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Bacillus thuringiensis is a gram-positive, soil-dwelling bacterium, the most commonly used biological pesticide worldwide. B. thuringiensis also occurs naturally in the gut of caterpillars of various types of moths and butterflies, as well on leaf surfaces, aquatic environments, animal feces, insect-rich environments, and flour mills and grain-storage facilities. It has also been observed to parasitize other moths such as Cadra calidella—in laboratory experiments working with C. calidella, many of the moths were diseased due to this parasite.
Genetically modified maize (corn) is a genetically modified crop. Specific maize strains have been genetically engineered to express agriculturally-desirable traits, including resistance to pests and to herbicides. Maize strains with both traits are now in use in multiple countries. GM maize has also caused controversy with respect to possible health effects, impact on other insects and impact on other plants via gene flow. One strain, called Starlink, was approved only for animal feed in the US but was found in food, leading to a series of recalls starting in 2000.
The Monsanto Company was an American agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation founded in 1901 and headquartered in Creve Coeur, Missouri. Monsanto's best known product is Roundup, a glyphosate-based herbicide, developed in the 1970s. Later, the company became a major producer of genetically engineered crops. In 2018, the company ranked 199th on the Fortune 500 of the largest United States corporations by revenue.
Agricultural biotechnology, also known as agritech, is an area of agricultural science involving the use of scientific tools and techniques, including genetic engineering, molecular markers, molecular diagnostics, vaccines, and tissue culture, to modify living organisms: plants, animals, and microorganisms. Crop biotechnology is one aspect of agricultural biotechnology which has been greatly developed upon in recent times. Desired trait are exported from a particular species of Crop to an entirely different species. These transgene crops possess desirable characteristics in terms of flavor, color of flowers, growth rate, size of harvested products and resistance to diseases and pests.
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide and crop desiccant. It is an organophosphorus compound, specifically a phosphonate, which acts by inhibiting the plant enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate synthase (EPSP). It is used to kill weeds, especially annual broadleaf weeds and grasses that compete with crops. Its herbicidal effectiveness was discovered by Monsanto chemist John E. Franz in 1970. Monsanto brought it to market for agricultural use in 1974 under the trade name Roundup. Monsanto's last commercially relevant United States patent expired in 2000.
Genetically modified crops are plants used in agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering methods. Plant genomes can be engineered by physical methods or by use of Agrobacterium for the delivery of sequences hosted in T-DNA binary vectors. In most cases, the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, resistance to chemical treatments, or improving the nutrient profile of the crop. Examples in non-food crops include production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels, and other industrially useful goods, as well as for bioremediation.
Syngenta AG is a provider of agricultural science and technology, in particular seeds and pesticides with its management headquarters in Basel, Switzerland. It is owned by ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned enterprise.
Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. is a U.S.-based producer of seeds for agriculture. They are a major producer of genetically modified crops with insect and herbicide resistance.
Since the advent of genetic engineering in the 1970s, concerns have been raised about the dangers of the technology. Laws, regulations, and treaties were created in the years following to contain genetically modified organisms and prevent their escape. Nevertheless, there are several examples of failure to keep GM crops separate from conventional ones.
Genetically modified food controversies are disputes over the use of foods and other goods derived from genetically modified crops instead of conventional crops, and other uses of genetic engineering in food production. The disputes involve consumers, farmers, biotechnology companies, governmental regulators, non-governmental organizations, and scientists. The key areas of controversy related to genetically modified food are whether such food should be labeled, the role of government regulators, the objectivity of scientific research and publication, the effect of genetically modified crops on health and the environment, the effect on pesticide resistance, the impact of such crops for farmers, and the role of the crops in feeding the world population. In addition, products derived from GMO organisms play a role in the production of ethanol fuels and pharmaceuticals.
Genetically modified plants have been engineered for scientific research, to create new colours in plants, deliver vaccines, and to create enhanced crops. Plant genomes can be engineered by physical methods or by use of Agrobacterium for the delivery of sequences hosted in T-DNA binary vectors. Many plant cells are pluripotent, meaning that a single cell from a mature plant can be harvested and then under the right conditions form a new plant. This ability is most often taken advantage by genetic engineers through selecting cells that can successfully be transformed into an adult plant which can then be grown into multiple new plants containing transgene in every cell through a process known as tissue culture.
