Abstract
This review charts the major developments in the genetic manipulation of plant cells that have taken place since the first gene transfer experiments using Ti plasmids in 1983. Tremendous progress has been made in both our scientific understanding and technological capabilities since the first genetically modified (GM) crops were developed with single gene resistances to herbicides, insects, viruses, and the silencing of unde-sirable genes. Despite opposition in some parts of the world, the area planted with first generation GM crops has grown from 1.7 Mhm2 in 1996 to 179.7 Mhm2 hectares in 2015. The toolkit available for genetic modification has expanded greatly since 1996 and recently Nobel Laureates have called on Greenpeace to end their blanket opposition, and plant scientists have urged that consideration be given to the benefits of GM crops based on actual evidence. It is now possible to use GM to breed new crop cultivars resistant to a much wider range of pests and diseases, and to produce crops better able to adapt to climate change. The advent of new CRISPR-based technologies makes it possible to contemplate a much wider range of improvements based on transfer of new metabolic pathways and traits to improve nutritional quality, with a much greater degree of precision. Use of GM, sometimes in conjunction with other approaches, offers great opportunities for improving food quality, safety, and security in a changing world.
Highlights
Advances in molecular genetics and genetic modification are bringing revolutionary changes to society
In this article we review the various scientific developments in genetic modification that underpinned the production of transgenic plants, defined as those with genomes altered by the transfer of a gene or genes from another species, and genetically modified (GM) plants, defined as having genetic material altered in a way that does not occur naturally through fertilization and/or natural recombination
We discuss some of the advantages, and problems associated with the first generation of GM crops, and review recent developments that offer new opportunities for designer breeding to improve crop plants and make them more suitable for our needs
Summary
Advances in molecular genetics and genetic modification are bringing revolutionary changes to society. Avery et al demonstrated that the chemical component responsible for determining the genetic characteristics was DNA. These discoveries started a revolution in genetics because they provided methods for testing and assigning a genetic function to a specific piece of DNA, and for transferring gene segments between bacteria in a laboratory to change their genetic characteristics in a controlled manner. This review charts the development of methods for genetic transformation of plants, the advantages and disadvantages of the different approaches used, and their applications in the breeding and production of GM crops worldwide
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