Transgenic plant

You may start by preparing the following information: 1. What are transgenic plants? 2. How are transgenic plants produced? 3. Which is the first transgenic plant? 4. Explain why transgenic plants are beneficial to humans. 5. What are the safety, environmental and ethical concerns for transgenic plants? 6. Illustrate an example of transgenic plants, e.g. Flavr Savr tomatoes on the following points: a. How are they produced? b. Benefits of using them as food source c. Reasons for the sales of them for a few years only. One type of genetically modified plant will be Transgenic plants. Transgenic plants have genes inserted into them that are derived from another species. The inserted genes can come from species within the same kingdom (plant to plant) or between kingdoms (bacteria to plant). In many cases the inserted DNA has to be modified slightly in order to correctly and efficiently express in the host organism. Transgenic plants are used to express proteins like the cry toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis, herbicide resistant genes and antigens for vaccinations[38] The first commercialised genetically modified plants (Flavr Savr tomatoes) used RNAi technology, where the inserted DNA matched an endogenous gene already in the plant. When the inserted gene is expressed it can repress the translation of the endogenous protein. Host delivered RNAi systems are being developed, where the plant will express RNA that will interfere with insects, nematodes and other parasites protein synthesis.[41] This may provide a novel way of protecting plants from pests. Flavr Savr (also known as CGN-89564-2), a genetically modified tomato, was the first commercially grown genetically engineered food to be granted a license for human consumption. It was produced by the Californian company Calgene, and submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1992.[1] On May 17, 1994, the FDA completed its evaluation of the Flavr Savr tomato and the use of APH(3')II, concluding that the tomato "is as safe as tomatoes bred by conventional means" and "that the use of aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase II is safe for use as a processing aid in the development of new varieties of tomato, oilseed rape, and
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cotton intended for food use." It was first sold in 1994, and was only available for a few years before production ceased in 1997.[2] Calgene made history, but mounting costs prevented the company from becoming profitable, and it was eventually acquired by Monsanto Company. Through genetic engineering, Calgene hoped to slow the ripening process of the tomato and thus prevent it from softening, while still allowing the tomato to retain its natural color and flavor. The tomato was made more resistant to rotting by adding an antisense gene which interferes with the production of the enzyme polygalacturonase. The enzyme normally degrades pectin in the cell walls and results in the softening of fruit which makes them more susceptible to being damaged by fungal infections. The modified tomatoes are picked before fully ripened and are then artificially ripened using ethylene gas which acts as a plant hormone. Picking the fruit while unripe allows for easier handling and extended shelf-life. Flavr Savr tomatoes could be allowed to ripen on the vine, without compromising their shelf-life. The intended effect of slowing down the softening of Flavr Savr tomatoes would allow the vine-ripe fruits to be harvested like green tomatoes without greater damage to the tomato itself. The Flavr Savr turned out to disappoint researchers in that respect, as the antisensed PG gene had a positive effect on shelf life, but not on the fruit's firmness, so the tomatoes still had to be harvested like any other unmodified vine-ripe tomatoes. An improved flavor, later achieved through traditional breeding of Flavr Savr and better tasting varieties, would also contribute to selling Flavr Savr at a premium price at the supermarket. The FDA stated that special labeling for these modified tomatoes was not necessary because they have the essential characteristics of non-modified tomatoes. Specifically, there was no evidence for health risks, and the nutritional content was unchanged. www.aces.uiuc.edu/vista/html_pubs/biotech/genen.htm Kimball biology http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/T/TransgenicPlants.html