We hear the term “transgenic plants” more and more frequently, but do you know what they mean and what they are used for? The scientific community, in its eagerness to improve the quality of life of humans, has developed, through Biotechnology, this type of plant.
Its objective is none other than to maintain the genetic information of plants. It seems simple, but in reality, it is a function as necessary as it is complex; Thanks to this scientific advance, today we can enjoy higher quality food or much more precise medicines to cure diseases, among other examples.
At OneHOWTO, we want to help you understand what transgenic plants are, so below we show you a complete guide to what transgenic plants are with examples, photos, and explanations.
What are transgenic plants?
A transgenic plant is, fundamentally, one that has been genetically altered. The origin of transgenic plants, however, is not found in scientists, but this gene transfer occurs in nature itself. The bacterium “Agrobacterium tumefaciens”, which is found in soils all over the world, is responsible for natural genetic crosses since the beginning of time.
For example, in nature, when a plant is cut or injured, the bacteria insert themselves into the plant and transfer their genes. The procedure used by this bacterium is the same as that used by scientists today.
The difference between the two methods is that when a natural transfer is made, not only is the needed gene passed on but inevitably other unwanted genes are also passed on. In contrast, transgenic plant varieties created by genetic engineering have the advantage of including only the specific gene that is required, so that the plant can maintain all its genetic information without differences. Before continuing, you may want to take a look at this article on The parts of a plant.
What is transgenic agriculture: benefits and disadvantages
Now that we have seen the definition of transgenic and we know that it is a word that refers to those living beings that have been genetically altered, we can talk about transgenic agriculture.
This type of agriculture has caused much controversy in recent years, because although there are many people who defend the need for the so-called “green revolution”, others do not agree with the genetic alteration of crops. Let us see, below, a list of some benefits and drawbacks that can be linked to agriculture and transgenic crops:
Benefits of GMOs
- Safety: Those who are in favor of transgenic foods often argue that it is a very effective tool to protect crops and to know exactly what different products contain.
- The greater amount of food: the second fundamental benefit of agriculture and transgenic food is that they are a great ally against poverty since greater amounts of food can be produced fairly quickly. This, undoubtedly, is closely linked to the decrease in production costs, so that these products can be available to everyone.
- Benefits for the environment: thanks to transgenic agriculture, the use of highly aggressive insecticides for the land and the environment is significantly reduced.
Disadvantages of GMOs
- Health problems: many people against this agriculture defend that, in the long term, these transgenic foods can be very harmful to health. This is mainly due to the fact that modified foods usually contain antibiotics and dangerous substances that can trigger unexpected diseases in our bodies.
- Loss of naturalness: when we talk about the alteration of certain crops by genetic engineering, we cannot stop talking about the qualities of those foods that have not been modified; that is, they maintain their naturalness. These foods have been treated with less toxic and non-polluting substances and, therefore, are non-damaged foods.
How transgenic plants are created
Biotechnologists use various techniques to mimic the natural process of transgenesis. Here are some of those techniques:
- First of all, there are physical methods such as biolistics, which consists of the direct transfer of genes by means of metal microspheres inserted directly into the cell to be modified.
- There are also biological methods. With this technique, what must be done is to select a vector that transmits the gene, be it a virus or a bacterium. An example would be a gene that promotes transgenic plants tolerant to drought conditions.
The products obtained through these genetic engineering methods are tested to verify that they are safe to interact with the environment but, in addition, the effects they may have on humans are also evaluated. To better compare the process that normal plants and transgenic plants follow, do not miss this article on How plants work.
Examples of transgenic plants
There are countless examples of transgenic plants. In recent years, improvements have been made in the productivity of crops, food, and bioreactors, also called factories for producing drugs.
Scientists divide transgenic plants into 3 groups :
The first, are those that were conceived to benefit crop production and, therefore, the farmer. For example plants with better morphological characteristics, as well as more resistant to viruses and bacteria, herbicides, insects, and even unfavorable environmental conditions. Among them we have:
- Hawaii papaya plants.
- Bt corn.
On the other hand, there are transgenic plants that were designed to improve the nutritional characteristics of some foods, thus making them healthier and safer. For example:
- Golden rice with vitamin A.
- Soybean oil.
The last group is related to the improvement of plants for applications in the pharmaceutical area. With them, the development of vaccines, antibodies, and enzymes is promoted:
- From the viral vector in tobacco, an antibody is obtained that contributes to the treatment of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- From transgenic potatoes and lettuce, a vaccine is obtained that prevents hepatitis B.
Advantages and disadvantages of transgenic plants
The generation of transgenic plants has undeniable benefits for humanity. However, there are also consequences that must be investigated so that they can be improved in successive scientific advances. These are some of the advantages and disadvantages of transgenic plants:
Advantages of transgenic plants
- Improves the resistance of plant species that can be affected by pests, pesticides, animals, and climate change.
- It promotes the production of medicines and pharmacological products that collaborate with the maintenance and improvement of the health of both humans and animals.
- It generates food with better nutritional value or is adapted to the specific needs of the population.
- It increases agri-food production in any environment and improves adaptation and production in hostile environments (for example, in extreme drought conditions).
- Molecular agriculture is a cheaper method than other biological systems for protein generation.
Disadvantages of transgenic plants
Like all technology, this one also requires a process of trial and error to be perfected, which is why transgenic plants go through strict controls in order to be released. However, they present resistance in sectors of society for the following reasons:
- The loss of biodiversity is a latent concern and difficult to control since a transgenic plant can spread outside its place of cultivation. This causes the hybridization of local species, affecting the native varieties of a region.
- Resistance genes incorporated into certain crops against some insect species may end up affecting others unrelated to these plants.
The debate about whether or not to continue creating transgenic plants is still open in the scientific community. At OneHOWTO we hope we have helped you understand what transgenic plants are and what impact they have on our society.
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