The issue of genetically modified plants has become increasingly relevant in recent years. Transgenic technologies have their opponents and defenders, however, over time, the situation does not become clearer. The article will discuss what genetically modified plants are, what are their pros and cons, transgenic plants with examples will be given.
Relevance of the problem
The population of planet Earth at the beginning of 2016 amounted to 7.3 billion people and is growing rapidly to this day. Many peoples on the planet feel a constant lack of food and water. This is due to the harmful effects of man on nature, as a result of which soil fertility is depleted.
In the 20th century, at least 20% of the fruiting territories on the entire planet were lost. Their area now continues to decrease as a result of biological degradation, desertification of lands, washing away of the useful surface, withdrawal of land for other needs.
The transition to the cultivation of industrial crops for the production of methanol leads to a reduction in the area of cultivated land, which further aggravates the human nutrition situation.
Studies by the Ministry of Health of Russia have shown that the nutrition of the population is characterized by a decrease in the amount of biologically valuable products. As a result, a shortage of proteins, vitamins and other useful elements is formed.
Scientific communities predict an increase in the number of mankind on Earth to 9-11 billion by 2050, so it is necessary to double or even triple the volume of agricultural products around the world. This increase is not feasible without the introduction of transgenic plants that help increase the yield and lower the price of products, as well as containing properties that are not found in plants grown according to traditional technology.
The essence of technology
Every living organism has genes that determine all of its signs. Complex chains of genes form properties. The chain itself is called a genotype (genome).
Previously, new hybrid varieties were obtained as a result of combining parent plants that changed genes with each other, and new traits were obtained. This process took a lot of time, and the final product did not always meet expectations.
Thanks to the development of new technologies, it became possible to change the plant genotype much faster by introducing the necessary genes. This area of scientific activity is called genetic engineering. Plants with altered genes are called transgenic or genetically modified. Genetic engineers create new genotypes. Therefore, it is possible to get new plants faster. Also, the possibility of transforming the genotype for a specific purpose.
Examples of gene modifications
Genetic engineering helps to introduce genes that are resistant to various harmful factors:
- Herbicidal products.
- Pesticidal formulations.
- Phytopathogenic microorganisms.
Genes are also introduced that increase the ripening period and fix nitrogen. It is possible to improve the amino acid protein composition of plants.
The development of the agricultural industry and the planting of the same crops in vast territories leads to the multiplication of pests and the transfer of diseases. To combat them, scientists create numerous chemical compounds. Pests gradually adapt to poisons and become resistant. At the same time, the ecological situation worsens: the necessary insects die, and hazardous chemicals get into the soil.
Genetic engineering offers the creation of genes that provide pest protection. The tomato gene that causes rapid rotting is removed. The genes responsible for the formation of sugar are added to cucumbers, as a result, a sweet cucumber is obtained. Purely theoretically, such methods allow you to grow ideal plants that give a high yield, are not afraid of parasites and do not get sick.
This practice has been carried out since 1984. The first transgenic plant was registered in 1983. It was tobacco, in the cell structures of which third-party genes introduced. Field tobacco tests were carried out in 1986 in the USA. And in 1994, transgenic food went on sale in the United States. These were low ripening tomatoes and soy. Two years later, a whole list of genetically transformed crops entered the market: corn, tomatoes, potatoes, soybeans, rapeseed, radishes, zucchini, and cotton.
Since then, gene modifications have been applied to all crops, and their crops have been increasing. This is due to economic benefits. After all, the Colorado potato beetle destroys the vast crops of potatoes, which is why billions of dollars are lost. The solution is transgenic potatoes that are not affected by the Colorado potato beetle. You can continue to call transgenic plants with examples. To date, their list is quite extensive. Almost all crops received their gene double.
Scientific process
The creation of transgenic plants begins with the introduction of certain genes into plant cells for integration into their chromosomes. The process of introducing foreign genes is simplified if the cell walls are first removed through enzymes: pectinase or cellulase, which leads to the appearance of protoplasts. New genes are introduced into protoplast structures, after which the cells are cultured under nutritional conditions, then the formed cells are used to restore plants.
The main task of genetic science is transgenic plants resistant to herbicides and viruses. For this, a method of introducing transgenes that express anti-viral protein antibodies inside the cells is used. Breeding crops that are not susceptible to viruses, has created reliable protection of plants from many types of viral plant diseases.
The main methods for producing transgenic plants are:
- The use of agrobacteria. It consists in the introduction of a special bacterium into the genotype of plants.
- "DNA cannon." In this case, scientists literally “shoot” their DNA into the cell. As a result, such "bullets" are embedded with their DNA in the right place.
Positive value
Selection did not make it possible to obtain plants with a large volume of vitamins. The development of biochemistry provided such an opportunity. For example, “golden rice” with a high content of vitamin A was bred. Strawberries with a high content of vitamin C were produced. Soy was produced, in which the amount of vitamin E was increased five-fold.
With the help of plants, various valuable proteins, vaccines, and antibodies are produced. Using plant systems, recombinant proteins are produced on an industrial scale. Human growth hormone was first obtained in 1986. Since then, many proteins have been synthesized, among which:
- Avidin (used in molecular biological research);
- casein (milk protein used as a dietary supplement);
- collagen and elastin (proteins for medicine).
