When DNA was discovered it was the greatest landmark mankind had ever made, Genetics opened up a whole new world for the human race. The possibilities of what genetics could do was endless. Eventually human curiosity lead scientists to genetically modifying DNA. Like engineers building a tower using blueprints, geneticists tried to build their modified towers of plants and cells using DNA. With genetic engineering scientists were able to build plants and animals with certain variances they wanted the organism to have. For plants gentic modification developed the Agricultural Biotechnology field. Agricultural Biotechnology is a strong field that is growing but faces many obstacles. To find out more about this field, read our article about how and what is Agricultural Biotechnology, the issues and controversies surrounding it, and the many impacts it has socially, economically, and politically, or the many other articles on our site.
What is Agricultural Biotechnology? Agricultural Biotechnology is the development of genetically engineered/modified (GM) food. Scientists modify crops' DNA to either improve their nutrient value, crop yields, and/or size. The first genetic engineering done was on a bacteria in 1973; but the following year, mice were genetically engineered, and then came crops. The first GM food was put into the markets in 1994. How is it done? (refer to the Flash Animations for more detailed explanations here) Step 1: In order to get the variance (gene or SNP) that scientists want, they must first isolate the DNA, from the cell of the plant with the desired trait. This is usually done by bursting the cells of the plant and using a centrifuge to spin all the heavy mass down and keep the DNA on top. Step 2: In step two the scientists must find and target the gene of interest, and then amplify it. This process requires restriction enzymes that target and cut the desired gene. Meanwhile bacteria plasmids are introduced to the restriction enzyme as well. Then the two are mixed together so the ends of the genes will attach to the plasmids. Step 3: The next process is to introduce these new plasmids with the attached gene into other plant cells. This process is called Electroporation,a process in which quick pulses of electricity are used to create small holes in the cell walls where the plasmids can enter. The plasmids will try to express their genes in the plant cell. Step 4: Once the cells have grown, their offspring will express the same genes introduced by the plasmids. The seeds received by the plant will contain a genetically modified plant.
|