Biotechnology in Agriculture

why is wheat breeding done

meet future demands of the world population

how do scientists identify genes that improve e.g. rust resistance in wheat

use PCR and gel electrophoresis to reveal PCR markers

What can DNA identification technologies used for

accurately trace the genetics of desirable traits and to acquire this traits within a generation

What are genome map used for

identify genes and regulatory elements underlying complex agronomic traits

Agronomic

pertaining to plant physiology

Examples of agronomic traits

yield, grain quality, resistance to fungal diseases and tolerance to abiotic stress

How is Identification technologies used in pork industry

select pigs with the most desirable traits for breeding

Desirable traits in pigs include

increased litter size and growth rate, and improved carcase quality (e.g. taste and tenderness)

How do scientists modify

molecular tolls and techniques

What are the effect of modifying food crops

increases their nutritional value and crop yield

What has biotechnology applied to?

reducing the impacts of pests on crops

What is the effect of reducing the impacts of pests on crops?

increasing the amount of food available in developing countries

Describe the process used for transformation

gene is taken from one species and inserting it into another to obtain a desired characteristic

What is the technology for the process of transformation known as

Recombinant DNA technology

What are cotton plants susceptible to

cotton bollworm, caused by moths

How is biotechnology applied to the cotton plants

genes from the bacterium are inserted into cotton plants to protect from damage from insects

What are the effects of genetically engineered cotton

reduce the use of insecticides, cutting farmer costs

What is transgenic Atlantic salmon known as

Aqua-Advantage Salmon

How is Aqua-Advantage Salmon different from normal fish

capable of growing at a double the rate of conventional Atlantic Salmon

What are some abiotifc factors that affect crops

extreme temperatures, drought, high salinity, deficient soil nutrients and flooding

Example of transgenic organism for nutrition