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I am a PhD-trained genetic epidemiologist currently working for DNA Direct as a consultant. I also publish Eye on DNA, a blog providing news, commentary, and analysis of current DNA technology,...
Genetically Modified Crops with Mini-Chromosomes
31 May, 2007 04:13 pm
If anything mini is cute, do mini-chromosomes qualify?
Gene-stacking technology is especially important considering all the various modifications that are made in the name of improving crops. Drugs, biomaterials, textiles, and “nutritionally improved foods” can all be produced more quickly and at less cost using crops that are modified a batch of genes at a time. Also, crops like Roundup Ready are often engineered to tolerate herbicides as well as resist pests and diseases. And, given our expectations for having a selection of fresh fruits and vegetables year-round regardless of nature’s growing season, mini-chromosomes can also be used to manipulate a plant’s life cycle.
Pretty powerful abilities for such cute-sounding chromosomes.
Originally posted at Eye on DNA
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