Definitions
- Biotechnology - the use of microorganisms to perform industrial or manufacturing processes
- Cisgenics - a type of genetic engineering that is similar to plant breeding
- Gibberellic acid - a type of plant hormone
Summary
- Scientists at The Oregon State University, led by professor Steven Strauss, found that cisgenics might give way to new possibilities in biotechnology. Cisgenics uses genes from similar species of plants to help them produce more quickly. Because of this, they found that they can, not only improve forestry, but also crop agriculture around the world. The way this process works is by manipulation the gibberellic acid in a tree, they are able to affect its growth rate and wood properties of the tree.
Discussion
- This is a great breakthrough in this field of science, because up till now, were were only able to use biotech to transfer genetic traits from one species of animals to another.
- Since we now have greater control over how a plant can grow, that means we can increase the rate of crops yield, and making more food than normal.
- Just by using cisgenics, we might be able to solve some of the world's problems, such as hunger and the rate of deforestation.
Questions
- Does this process make any other drastic change in the plant that could be harmful and hard to detect?
- Can cisgenics also shorten a plant's life span since we increase their growth?
"Genetics Offers New Biotechnology Tools." United Press International, Inc 11
June 2010: n. pag. Science Online. Web. 18 Oct. 2010.
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June 2010: n. pag. Science Online. Web. 18 Oct. 2010.
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