How can Genetic Engineering Help in Improving Agriculture and Livestock?

Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a set of techniques used to transfer genes from one organism to next. Individual genes can be cut from the cells of one organism and inserted into cells of another. Genes from different sources can be combined in a test tube and then transferred to living cells. This technique is called genetic engineering.

The Role of Genetic Engineering in Human Well-Being

Any organism that receives a foreign gene is called a transgenic organism. Following are the steps to produce a genetically modified organism.

i) Identification of the gene of interest

ii) Removal of the gene from the donor.

iii) Conversion of a gene to a chromosome or DNA.

iv) Introduction of the desired gene carrier into the recipient.

Importance of Genetic Engineering in Agriculture and Livestock Breeding.

Genetic engineering has revolutionized agriculture, which is evident from the following examples.

i) Production of high-yield varieties of crops and animals (milk and meat production)

ii) Improving the nutritional quality of edible plant parts.

iii) Introduction of herbicides (chemicals that kill weeds), pesticides (killing insects chemicals).

iv) Increasing the shelf life of fruits and vegetables

v) Transfer of nitrogen-fixing genes to non-legumes wheat, rice, etc.

vi) Improvement of fruit quality.

1) Production of High-Yielding Crops

We can use biotechnology techniques to obtain genetically modified (GM) plant varieties. It has been observed that most of the high yielding crops or fruit trees are quite susceptible to disease. It is quite desirable to introduce disease resistant genes into them high yielding plants for disease control.

2) Production of High-Yielding Animals

It is desirable to produce high milk and animals producing meat for feeding ever increasing human population. A normal breeding program in animals is quite long. Biotech techniques can not only reduce production time desirable breed but also controls diseases caused by close crossing related animals.

Cloning or manufacturing genetically similar individuals already have was made for sheep. This technique may be used for the production of animal organs in the future.

Genetically engineered sheep (Dolly)