Resume Journal : Acta Scientific Agriculture (ISSN: 2581-365X)

General Application of Biotechnology in Agriculture

Author : S Gupta and R Kaushal
Resume by : Tabitha Deanova Damanik
NPM : E1J020045

Today, this technology has reached a stage where transgenic plants have been developed as a result from
genetic engineering experiments in which genetic material is moved from one organism to another, so that the
latter will exhibit a desired characteristic.

The common plant transformation techniques are as follows:

1. Agrobacterium Mediated Gene Transfer: This is the most used way of introducing foreign genes into plant
cells. Agrobacterium tumefaciens can transport a specific DNA segment of the tumor-inducing plasmid
into the nucleus of infected cells, where it is then stable integrated into the host genome and
transcribed, resulting in crown gall disease.
2. Biolistics: To address this issue in gene transfer, the gene gun machine is used to transfer the targeted
gene. The DNA-particle complex is placed on top of the target tissue in a vacuum state and accelerated
by a powerful shot to the tissue, where it is effectively introduced into the target cells.
3. Electroporation: The host cell's cell membrane is permeable, enabling foreign DNA to enter the cell.
Some of these cells will accept the new DNA and begin to produce the desired gene.
4. Microinjection: A target can be a specific cell within a multicellular structure, such as an embryo, an
ovule, or a specified compartment of a cell. A cell is held in position with gentle suction while being
manipulated with a blunt capillary during a microscope examination.
5. PEG Mediated Gene Transfer: Liposomes are artificial lipid vesicles surrounded by a synthetic
membrane of phospholipids, which have been used in animal cell culture for the drug delivery system.
This process generally involves three steps:
1. Adhesion of liposomes to the protoplast surface,
2. Fusion of liposomes at the site of adhesion, and
3. Release of plasmid inside the cell.

There are Strategies:

1. Plant gene expression: Depending upon the purpose for which the product is to be made, required gene
expression can be used among the following three methods of gene expression.
2. Transient expression: TE systems can be rapidly deployed and can produce large amounts of protein,
but because non-chromosomal DNA is not copied with the process of mitosis or meiosis, gene
expression is neither permanent nor heritable.
3. Stable gene expression: Alternatively, the primary plant chromosome can be altered to allow for the
permanent and heritable expression of a particular protein
4. Chloroplast transformation: Finally, systems exist that modify chloroplast DNA in plants and that can
lead to heritable changes in protein expression.
5. While production in green mass can produce large amounts of protein, green matter is highly
physiologically active and protein levels may be poorly preserved if materials are not rapidly dried or
otherwise inactivated. Thus, unless a protein or peptide is highly stable, green matter production may
result in poor protein recovery and usually requires immediate processing. Tuber or root production,
while feasible, shares many of the characteristics of green matter production systems.
6. Selection of plant species and characteristic: It is also necessary to decide which plant species to
transform for production of a specific pharmaceutical product. For green matter production, tobacco
has usually been the material of choice, largely because of its highly efficient production of biomass,
although other systems such as alfalfa and even duckweed show promise.
Potential improvements in nutritive value of plants:
1. Improved crop productivity. A global perspective suggests that some progress toward increased
productivity has been made as insect-resistant, draught resistant and herbicide-tolerant transgenic
varieties are reducing the risk of crop losses.
2. Improved resistance pesticides/herbicides. Intensive agriculture adversely affects the environment
because farmers are using chemical inputs for optimising soil nutrient conditions and pesticides for
controlling insects, pathogens and weeds. As pesticide resistant plants are broadminded of pesticides,
allow farmers to selectively kill nearby weeds with no harming their crop.
3. Improved texture or appearance of food. Modified fruit can ripen longer on the plant and then be
transported to the consumer with less risk of spoilage, and a still-reasonable shelf life. The first
genetically modified food product was a tomato which was transformed to delay its ripening.
4. Better flavor
5. Insect/Pest resistance. Insect/pest resistance crops provide more effective targeting of insects
protected within plants for longer season protection.
6. Disease resistance. Biotechnology has helped to increase crop productivity by introducing qualities as
disease resistance.
7. Transgenic crops: For molecular farming.
8. Vaccines
9. Antibiotics
10. Production of enzyms.

Regulatory system for production and release of transgenic products:

1. USA regulatory system: Applicant issues the notification, if APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service) of USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture), did not have any objection, the later was allowed to
conduct the trial.
2. EU regulatory system: Application for small scale release is submitted to Joint Regulatory Author (JRA).
If the approved dossier is reviewed by relevant bodies (government and non-governmental), if accepted
small- scale release allowed.
3. India regulatory system: In India, for handling the GMOs and their product the Ministry of Environment
and Forests (MOEF), the Central Government had enacted environment protection laws under the
Environment Protection Act (EPA).
This committee is the nodal point for interaction with the government through national committee called
the Review Committee for Genetic Manipulation, which functions under the charge of DBT.

Potential human health concerns:

1. Potential risk of introducing allergens into food crops. When the introduced gene has been derived from
the source of allergen there is an obvious need for testing of the novel food in people who are known to
be allergic to the donor organism The Food and Drug Administration checks to ensure that the levels of
naturally occurring allergens in foods made from transgenic organisms have not significantly increased
above the natural range found in conventional foods.
2. Transfer of antibiotics resistance markers. Transfer of antibiotic resistance marker gene from genetically
modified crop to intestinal bacteria is another concern.
3. Risk of toxicity. Farm workers may be exposed to unhealthy levels of a biopharmaceutical by absorbing
products from leaves through their skin, inhaling pollen, or breathing in dust at harvest.

Potential environmental concerns:

1. Gene escape. Potential environmental concerns Gene escape Further, if gene transfer occurs from the
transgenic to a nonGMO crop line, it could adversely affect farmers who sell to customers and entities
who wish to consume non-GMO crops.
2. Ecosystem disruption. Even without gene transfer into wild species, transgenic plants might disrupt an
ecosystem. Ecosystems involve complex, integrated connections among organisms in the environment.
 Often these consequences are not studied or elucidated until after the crop has already been introduced
into an ecosystem.
3. Effect on productivity and genetic diversity. GM crops could encourage monoculture cropping
contributing to further decline in land productivity and genetic diversity. For example, wildlife feeding on
the crop may ingest harmful levels of the PMP, or soil micro-organisms ay be inhibited by decomposing
crop residue or substances exuded from roots of PMP plants.
4. Resistance or tolerance of target organisms. Adaptation by insect population to an environmentally
related pest controlled technique could result in use of chemical pesticides with higher toxicity
5. Generation of new live viruses. The existence of virus resistant plants could encourage viruses to grow
stronger or give rise to new and stronger variants that can infect plants.

Potential economic concerns:

1. Increasing dependence on industrialized nations by developing countries,
2. Biopiracy, or foreign exploitation of natural resources,
3. Poor farmers might become dependent on international corporations' food,
4. Commingling of PMP crops and food or feed crops,
5. Social and ethical concerns, and
6. Suggestion safeguards:
a. physical containment.
b. Spatial containment.
c. Dedicated land.
d. Restricted use.
e. Plastid transformation.
f. Male sterility.
g. Prevent release from roots.
h. Postharvest inducible expression.