With the help of genetically modified plant organisms, issues of environmental cleansing are being addressed. For example, biodegradation plants are being created. They can help the decomposition of oil and other hazardous substances in large areas.
To clean water and soil, plants that absorb harmful substances from the environment, especially heavy metals, can be used. In such experiments, tobacco is the leader with all these abilities.
To perform the cleaning tasks, plants are planted in contaminated areas, then harvested and sown with a new batch of “cleaners”. In order to purify water, such plants must be immersed by the root system in aqueous solutions.
Industry trends
The process of obtaining transgenic plants includes several components:
- Breeding varieties characterized by a high level of productivity.
- Creation of crops capable of producing several crops per year. (For example, bred strawberries bearing fruit twice in one summer season.)
- Obtaining transgenic plants resistant to insects. (There is a potato that destroys a potato leaf beetle.)
- Breeding varieties that overcome any weather conditions.
- Breeding plants producing animal proteins. (A cultivar of tobacco producing human lactoferrin has been bred in China.)
The use of transgenic plants helps to solve a number of issues, among them: food shortages, agro-technical difficulties, the development of pharmacology and many others. Thanks to genetically modified plants, harmful pesticides that have a detrimental effect on the environment are becoming a thing of the past. Insect-resistant transgenic plants are not fiction, but a very real phenomenon in the agricultural industry.
Differences between genetically modified and natural plants
It is not possible for a simple layman to distinguish between natural and transgenic plants. This is determined by laboratory tests.
In 2002, the Russian Ministry of Health ordered manufacturers to label products containing more than five percent of genetically converted material. But in reality, almost no one puts such a label. Appropriate checks identify such violations regularly.
To obtain the right to import, receive and sell genetically modified products, there is state registration, which is a paid procedure. This is extremely disadvantageous for food manufacturers.
Labeling on a product does not mean that food will harm a person. Meanwhile, many buyers regard it as a dangerous signal.
Genetically modified plants - what are they?
In Russia, all 10 species of transgenic plants have been registered and necessary inspected. These include:
- soybean of two types;
- five varieties of corn;
- potato of two varieties;
- beet;
- sugar from this beet.
In the West, genetically modified goods have stickers, they are littered with store shelves. In Russia, there are also many similar products, although there is no corresponding labeling on them. However, all these goods were brought from other countries. In Russia, genetically transformed cultures are found so far only in scientific experiments. Genuine pride for scientists is the potato, which kills potato leaf beetles.
Environmentalists oppose such potatoes. Studies have been conducted that have shown that eating such a potato in rats changes the blood formula, the ratio of body organs, and various pathologies arise. However, according to scientists, this is not a reason to reject the industry as a whole.
Transgenic development is much simpler than breeding methods, and sometimes safer. Transgenic products are much cheaper than natural products; therefore, they are in demand among underdeveloped states. In the future, natural vegetables and meat will become goods of small shops with high prices.
Advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified plants
There are two opposing views on the value of transgenic technology. Some scientists consider the transformation of genotypic data completely safe for the human body and very useful for the development of agriculture. Others believe that the result of such transformations will show itself only after many years.
The emergence of transgenic plants also divided the world in half. Among those in favor are the USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina, and many others. Europe and many countries with a backward farming system are opposed .
The argument against transgenic plants is the belief that such crops themselves will eventually turn into ineradicable weeds or combine with other plantings, polluting the environment. Of course, this is entirely possible.
The situation in the world and in Russia
Genetically modified products are very rare on European counters. State authorities enact strict laws requiring them to be labeled. There are also DNA standards. This position of Europe is political and economic in nature.
There are no such laws in Russia yet. However, there are no laws permitting planting genetically modified crops. It is possible to conduct development to obtain new varieties, and it is also allowed to import genetically transformed products from foreign countries. Transgenic soybeans and corn are imported to Russia.
Public opinion on the situation with genetically modified goods is formed by media representatives. They fan the scandals and take the side of the enemies of genetically converted products. Scientific evidence of its safety remains obscured.
Is there any cause for concern?
Any plants subject to genetic transformation undergo mandatory safety checks before being approved for mass use. Government departments are investigating environmental and toxicological risks when growing these crops. No serious hazardous effects after consuming genetically modified foods have yet been reported.
Genetic engineering offers quite promising prospects: transgenic plants do not get sick and do not rot. But do not forget the ancient saying: "Nature does not tolerate emptiness." Where do diseases and pests go? Are parasites left without food and will die out? What this phenomenon will lead to is not yet clear.
According to opponents of transgenic technologies, genetic engineers commit violence against nature. They, unlike breeders, move any genes in any direction, which will inevitably lead to sad consequences. However, at one time, surgeons were also accused of impudence to interfere in the human body, and today medicine has stepped far forward, and the actions of doctors do not cause controversy.
Be that as it may, stopping progress is impossible. Probably the use of transgenic plants is the near future of the agricultural industry. Moreover, the development of genetic engineering will be able to help agriculture out of many difficult situations. And new biotechnologies will provide a solution to other problems (food, technological and political).
Now it becomes clear what transgenic plants (GMP) are, any reader of the article can give an example and answer this question.