DNA (Deoxyribonucleic Acid) is considered the building block of any living organism because it contains genes which have all of the information that is required to create a living being.
These genes pass along beneficial characteristics as well as diseases from a living being to its offspring. Scientists know this fact and experiment on the genetics of plants and animals, so that the characteristics which are required by the scientists get passed on from generation to generation.
Most of the time, DNA alteration is done in plants so as to develop seeds which have resistance to herbicides, so that when the farmer plants them in the soil he can spray herbicides which are used to destroy weeds, without adversely affecting the plant. DNA manipulation of the seed has benefited the farmer a lot because it is easily available and affordable.
DNA alteration in Plants:
DNA modification in plants is done so as to make them resistant to a variety of diseases and pests. The maize plant is affected by a lot of pests including the European corn borer and the western corn rootworm. Using DNA alteration a new variety of maize is grown, which is known as Bt maize and it’s resistant to these pests because it produces Bt toxin which kills the pests. The DNA manipulation of the maize plant is done by transferring a gene from a soil bacterium which induces the plant to produce the Bt toxin.
DNA alteration in Fruits:
DNA alteration is also done on fruits for their artificial ripening. The natural ripening of fruits takes a fixed amount of time, but in today’s super-speed world the demand for everything to be delivered in less time and with better quality has affected fruit production too. There are ‘ripening genes’ which are responsible in the different stages of ripening to occur. Many of the ripening genes such as pectinesterase and polygalacturonase have been cloned.
Nowadays, fruits such as Mango, Tomato, and Raspberry etc. undergo DNA alteration to make them richer in color, texture and flavor and hence make them more attractive to eat.
Conclusion:
But one should be careful with DNA alteration and genetic manipulation as they are very complex processes, and if specific changes such as softening during artificial ripening go too far, then the fruit can get deteriorated quickly and get spoiled completely.
How Genetic Engineering Of Seeds Can Solve World Hunger:
June 13th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
Hi, gr8 post thanks for posting. Information is useful!