Genetically modified plants

DNLM 1. Biological Products. 2. Plants, Genetically Modified—metabolism. 3. 

The advantage for the farmer is that he needs only one product, instead of several different selective (and more expensive) herbicides. Roundup ready soybeans were launched in 1996 and today 50 percent of the soybean crop in the United States is derived from roundup ready seeds. Other glyphosate-resistant transgenic crops introduced by Monsanto are maize and oil seed rape. Competing companies also developed herbicide-resistant plants or plants genetically modified to be protected against certain pests, but none has achieved a commercial breakthrough, mainly because of political reasons. 

I would next like to ask you a few questions about plants genetically modified to produce pharmaceutical drugs. These plants are modified to produce compounds used in manufacturing vaccines for diarrhea, antibodies to fight cancer, and drugs to treat such illnesses as cystic fibrosis. 

The most widely planted genetically modified food crops are soybeans, corn, rapeseed (the source of canola oil), and cotton. The percentages of these crops that were transgenic in 2002 were as follows ... 

Finally, the synthesis of biodegradable poly(hydroxyalkanoic acids) (PHA) by bacteria or genetically modified plants should be mentioned. The microbiology, biochemistry, and genetics of PHA biosynthesis have been reviewed by several authors52,105,405 407 and are beyond the scope of this chapter. 

MERCENIER A, wiEDERMANN u, BREITENEDER H (2001) Edible genetically modified microorganisms and plants for improved health. Curr Opin Biotechnol. 12 510-5. 

Koes, R., Verweij, W., and Quattrocchio, R, Flavonoids a colorful model for the regulation and evolution of biochemical pathways. Trends Plant Sci. 10, 236, 2005. Chandler, S., Commercialization of genetically modified ornamental plants, J. Plant Biotechnol. 5, 69, 2003. 

Meanwhile, new questions have been raised. Is there indeed a relation between soil health, plant health and human health as expected in organic agriculture Is the quality of genetically modified and hybrid varieties less coherent , and if so, is this a health concern Do food crops with increased levels of vitamins or phenols enhance health What do coherence and ripeness mean in terms of taste and consumer health These questions are very topical, but they are based on vague notions of food quality. A new conceptual framework for these topical questions is needed, as well as better-defined concepts to operationalise these questions. 

Mauro, I.M. and McLachlan, S.M. (2003). Risk Analysis of Genetically Modified Crops on the Canadian Prairies. Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Plant Products Directorate, Plant Biosafety Office Technical Workshop on the Management of Herbicide Tolerant (HT) Crops Report, www.inspection.gc.ca/english/plaveg/bio/consult/ herbtolrepe.shtml 7. Accessed June 17, 2005. 

Pryme, I.F. and Lembcke, R. (2003). In vivo studies on possible health consequences of genetically modified food and feed - with particular regard to ingredients consisting of genetically modified plant material, Nutrition and Health, 17, 1-8. 

Bell, H. A., Down, R.E., Fitches, E.C., Edwards, J.P. and Gatehouse, A.M.R. (2003). Impact of genetically modified potato expressing plant derived insect resistance genes on the predatory bug, Podisus maculiventris (Heteroptera Pentatomidae). Biocontrol Science and Technology 13 729-741. 

The plant-based production of vaccines is a potentially transformative technology, but the use of a similar technology for agricultural biotechnology has stimulated significant public debate, especially focused on genetically modified foods (GM foods). 

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