Genetic modification of plants: significant issues and hurdles to success

Genetic modification of plants: significant issues and hurdles to success.

Transformation and regeneration is routine for many crop plants. A genetically engineered tomato with a longer shelf life at full ripeness was introduced in the United States in 1994, and other soon-to-be-released products, both foods and fibers, incorporate genes for resistance to pests, diseases, and environmentally benign herbicides. Other possibilities are altered plant fats and oils, methi...

Ethical Issues In Genetic Modification

This paper surveys the origins and present applications of the Genetic Modification of plants, animals and humans. The ethical concerns raised from both secular and religious sources are considered. It is concluded that humankind has been delegated responsible stewardship for all the earth’s resources, including DNA, and that there are strong theological motivations for using Genetic Modificati...

New techniques for genetic modification of plants

Active, specific immunotherapy for lung cancer: hurdles and strategies using genetic modification.

Active immunotherapy for lung cancer has been a challenge because of the poor antigenic characterization of these tumors and their ability to escape the immune response. However, knowledge of the mechanisms of anti-tumor immunity has expanded significantly over the past decade, leading to the development of more novel, specific strategies for augmenting the immune response. Genetic manipulation...

Genetic Modification for Improving Seed Vigor Is Transitioning from Model Plants to Crop Plants

Although seed vigor is a complex physiological trait controlled by quantitative trait loci, technological advances in the laboratory are being translated into applications for enhancing seed vigor in crop plants. In this article, we summarize and discuss pioneering work in the genetic modification of seed vigor, especially through the over-expression of protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (...