Title: Lecture 14: Biotechnology

Speaker: Kim Kidwell

Created by: Theresa Koenig & Kim Kidwell

online.wsu.edu

Lecture 14: Biotechnology

Molecular Crop Improvement

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Misc_pollen_colorized.jpg

What is Biotechnology?

Bio = biology

Technology = application

The application of biology

(for the use of humans)

Biotechnology in one form or another

has been present since prehistoric

times.

Fermenting juice into wine

Turning milk into cheese or yogurt

Using yeast to make bread rise

Selectively breeding livestock

•Biotechnology: a field of applied biology that

involves the use of non-living organisms and

bioprocesses in engineering, technology,

medicine and other fields requiring

bioproducts.

Encompasses a wide range of procedures for modifying living organisms for human purposes

•Plant biotechnology: developing ways to

improve the production of plants in order to

supply the world’s need for food, fiber and

fuel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotechnology

•Many people associate the word

biotechnology with Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMOs).

•Although GMOs are an aspect of

biotechnology, there are also many non-

GMO biotechnology techniques

•Biotechnology is often used during the

breeding process, resulting in products that

are not GMOs

Non-GMO Biotechnology Tools

A. Genome Sequencing and Genetic

Mapping

B. Marker-Assisted Selection

C. Tissue Culture

D. Noodle Color Test for Polyphenol

Oxidase Activity

Products of these techniques

are NOT considered to be GMOs

because they are developed via

sexual reproduction.

• Genome sequencing is the process of

determining the exact order of all the chemical

building blocks (A,T,C,G) that make up the DNA

of a plant’s chromosomes

• Once the genetic makeup is determined, it can

be used to make a genetic map

• A genetic map is a graphic representation of the

arrangement of DNA sequences on a

chromosome

A. Genome Sequencing and Genetic Mapping

Wheat DNA

Fingerprints of Wheat Plants

Barrett and Kidwell, 1998

These genetic maps allow scientists to

more rapidly identify which genes provide

desirable fruit characteristics or disease

and drought tolerance

Please pause this presentation and view the video “WSU- Apple Genome" found in the Lessons Overview Page of this section.

Genetic Mapping of Alfalfa

Loci have been identified

for potential use in

marker- assisted

selection

Genes that effect yield

and regrowth have also

been identified

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PE_Lib1.jpg

B. Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS)

•Use of DNA markers that are tightly

linked to target loci as a substitute for or

to assist in phenotypic screening

•Can mark and identify important genes

Advantages of MAS

• Rather than going through numerous field trials to determine disease or drought resistance, breeders can simply use MAS to determine if that gene is present (saves time)

• Can determine if parents to be crossed have desirable traits

• Can check for desirable traits during seedling stage rather than waiting until maturity

•Can separate actual genetic makeup

from environmental effects

•More accurate and efficient selection of

specific genotypes

•Faster variety development

•More efficient use of resources

http://www.idosi.org/aeja/1(2)08/2.pdf

Zak

Zak

Yr5

Y

r5

Yr1

5

Yr1

5

145bp

105bp 100bp 94bp

75bp

120bp

114bp

120bp 124bp

DNA Tags Stripe Rust Resistance Genes

Marker-Assisted

Selection

for Stripe Rust

Resistance Genes

Alpowa with Yr 5

Alpowa

Alpowa with Yr 15

‘Alpowa’ with Seedling Resistance

to Stripe Rust

C. Tissue Culture

A method of asexual propagation

used to produce clones of a plant

under controlled, sterile conditions.

•Many plant cells are totipotent, or

able to regenerate a whole plant

from one cell.

•Plant tissue culture relies on this

ability.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Fi

le:Vitex_negundo_flowering_inside_t

he_test_tube.jpg

Sterilized plant materials are placed on the surface

of a culture media:

• Media is usually composed of salts, nutrients,

vitamins, and plant hormones.

• Precise composition is important for development

of roots and/or shoots.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carrot_in_glass.JPG

Applications of Tissue Culture

•Conservation of rare or endangered species

•Produce virus free plants

•Produce large numbers of identical individuals

•Plant genetic engineering

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CulCallus.jpg

D. Noodle Color Test for Polyphenol Oxidase Activity

Noodles are made from wheat

flour and much of U.S. wheat is

exported to Asia

• High levels of polyphenol

oxidase cause discoloration in

Asian noodles

• Can screen for high polyphenol

oxidase levels in varieties and

eliminate those with undesirable

levels

Greenhouse

Western Wheat Workers - June 19th, 2002

Xgwm 219

Xgwm 508

Xgwm 644,

Xgwm 193

XNor

Glu

pro

Sca

rle

t

BC5F3

6B (Partial View)

Microsatellites

Field

Crossing

Seed Increases

Mutation Breeding

Gene Discovery

Disease Screening

Laboratory

Gene Mapping

Genetic Therapy

Marker-Assisted Selection

Selection for End-Use Quality

Agronomic Evaluations

Direct Seeding Trials

Disease Screening

Fertility Trials

Washington Farmers

Tara 2002

Shepherds Grain WSU Food Services

Crossing

Trait Selection

From Laboratory to Reality

Products of these techniques

are NOT considered to be

GMOs because they are

developed via sexual

reproduction.

Genetic transformation, gene

splicing, and genetic modification

involve the identification, isolation,

duplication and insertion of genes or

pieces of DNA from one genome into

another.

Genetic composition is altered

without sexual reproduction.

Genetic Engineering or Modification Involves Asexual Gene Manipulation

Genetic composition is altered without

sexual reproduction

•No hybridization

•No meiosis

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MajorEventsInMeiosis_variant_int.svg

Developing GMOs involves:

Gene cloning: the identification,

isolation, duplication and insertion of

genes from one species to another

Asexual transfer of cloned genes

within or among species

Agrobacterium

method

DNA of interest

DNA particle

gun method

Introduction of DNA

into Agrobacterium

Tumor plasmid

containing DNA

of interest

DNA coating

of microscopic

metal particles

Metal

particles

DNA

Cell Transfer

Bacteria DNA

Bacterial transfer of DNA Acceleration of

particles into plant cells

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DNA_helix_structure.png

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Chromosome_pair_drawing.svg

DNA Insertion

Cell Division Plantlets Regenerate

Plants with Target Trait

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:

Chromosome_pair_drawing.svg

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Carrot_in_glass.JPG

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Wheat_hy

brid_B938_plant_comparison.JPG

Genetic Engineering Results in GMOs:

• Incorporates genes from different species

such as bacteria, weeds, and animals into

plants. Traditional breeding relies on

genetic combinations possible within

existing populations of closely related

plants.

•Removes sexual incompatibility barriers.

•No hybridization or meiosis is involved.

Breaks Down Sexual Incompatibility Barriers Among Species

Plant genes Other species

Bacterial genes Plants

Animal genes Plants

Human genes Plants

Potential Target Traits

•Herbicide resistance

•Insect resistance

•Disease resistance

•Pharmaceuticals

•Increased nutrient content

Major GM Crop Plants

Herbicide resistance

• Round-Up™ Ready Corn

• Round-Up™ Ready Soybeans

• Round-Up™ Ready Alfalfa

(January 2011)

Insect resistance

•Bt Corn

•Bt Cotton

•Bt Alfalfa

Bt Cotton

Non Bt Cotton

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Boll_weevil.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CottonPlant.JPG

Percentage of GM Crops Planted in the U.S.

Crop

2003

2010

Corn 35 86

Soybeans 65 93

Cotton 50 93

Wheat 0 0

http://www.gmo-compass.org/eng/news/

Products Potentially Containing GMOs

Cereals

Corn chips

Soda

Soy burgers

Taco shells

Juices

Baby formula

Baby food

Corn muffins

Tofu

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki

/File:Row_of_Pepsi_Cans.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Gerberbaby.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Driedtofu.JPG http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:

Frosted-Flakes-Box-Small.jpg

Potential Benefits of GMO’s

•Facilitates gene transfer

•Decreased pesticide inputs into the

environment

•Less input expenses for farmers

•Enhanced nutritional attributes

Enhanced Nutritional Attributes

•Vaccine producing bananas

•Vitamin A enhanced canola

•Rice with enhanced iron content

•Golden Rice - high vitamin K

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bananas.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canola_field_temora_nsw.jpg

Issues with Acceptance

•Golden Rice is yellow not white

•Animal feed is not acceptable for human

consumption, even if starvation is a concern

Human consumption

of GMOs is not

accepted in many

developing countries

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Golden_Rice.jpg

Concerns about GMOs

•Escape of cloned genes

into the environment

•Second hand transgene

escape

•Allergenic responses to

GM food

Example: Brazil nut gene

transformed into soybean

caused nut allergies

http://www.infiniteunknown.net/tag/roundup-ready/

Ethical Concerns

Do you have a right to know what you are

eating?

•Current FDA policies state that labeling GM

products is not required in the US.

•As a positive advertising mechanism, many

companies now label products as “GMO free”.

http://depositphotos.com/2795307/stock

-illustration-Non-GM-Label.html http://www.morinu.com/product/GMO.html

http://www.blackwing.com/blog.php/u

ncategorized/new-gmo-free-labelling

•Food safety is a major concern due to

deaths associated with Mad Cow disease.

•Excellent way to control international crop

markets.

GMOs are Banned in Europe

http://www.gmo-free-regions.org/conference2010.html

Do scientists have the right to “play God” by making “unnatural”

exchanges of genes within and among species?

•Violates certain religious beliefs

•Potential to violate civil rights:

Genetic prescreening to obtain health

insurance

Selective abortion based on genetic

potential

Consumer Acceptance, or Lack Thereof,

Will Determine the Fate of GMOs.

?

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SDA_organic_seal.svg