The cruciferous vegetable family, also known as the Brassicaceae or Cruciferae family, originally hails from the Mediterranean and Central Asia and is a member of the mustard family, which includes plants such as mustards, radishes, and turnips. This family of plants is unique because it can cross-pollinate, meaning that different varieties of the same species can be bred to create new varieties.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/02/13/natural-crops-untouched-by-human-tinkering-broccoli-cabbage-cauliflower-and-brussels-sprouts-are-genetically-altered-variants-of-the-brassica-family/
Tag Archives: Breeding Methods
Biotechnology timeline: Humans have manipulated genes since the ‘dawn of civilization’ – Genetic Literacy Project
The history of biotechnology shows how humans have been manipulating nature for our benefit for a long time—and how modern genetic engineering is
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/02/17/biotechnology-timeline-humans-manipulating-genes-since-dawn-civilization/
Grains make up 70% of global cropland. Here’s how perennial grains, legumes, and oilseeds could dramatically improve sustainable farming – Genetic Literacy Project
When left undisturbed, naturally-occurring vegetation tends to grow back year after year. In agriculture, this is also true of perennial crops such as olive trees, asparagus, many types of fruit, and grazing crops for animal consumption. However, agricultural grains, which make up over 70 percent of global croplands, are almost always annual crops that need to be replanted every year.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/02/21/grains-make-up-70-of-global-cropland-heres-how-perennial-grains-legumes-and-oilseeds-could-dramatically-improve-sustainable-farming/
Gene editing poised to rescue banana production from plant disease sweeping through Central America – Genetic Literacy Project
There are more than a thousand types of bananas in the world. But one variety, the Cavendish, is ubiquitous in supermarkets and makes up the vast majority of the 10 billion bananas imported into the U.S. each year. It’s also at risk of disappearing.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/02/20/gene-editing-poised-to-rescue-banana-production-from-plant-disease-sweeping-through-central-america/
Social justice environmental activists move to block gene editing to control invasive species and promote biodiversity. Here’s why they’re misguided – Genetic Literacy Project
Hawaii has emerged as ground zero for efforts to raise the awareness of the dangers of invasive species. Just last month, biosecurity experts testified in the state legislature, forecasting more than $3 billion in costs associated with just four invasive species running wild: brown tree snake, miconia (a weedy tree), little fire ant and red imported fire ant. The estimated eradication costs for just these four invaders using today’s limited methods: $38 million.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/02/07/social-justice-environmental-activists-move-to-block-gene-editing-to-control-invasive-species-and-promote-biodiversity-heres-why-theyre-misguided/
Seed Innovation For Food Security – SAIFood
With the growing world population, the threat of climate change, and the shrinking of grain reserves, how can the production of staple crops such as cereals
— Read on saifood.ca/seed-innovation-for-food-security/
Unlike most of the rest of the world, the European Union uses 30-year old ‘precautionary principle’ to regulate GMOs and gene editing, effectively banning them. Here is a primer – Genetic Literacy Project
The European Union (EU) has been at the forefront of the debate around genetically modified organisms (GMOs), with the region implementing a range of measures to limit their presence in the food chain. In recent years, the EU has adopted a precautionary approach to GMOs, leading to a range of bans and restrictions on the cultivation, import, and sale of GM crops and food products.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2023/01/13/unlike-most-of-the-rest-of-the-world-the-european-union-uses-the-30-year-old-precautionary-principle-to-regulate-gmos-and-gene-editing-effectively-banning-them-here-is-a-primer/
Recent advances in crop transformation technologies | Nature Plants
Agriculture is experiencing a technological inflection point in its history, while also facing unprecedented challenges posed by human population growth and global climate changes. Key advancements in precise genome editing and new methods for rapid generation of bioengineered crops promise to both revolutionize the speed and breadth of breeding programmes and increase our ability to feed and sustain human population growth. Although genome editing enables targeted and specific modifications of DNA sequences, several existing barriers prevent the widespread adoption of editing technologies for basic and applied research in established and emerging crop species. Inefficient methods for the transformation and regeneration of recalcitrant species and the genotype dependency of the transformation process remain major hurdles. These limitations are frequent in monocotyledonous crops, which alone provide most of the calories consumed by human populations. Somatic embryogenesis and de novo induction of meristems — pluripotent groups of stem cells responsible for plant developmental plasticity — are essential strategies to quickly generate transformed plants. Here we review recent discoveries that are rapidly advancing nuclear transformation technologies and promise to overcome the obstacles that have so far impeded the widespread adoption of genome editing in crop species. This Perspective reviews recent advances in crop transformation technologies that promise to lead to the widespread adoption of genome editing in crop species.
— Read on www.nature.com/articles/s41477-022-01295-8
New cherry varieties shows promise to make Chilean season even earlier
New cherry varieties shows promise to make Chilean season even earlier
— Read on www.freshplaza.com/asia/article/9482905/new-cherry-varieties-shows-promise-to-make-chilean-season-even-earlier/
Naturally saffron-flavored rice? Here’s how scientists are using genetically modified tobacco and lemon to recreate the world’s most expensive spice – Genetic Literacy Project
Biotechnology mass-produces valuable molecules from nature, from drugs to textiles to a jellyfish protein that lights up most anything a glowing green. Now add saffron to the list.To cooks, saffron is a bright yellow spice derived from Crocus sativus flowers, aka “saffron crocus.” The dried red threads at the blooms’ centers are used to season and color foods. Popular for thousands of years, saffron comes today mostly from Iran. It’s used to infuse meats, grains, salads, and even to color marshmallows molded into baby chick shapes for Easter.Saffron has medicinal potential. The main pigment crocin may be useful as a neuroprotectant, an antidepressant, a sedative, and an antioxidant.
— Read on geneticliteracyproject.org/2022/11/22/naturally-saffron-flavored-rice-heres-how-scientists-are-using-genetically-modified-tobacco-and-lemon-to-recreate-the-worlds-most-expensive-spice/
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