horizontal gene transfer
For centuries, humankind has made improvements to crop plants through selective breeding and hybridization, the controlled pollination of plants. Plant technology is an extension of this traditional plant breeding with one important difference, plant biotechnology allows for the transfer of a greater variety of genetic information in a more precise controlled manner. Since introduction of plant biotechnology, many farmers have planted millions of acres of biotech corn, cotton, soybeans, fruit, and other crops. While these new varieties have enhanced, crop protection reduced production costs and increased yields, raising concern among some consumers, legislators, and activists. Many critics of agricultural biotechnology have often been dismissed. Sywanen, a professor of medical microbiology, defends the concerns of biotechnology opponents in his article titled, "In search of a horizontal gene transfer". The impact of horizontal gene transfer concerns agricultural biotechnology critics who claim that genes inserted into domesticate
A disturbing consequence of horizontal gene transfer in bacteria is the potential for antibiotic resistance, and other traits carried on plasmids to migrate from one type of bacterium to another. Gressel is concerned that " transgenic crops may interbreed with nearby weeds". Another scientist that is a supporter of plant biotechnology is Jonathan Gressel. Many of these beneficial traits in new plant varieties fight plant pests that can be devastating to crops and others provide quality improvements. For a conclusion, I feel that the supporters of horizontal gene transfer have the strongest argument. He states that gene transfer could be prevented by using tandem constructs, the piggybacking of genes that affect germination by altering seed dormancy, ripening, and dissemination, with genes for the desired trait in the construct. d organisms might be transferred to wild organisms, an example would be the transfer of antibiotic resistance marker genes to soil bacteria. In such scenario, some vectors might indeed create an unacceptable risk". There has been evidence suggesting that genomic DNA is transmitted in nature. In the other hand, some groups use evidence of horizontal gene transfer as grounds to protest the continued cultivation of transgenic crops. His argument is not for limiting biotechnology, but instead for encouraging responsible biotechnology geared to make GMO's safe. Herbicide use may lead to artificial selection of herbicide resistant weeds due to the reproductive advantage on weeds possessing natural herbicide resistant genes. Sywanen argues that some of the gene frequency studies provide weak evidence of the dangers of gene transfer because the gene was already present, so it is far from clear that its presence in genetically engineered plants will add significantly to the existing danger. Sywane's studies of bacterial and plant phylogeny indicate horizontal gene transfer is involved in evolutionary change. Suggesting transgenic traits can be horizontally transferred to wild relatives of domesticated plants.
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Acceptance Essays
