What are transgenic plants?

Transgenic plants, or more commonly known as genetically modified plants or GM plants, are plants that have genes which have been artificially inserted into them rather than gaining them through pollination and natural growth. The sources of these genes can range from a similar plant, to a completely unrelated plant, to even a completely different species.

What is the purpose of transgenic plants?

Transgenic plants are created and modified for different reasons, but usually to either make the crop more efficient and productive, make it more adaptable, such as making able to last in more climates or against more kinds of bugs or diseases, or to increase the quality and yield of the crops.

Common places and instances where transgenic plants are used

The most common use of transgenic plants currently is to create varieties of soybean, canola, cotton, and corn, which are typically modified to have insect resistance or herbicide tolerance. These artificially inserted genes are taken from Bacillus thuringiensis, a common bacterium found in soil. However, there are more instances genetic modification has been used, such as a large portion of Hawaii’s papaya crops and small portions of squash in the U.S.

The best uses and pros of transgenic plants

The best uses and pros of transgenic plant usage are to yield more from crops, to have more efficient and faster-producing crops, and to have more adaptable and resistance crops. This can help keep up with and withstand any population issues, any weather issues, or any virus, disease, or insect issues.

The cons of transgenic plants

The cons of transgenic plant usage are how the limitations and safety and health risks are not well known or defined, so we don’t know what some of the genes inserted will do to us or other organisms in some cases. Some also argue that traditional growth and breeding has always worked out fine and there’s no need to take these risks with our food. Some even say that genetic modification doesn’t help as much as scientists claim.

The greatest advancements in transgenic plants

While transgenic plants and genetically modified plants itself are a great advancement in science and biotechnology, the two biggest advancements would be the first transgenic plant, which was a tobacco plant designed to be more resistant to the negative effects of antibiotics, through specific breeding (first reported in 1983), and the second being the gene gun, a tool designed to more accurately and easily insert genes into organisms (invented between 1983 and 1986).

How is this biotechnology changing the world as we advance towards the future?

This biotechnology is changing the world as we advance to the future by many means. For one, transgenic plants are helping sustain growing populations with the proper and convenient amount of food and crop. They are also better equipped to handle the changing climate, and any various new insect species or viruses the crops come across.

Conclusion

This is what transgenic plants are, what they do, how they are used, how they can benefit us, how they can negatively impact us, and the greatest advancements. They are a large and important part of food and crop-growing in the world now, especially in the U.S. They will be able to continue to help us as science and society advances towards the future.

 

Bibliography:

http://cls.casa.colostate.edu/transgeniccrops/faqpopup.html

http://www.maizecdna.org/outreach/e1.html

https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/transgenic_plants.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_genetic_engineering

http://legacy.jyi.org/volumes/volume4/issue1/articles/ferrante.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gene_gun

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http://www.bio-rad.com/en-ca/product/helios-gene-gun-system

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_crops