Lecture #26-Plant Biotechnology-Genetically Modified Crops P249-253 www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/

1. The problem
   1. Feeding the expanding world population (8.3 bil by 2025, 12.4 by 2050)
   2. 1950-2000-The Green Revolution- Dr Norman Borlaug
      1. Plant breeding
      2. Pesticide and Fertilizer Use
      3. Sound cultural practices-irrigation
   3. Has kept up with the population but with problems
   4. We simply can’t keep doing this on the finite land available
2. The solution-Genetic Modification of plants and animals via Biotechnology
   1. Basic gene cloning
      1. Restriction enzymes and plasmids
      2. Molecular cloning
   2. Gene transfer technology- Transgenic plants and animals
   3. Methods
      1. Animals
      2. Agrobacterium mediated plant transformation
3. Applications
   1. Bacterial as factories-human insulin
   2. Animals as factories-Human blood clotting factor produced in milk
   3. Improved transgenic plants-GM PLANTS
      1. Corn, soybeans, cotton and golden rice examples
4. The New Problem
   1. We have the technology to feed the expected 8.3 billion people in 2025
   2. Will farmers be permitted to use this technology
   3. Large consumer concerns about safety of these crops
5. Assignment- You decide!