Roundup Ready is the Monsanto trademark for its patented line of genetically modified crop seeds that are resistant to its glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup.
The MON 810 corn is a genetically modified maize used around the world. It is a Zea mays line known as YieldGard from the company Monsanto. This plant is a genetically modified organism (GMO) designed to combat crop loss due to insects. There is an inserted gene in the DNA of MON 810 which allows the plant to make a protein that harms insects that try to eat it. The inserted gene is from the Bacillus thuringiensis which produces the Bt protein that is poisonous to insects in the order Lepidoptera, including the European corn borer.
SmartStax is a brand of genetically modified seed made through a collaboration between Monsanto Company and Dow Chemical Company. It takes advantage of multiple modes of insect protection and herbicide tolerance. SmartStax takes advantage of Yieldgard VT Triple (Monsanto), Herculex Xtra (Dow), RoundUp Ready 2 (Monsanto), and Liberty Link (Dow). The traits included protect against above-ground insects, below-ground insects, and provide broad herbicide tolerance. It is currently available for corn, but cotton, soybean, and specialty crop variations are to be released. Previously, the most genes artificially added to a single plant was three, but Smartstax includes eight. Smartstax also incorporates Monsanto's Acceleron Seed Treatment System which protects against insects at the earliest stages of development. Smartstax is sold under the Genuity (Monsanto) and Mycogen (Dow) brands.
The United States is the largest grower of commercial crops that have been genetically engineered in the world, but not without domestic and international opposition.
Genetically modified wheat is wheat that has been genetically engineered by the direct manipulation of its genome using biotechnology. As of 2020, no GM wheat is grown commercially, although many field tests have been conducted, with one wheat variety, Bioceres HB4 Wheat, obtaining regulatory approval from the Argentinean government.
Genetically modified rice are rice strains that have been genetically modified. Rice plants have been modified to increase micronutrients such as vitamin A, accelerate photosynthesis, tolerate herbicides, resist pests, increase grain size, generate nutrients, flavors or produce human proteins.
A genetically modified soybean is a soybean that has had DNA introduced into it using genetic engineering techniques. In 1996, the first genetically modified soybean was introduced to the U.S. by Monsanto. In 2014, 90.7 million hectares of GM soybeans were planted worldwide, this is almost 82% of the total soybeans cultivation area.
Genetic engineering in Hawaii is a hotly contested political topic. The Hawaiian islands counties of Kauai, Hawaii and Maui passed or considered laws restricting the practice within their borders due to concerns about the health, the environment and impacts on conventional and organic agriculture.
References
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "GM Crop Database". Cera-gmc.org. Archived from the original on November 9, 2013. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ Deliberately cultivated tolerance has effects similar to the naturally acquired traits of resistance in pest species, i.e., enhanced capacity of the resistant organism to withstand the toxic effects of the particular pesticide
- ↑ "ARCHIVED - Novel Food Information - Food Biotechnology: Insect-protected Roundup Ready Corn Line Mon 802 - Health Canada". Hc-sc.gc.ca. 19 November 2004. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
- ↑ "Insect Resistant maize (Corn), MON 809". Health Canada. 19 December 1996. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
- ↑ "MON-OO81O-6 (MON810)". GM Crop Database. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "MON-OO863-5 (MON863)". GM Crop Database. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved 2012-10-03.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "MON87460 | global gm crop database regulatory approvals cera agbios". Archived from the original on September 11, 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "MON87701 | global gm crop database regulatory approvals cera agbios". Archived from the original on September 11, 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "MON-88017-3 (MON88017)". GM Crop Database. Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "MON-89034-3 (MON89034)". GM Crop Database. Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "GM Crop Database". Cera-gmc.org. 2001-06-20. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "4114 | global gm crop database regulatory approvals cera agbios". Archived from the original on November 9, 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "EXP1910IT | global gm crop database regulatory approvals cera agbios". Archived from the original on September 11, 2015.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "GM Crop Database". Cera-gmc.org. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved 2013-10-15.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "GM Crop Database". Cera-gmc.org. Archived from the original on January 31, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ↑ "GM Crop Database". Cera-gmc.org. Archived from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-09.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)