Cultures have also been genetically for herbicide tolerance in a wide range. The lack of cost-effectiveness for pesticides with a wide range of activities and crop damage was not to limit the crop weed management. Multiple applications of several herbicides are often used to control a wide range of weed species detrimental to agronomic crops. Weed management tend to rely on preemergence - that is sprayed with herbicides in response to requests from weed contamination and should not in response to weeds. Mechanical cultivation and hand weeding is often necessary to control weeds are not controlled by applications of herbicides. The introduction of herbicide-resistant crops has the potential to reduce the number of active ingredients in pesticides used to manage weeds, reduce the number of herbicide applications during the season, and increase the efficiency through better management under weeds and crop damage. Transgenic plants expressing resistance to glyphosate, glufosinate and bromoxynil have been developed. These herbicides can be sprayed on crops without causing damage to crops, and kill the weeds nearby. From 1996 to 2001, herbicide tolerance was the most characteristic of commercially available transgenic crops, followed by insect resistance. In 2001, herbicide tolerance to grow soybeans, corn and cotton accounted for 77% of 626,000 square kilometers to plant transgenic crops, Bt crops accounted for 15%, and "stacked genes for herbicide tolerance and resistance to insects used in both cotton and corn accounted for 8%.
Production of novel substances in crop plants
Biotechnology is to apply new uses other than food. For example, rapeseed can be modified to produce fatty acids for detergents, substitute fuels and petrochemicals. Potatoes, tomatoes, tobacco ricererere, lettuce, safflowers, and other plants have been genetically modified to produce insulin and some vaccines. If the success of clinical trials, the benefits of edible vaccines would be enormous, especially for developing countries. Transgenic plants can be produced locally and cheaply. Homegrown vaccines would avoid the logistical and financial problems arising from the preparation of the tradition of long distances and keeping cold during transport. And because it is edible, you will not need syringes, which are not only a burden to the preparation of vaccines, but also a source of infection if infected. In the case of insulin in transgenic plants grown, it is settled law that the gastro-intestinal protein in the case so it can not currently be used as edible protein. However, it can be produced at low cost compared to the insulin produced in costly, bioreactors. For example, in Calgary, Canada-based SemBioSys Genetics, Inc. reports that safflower produced insulin to reduce unit costs by more than 25% or more and approach to the reduction of capital costs associated with the construction of a commercial scale of production of insulin more than $ 100 million, compared to traditional biomanufacturing facilities
Criticism
There is another aspect of agricultural biotechnology. Does the increased use of herbicides and herbicide resistance resulting "super weeds," residues in crops and foods, genetic contamination of non-GM crops, which have hit the farmers and conventional damage to wildlife from glyphosate, etc. Bioengineering Main article: Bioengineering Engineering or biotechnology bioengineering is a branch of engineering that focuses on biotechnology and life sciences. It includes different disciplines such as biochemical engineering, biomedical engineering, bio-engineering of processes, biosystem engineering and so on. Because of the novelty of the sector, the definition of a bioengineer is still undefined. However, in general, is an integrated approach of fundamental biological sciences and engineering principles. Bioengineers often used to improve manufacturing processes in the laboratory scale. In addition, as with most engineers, often working with the management, finance and legal issues. Since patents and regulation (eg, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations in the United States) are very important issues for biotech enterprises, bioengineers are often required to have knowledge on these issues. The growing number of biotechnology companies in May need to create a bioengineers in the years to come. Many universities around the world are now programs and industrial biotechnology (as independent programs or specialty programs in well-established engineering fields).
