Genetically Modified Crops : Their Development, Uses, and Risks

Genetically Modified Crops: Their Development, Uses, and Risks examines cutting-edge methods for integrating foreign DNA into the nucleus of a plant cell. This volume details the tools and techniques for gene transfer, and identifies the benefits, risks, and limitations of these methods in horticulture and agriculture. Authors at the forefront of this developing technology provide a comprehensive overview of transgenic crops and vital research on specific plant genera that have undergone transgenic transformation. Complete with references, figures, and photographs, this book (A Choice Magazine Outstanding Academic Title for 2005)is an indispensable manual for agronomists, plant and molecular geneticists, and students in agronomy, genetics, entomology, horticulture, and plant pathology.

Gain state-of-the-art knowledge of new research and developments in transgenic technology!

Genetically Modified Crops: Their Development, Uses, and Risks provides groundbreaking information on the integration of foreign DNA into the nucleus of a plant cell to produce a positive transformation. This volume details methods of gene delivery, laboratory tools and techniques to increase success rates, and the benefits, risks, and limitations of these methods. Authors at the forefront of this developing technology provide a comprehensive overview of transgenic crops and vital research on specific plant genera that have undergone transgenic transformation.

Agricultural biotechnology has become a national and necessary mainstay of farming and food production, and this book is an important scientific tool to keep you informed of the latest protocols of genetic transformation. This book also outlines the goals that scientists are striving to reach, such as targeted gene expression where the gene only expresses itself at a certain time in the plant’s life cycle, but disappears before human consumption. One of the greatest concerns is maintaining the welfare of the consumer, and in this volume the authors repeatedly discuss their findings in terms of safety for human consumption.

With Genetically Modified Crops: Their Development, Uses, and Risks, you’ll explore:

• the history of crop transformation and the techniques most commonly used for gene delivery, including biolistic bombardment and Agrobacterium-mediated transformation
• various methods of determining successful gene transfer in putative transgenic plants, such as blotting, functional assaying, and progeny testing
• the utilization of recombinase-directed plant transformation to improve faithful and consistent gene delivery and transference
• the successful reproduction of an insecticidal protein from chicken eggs in transgenic corn—and its benefits to society
• the current status of risk assessment and examples of incidents that have raised the level of concern about genetically modified plants outside the lab

This book also contains several chapters about current methods of transformation involving specific crops such as:

• cotton
• wheat
• alfalfa
• sorghum
• rice
• and more!

Genetically Modified Crops: Their Development, Uses, and Risks is an indispensable guidebook for agronomists, plant and molecular geneticists, and students in agronomy, genetics, entomology, horticulture, and plant pathology. This manual is also useful to concerned consumers who wish to know the latest scientific findings on genetically modified crops. Complete with references, figures, and photographs, this book is a must-read to keep up to date with science and technology.