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Developments in the biological sciences close on 30 years ago
resulted in an integration of several distinct fields of knowledge under a new scientific discipline referred to as genetic
engineering (GE) or genetic modification (GM). Expertise
in the fields of biochemistry of plants, animals, enzymology and organic chemistry, to name but a few, were combined under
the umbrella of molecular biology. GE, as the name infers, refers to the custom design of genes followed by their integration
into the pedigree of a plant animal or microbe resulting in the expression of a desirable or enhanced trait in that species.
This field of science holds immense potential for agriculture.
Relatively recent acomplishments with GE have revolved primarily around developing herbicide and insect pest tolerant
field crops which allow farmers to simplify crop production systems by using broad spectrum herbicides and fewer insecticides
during the growing season. The complexity of biological systems, however, has led to the development of herbicide resistance
in once tolerant weed species demonstrating the need for stewardship to protect this technology and offset further proliferation
of herbicide resistant weed species. Strategies employed, such as using chemical herbicides with
different or multiple modes of action, rotating between GE crop species tolerant to herbicides with different modes of
action and the use of non-GM conventional crop species all serve to reduce the selection pressure for resistant weed
types and protect the farmers ability to control damaging populations of weeds which ultimately lead to a reduction in final
yield and quality of the harvested food, fuel or fiber products. Future objectives for GE for agriculture hold even more
promise for farmers and consumers as biotechnology companies work to develop crops that can better tolerate environmental
stresses such as drought, salinity and diseases allowing crops to be grown in regions currently not suitable for crop production.
Furthermore, the development of crop species with enhanced nutritional value such as higher oil content seeds or seeds with
enhanced quantities of vitamins or minerals is also well advanced and as scientests continue to develop the GE knowledge base
consumers can expect new developments in crops for global food, feed fuel and fiber requirements.
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