The issue of genetically modified plants has become more and more 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 crops are, what are their pros and cons, transgenic plants will be given with examples.
Relevance of the problem
The population of the planet Earth at the beginning of 2016 was 7.3 billion people and is growing rapidly to this day. Many peoples on the planet experience a constant shortage of food and water. This is due to the harmful impact of man on nature, as a result of which soil fertility is depleted.
In the XX century, at least 20% of fruit-bearing territories on the entire planet were lost. Their area continues to decrease even now as a result of biological degradation, desertification of lands, washout of useful surface, withdrawal of land for other needs.
Switching to commercial crops for methanol production leads to a reduction in the area of sown land, which further aggravates the situation with human nutrition.
Research by the Ministry of He alth of Russia showed that the nutrition of the population is characterized by a decrease in the numberbiologically valuable products. As a result, there is a lack of proteins, vitamins and other useful elements.
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 yields and reduce the price of products, as well as containing properties that traditionally grown plants do not have.
The essence of technology
Any living organism has genes that determine all of its features. Complex chains of genes form properties. The chain itself is called the genotype (genome).
Previously, new hybrid varieties were obtained by 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 has become possible to change the genotype of plants 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. It also became possible to transform the genotype for a specific purpose.
Examples of genetic modifications
Gene engineering helps introduce resistant genesto various harmful factors:
- Herbicides.
- Pesticide formulations.
- Phytopathogenic microorganisms.
Genes are also introduced that increase the ripening period, fixing 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 over vast areas leads to the reproduction of pests and the transmission 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 dangerous chemicals enter the soil.
Gene engineering offers the creation of genes that produce protection against pests. A gene that causes rapid decay has been removed from tomatoes. The genes responsible for the formation of sugar are added to cucumbers, resulting in a sweet cucumber. Purely theoretically, such methods make it possible 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 a tobacco whose cell structures were implanted with third-party genes. Tests of tobacco in the field were made in 1986 in the USA. And in 1994, transgenic food went on sale in the United States. These were low ripening tomatoes and soybeans. Two years later, a whole list of genetically transformed crops entered the market: corn, tomatoes, potatoes, soybeans, rapeseed, radishes, zucchini, cotton.
SSince then, genetic modifications have been applied to all crops, their crops have increased. This is due to economic benefits. After all, the Colorado potato beetle destroys vast potato crops, which is why billions of dollars are lost. The solution is a transgenic potato that is not susceptible to the Colorado potato beetle. You can continue to refer to transgenic plants with examples. To date, their list is quite extensive. Almost all agricultural crops have received their gene counterpart.
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 by enzymes: pectinase or cellulase, which leads to the appearance of protoplasts. New genes are introduced into protoplast structures, after which the cells are cultivated under nutrient 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, the method of introducing transgenes is used, which express antibodies against the viral protein inside the cells. The breeding of crops that are not susceptible to viruses has made it possible to create reliable plant protection against many types of viral plant diseases.
The main methods for obtaining transgenic plants are:
- Application of agrobacteria. It consists in introducing a special bacterium into the plant genotype.
- "DNA gun". In this case, scientists literally “shoot” their DNA into the cell. As a result, such "bullets" are embedded along with their DNA in the right place.
Positive value
Breeding did not make it possible to obtain plants with a large amount of vitamins. The development of biochemistry provided such an opportunity. For example, "golden rice" was bred with a high content of vitamin A. Strawberries were obtained with a high content of vitamin C. Soybeans were produced, in which the amount of vitamin E was increased five times.
Various valuable proteins, vaccines, antibodies are produced with the help of plants. With the help of plant systems, recombinant proteins are created on an industrial scale. The very first human growth hormone was obtained in 1986. Since then, many proteins have been synthesized, including:
- avidin (used in molecular biology 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 solved. For example, plants-biodegraders are created. They can help break down oil and other hazardous substances over wide areas.
