BI SC 002 Lecture Notes - Lecture 16: Flavr Savr, Pectin, Plasmid
10 Oct 2016
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Document Summary
As crop production expands in an attempt to keep pace with human population growth, many farmers have come to rely on genetically modified crops. Genes are introduced into plant cells using the bacterium agrobacterium tumifaciens. Whole plants can be grown from cells that have a recombinant plasmid integrated into their genome. Genetically engineering plants largely aims to: come up with a solution to the global hunger problem. What can this technology do: generate plants more resistant to drought, generate plants that are resistant to herbicides, generate plants that have resistance to insects. No need for pesticides: generate plants that provide more nutrition. First gm food to be granted a license for human consumption. Interfered with the production of an enzyme called pectin": pectin normally degrades cell walls. Makes tomatoes: soft, more prone to fungal infections. Unripe fruits could be picked: extended shelf life, less waste, no need for artificial ripening using ethylene.
