Improving Morels via Genetic Engineering

Natural genotypes via genetic engineering.

Since livestock were first domesticated, humans have been selecting particular phenotypes as mating stock for each new generation. As a result, humans have been selecting for combinations of alleles that result in animals that better meet our needs: increased production, disease resistance, docility, and so forth. As purpose-bred animals became standard in animal agriculture, breeds began to di...

Plastid genetic engineering via somatic embryogenisis

Improving Nutritional Quality of Plant Proteins Through Genetic Engineering

Humans and animals are unable to synthesize essential amino acids such as branch chain amino acids methionine (Met), lysine (Lys) and tryptophan (Trp). Therefore, these amino acids need to be supplied through the diets. Several essential amino acids are deficient or completely lacking among crops used for human food and animal feed. For example, soybean is deficient in Met; Lys and Trp are lack...

Improving Nature ? : the Science and Ethics of Genetic Engineering

Improving Nature? is guided by a simple set of premises t h a t the science o f genetic engineering is essential to discussing its ethics and, moreover, that a coherent set o f ethical principles cannot be developed solely from scientific comprehension. This stance is sensible, if not selfevident, in the examination o f any new technology. 3 The authors, Michael Reiss, a biologist at Cambridge ...

Genetic Engineering Approaches to Improving Nitrogen Use Efficiency

Since nitrogen (N) is the most essential nutrient for plants and a major limiting factor in plant productivity, doubling agricultural food production worldwide over the past four decades is associated with a 20-fold increase in N fertilizer use. As a consequence, use of N fertilizers in agriculture has already shown a number of detrimental environmental impacts. Therefore, the need to reduce N ...