Anti-Famine Strategy: Genetic Engineering for Food

Abstract

What can genetics do to increase food resources? One answer is visible in the rapid spread of dwarfing genes from a Japanese wheat variety called Norin 10. With these genes, short-stemmed wheat varieties have been engineered which yield more harvestable grain under intensive cultivation in many parts of the world. This is one aspect of genetic engineering to increase the food supply of the rising world population. Prof. Chase, a plant geneticist of the State University of New York and the Botanical Museum, Harvard University, describes others from the plant breeder's point of view.