Plant breeding genetic modifications

To what extent is genetic modification of plants and animals equivalent to changes made by conventional breeding See Spurgeon.510... 

Substantial yield increases can also be achieved by exploiting the full genetic potential of seeds, whether by modern breeding technologies or genetic modification. Hundreds of new seed varieties with improved characteristics are introduced every year. Over the past 30 years, the yield of major field crops such as com, soya, wheat, and rice has increased by 60 to 80 percent and further increases are forecasted. Appropriate treatment of those seeds with crop protection chemicals before planting has proven to increase plant vigor overall. 

Plant breeding the purposeful manipulation of plant species in order to create desired genetic modifications for specific purposes. This manipulation usually involves either cross- or self-pollination, followed by artificial selection of progeny. 

Plant breeding Manipulation of plant species in order to create desired genetic modifications for specific purposes. 

Typical fatty acid composition of commodity soybean oil, in comparison with the other major vegetable oils, is shown in Table 2.3. Soybean oil has a high content of linoleic acid, and a lower level of linolenic acid. These are both essential fatty acids for humans and therefore of dietary importance, but they are also the cause of oxidative instability of this oil. Processing techniques, such as hydrogenation and lipid modification through traditional plant breeding or genetic transformation, have been used to modify the fatty acid composition to improve its oxidative or functional properties. 

Gunstone, ED. and Pollard, M.R. (2001) Vegetable oils with fatty acid composition changed by plant breeding or by genetic modification, in Structured and Modified Lipids (ed ED. Gunstone), Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, NY, pp. 155-184. 

The most successful, in terms of application, has been herbicide resistance, where reduced utilization of herbicides has been claimed. Resistance against diseases (pests) has been one of the priorities in designing genetically modified (GM) plants. This also implies a decrease in the dependence on chemical pesticides. Genetic modification has been shown to provide an additional and less time-consuming tool, and to be a useful means of creating novel resistance, compared to classic breeding. 

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