Transgenic Crops

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Transgenic Crops

• Group 7
• Jeremiah Johnson
• Anna Zaklikowski
• Jessica Frasier

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Introduction

• Background
• Transgenic Crop A plant that contains a gene or
  genes which have been artificially inserted
  instead of the plant acquiring them through
  pollination

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Description

• Overview of the process for creating transgenic
  plants

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History Methods

• 1983 Disarming of Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Ti
  plasmid) for use in gene transfers
• 1987 Invention of gene gun
• Present status

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Applications Advantages

• Use of bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis
• Natural Insecticide
• Targets specific receptors
• Cotton, Potatoes, Tomatoes
• Dutch Elm Disease
• Caused by fungus Ceratocystis ulmi
• Controlled by bacterium Pseudomonas syringue
• Research in seedlings and mature trees

ImageResults of insect infestation on Bt (right)
and non-Bt (left) cotton bolls. Source USDA
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Applications Advantages

• Flavr-Savr Tomatoes
• Kanamycin resistance (kan-r gene)
• Allows tomatoes to ripen longer on vine for
  fuller taste and still be transportable
• Round-up Herbicide Resistance
• Enable plants to tolerate glyphosate
• Cotton, corn, tobacco, tomatoes, soybeans

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Risks Concerns

• Loss of Biodiversity
• Superweeds
• Transgenic Crop Effectiveness

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Risks and Concerns

• Human Health Risks
• Corporate Control of Food Supply

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Conclusions

• Future possibilities
• Turfgrass for lawns
• Plant-based vaccines
• Transgenic crops offer hardier varieties
• Risks cannot be ignored