To purify water and soil, you can use plants that absorb harmful substances from the environment, especially heavy metals. In such experiments, tobacco, which has all these abilities, is in the lead.
To be doneFor purification tasks, plants are planted in contaminated areas, then harvested and sown with a new batch of “purifiers”. To purify water, such plants must be immersed by their root system in aqueous solutions.
Industry trends
The process of obtaining transgenic plants includes several components:
- Developing varieties with high yields.
- Creating crops capable of producing multiple crops in a year. (For example, a strawberry is bred that bears fruit twice in one summer season.)
- Obtaining transgenic plants resistant to insects. (There is a potato that destroys the potato leaf beetle.)
- Developing varieties that can withstand all weather conditions.
- Cultivation of plants producing animal proteins. (China developed a tobacco strain that produces human lactoferrin.)
The use of transgenic plants helps to solve a number of issues, among them: food shortages, agrotechnical 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 a fantasy, 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.
Ministry of He alth of Russia inIn 2002, manufacturers were required to label products containing more than five percent of genetically modified material. But in reality, almost no one puts such a marking. Appropriate checks reveal such violations regularly.
To obtain the right to import, receive and sell genetically modified products, there is a state registration, which is a paid procedure. This is extremely disadvantageous for food manufacturers.
Labeling on a product does not mean at all that food will harm a person. Meanwhile, many buyers regard it as a dangerous signal.
Genetically modified plants - what are they?
All 10 species of transgenic plants have been registered and tested in Russia. These include:
- two kinds of soybeans;
- five varieties of corn;
- two varieties of potatoes;
- beets;
- sugar from this beet.
In the West, genetically modified goods have stickers, they are littered with store shelves. There are also many similar products in Russia, although there is no corresponding marking on them. However, all these goods are brought from other countries. In Russia, genetically transformed crops 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 from eating such potatoes in rats, the blood formula changes, the ratioorgans of the body, there are various pathologies. 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 even safer. Transgenic products are much cheaper than natural products, so they are in demand among underdeveloped countries. In the future, natural vegetables and meat will become the goods of small shops with high prices.
Advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified plants
There are two opposing views on the value of transgenic technologies. Some scientists consider the transformation of genotypic data to be 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 advent of transgenic plants has also divided the world in half. Among those who are in favor are the USA, Canada, Australia, Argentina and many others. Europe and many countries with a backward system of agriculture are opposed.
An argument against transgenic plants is the belief that such crops will eventually turn into ineradicable weeds themselves or will combine with other plantings, polluting the environment. Of course, it is quite possible.
The situation in the world and in Russia
Genetically modified goods are very rare on European shelves. Government authorities are enacting strict laws requiring the labeling of such products. There are also DNA rules. A similar position in Europeis political and economic in nature.
There are no such laws in Russia yet. However, there are no laws allowing planting genetically modified crops. It is possible to conduct developments 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 inflate scandals and side with the enemies of genetically modified products. Scientific evidence of its safety remains in the shadows.
Any cause for concern?
All plants subjected to genetic transformation undergo mandatory safety tests before being approved for mass use. Government departments are investigating the environmental and toxicological risks of growing these crops. No serious dangerous consequences after the use of genetically modified foods have yet been registered.
Gene engineering offers a pretty bright outlook: transgenic plants don't get sick or rot. But do not forget the ancient saying: "Nature does not tolerate emptiness." Where do diseases and pests go? Will the parasites go without food and die? What this phenomenon will lead to is still unclear.
According to opponents of transgenic technologies, genetic engineers commit violence against nature. They, unlike breeders, move any genes in any direction, whichinevitably lead to disastrous consequences. However, at one time surgeons were accused of impudence to interfere with the human body, but today medicine has stepped far forward, and the actions of doctors do not cause controversy.
Be that as it may, stopping progress is impossible. It is likely that 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 (GMPs) are, any reader of the article can give an example and answer this question.
