August 04, 2012

Wonders of Biotechnology


                      


                 
By: Rj J. Remo
(An Article about Agricultural biotechnlogy)

 Through the use of breeding and selection of desirable characteristics farmers continue to develop their plants and animals for more than 10000 years.  By doing these procedures they have done lots of domesticated plants and animals that is now usually used in the livestock and crop agriculture. Breeding has become more sophisticated in the twentieth century since the traits which the breeders choose for include level up the yield; pest and disease resistance enhanced the flavor and its drought resistance. These traits have been passed by generation to generation through the genes like DNA. All biotic including the vegetables, meat and fruits that we devour that compose of genes that tell cells how to work. It has been a little while since scientist have known that they can start identifying and do things with the use of genes (DNA) that are the superior of traits.
                       Agricultural biotechnology is the collection of scientific techniques that are used for the improvement of animals, microorganisms and plants. Based on the research about DNA, scientists have discovered solutions to increase the productivity of their agriculture.. With the use of biotechnology, the breeders have enhanced their ability to create such improvements on the crops alone. The things that are impossible with the traditional crossing of related species are now possible because of biotechnology.

                      Let us now discuss how agricultural biotechnology used. Nowadays, scientists have known how to transfer the genes of one organism to other kind of organism. This method is called the genetic modification (GM), genetic improvement (GI) or genetic engineering (GE). Without thinking of its name, this kind of process enables the transfer of the profitable characteristics into an animal, plant or microorganism by injecting genes from the other organism. It can be clearly seen that the crops have improved because of the transfers of DNA. These crops are often called as Gm crops or GMOs. They have reduced the crop damage from the insects, weeds and diseases which increased their productivity.


                     The selection of individual animals or plants was included to the traditional breeding that is based on the measurable and visible traits. Scientists now can use the molecular markets to choose the animals or plants that have desirable gene, even without the presence of the visible trait by observing the DNA of the organism. This only means that breeding is more efficient and precise. For instance, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture have obtained the disease-resistant white yam, cowpeas resistant to bruchid (Beetle) and resistant of cassava against the Cassava Mosaic Disease with the use of molecular markets,

                     Another part of agricultural biotechnology is the molecular diagnostic. This is compilation of methods that determines the genes or gene products that are very specific and precise. This is used in agriculture for the accurate diagnostic of livestock or crop diseases.

                  On the other side of the coin, tissue culture means the regenerating of plants ion a laboratory from the part of a disease-free plant. This method enables the production of a material which is disease-free for crops. Citrus, avocados, pineapples, bananas, coffee, papaya and mangoes are some examples of crops that are products of tissue culture.
                   Since we are living in a digital world it no wonder why we are living now comfortably.

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