What Is Agricultural Biotechnology - Essay Example

Since Biotechnology is a generic term used to describe practical uses of living organisms hence it combines a wide range of biological disciplines like genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, embryology, and cell biology which are in turn linked to practical disciplines like genetic engineering, chemical engineering, biochemical engineering, bioprocess engineering, biosystem engineering, and even information technology and robotics. As a result, it has a strong impact on several sectors including health care, crop production, agriculture, none food uses crops (e.g. biodegradable plastics, vegetable oil, biofuels).

Although each of above mentioned practical disciplines of biotechnology has its importance and application yet genetic engineering, is considered to be an area of tremendous interest and importance. Based on the artificial manipulation and transfer of genetic material from one organism to another, genetic engineering can be used to modify the genetic composition of plants, animals, and microorganisms to have a better yield and tolerance against damaging factors. An important example of applications of genetic engineering is commercially available insect-tolerant plants.

These plants contain a naturally occurring soil bacterium called Bacillus thuriengensis, referred to as Bt: a highly effective toxin for many pest organisms, like beetles and moth larvae, but not toxic to mammals and most other non-target organisms. Bacillus thuriengensis produces a protein that is incorporated into the genetic material of crops by recombinant DNA using bacterial plasmids and a "clone" or an identical copy of the gene that can produce the toxic protein is produced (Gallo & Fulford, 2003, pp.1-2). Field and greenhouse tests of different Bt crops like rice, maize, etc.

produced by public institutions have confirmed the effectiveness of Bt technology in controlling the respective crop pests in many countries, particularly in China, India, and Pakistan. Unlike chemical insecticides, Bt crops effectively control Lepidopteron pests without inducing the emergence of other friendly pests, such as brown plant hopper. As a component of integrated pest management systems, Bt technology has the potential to increase yields and greatly reduce the use of different insecticides to control the damage caused by pests (Toenniessen, et al. pp.192-193).

Every technology can have both positive and negative attributes. Biotechnology is no exception. The application of genetic engineering techniques to transfer genetic materials from one organism to another is not accomplished through traditional breeding procedures and as a result, the genetically engineered specimens may contain components not normally found in the traditional versions of that specimen. For example, to increase the freezing tolerance of vegetables, scientists have transferred genes for antifreeze proteins from arctic fish to tomatoes.

Similarly, insect-resistant plants have been created by adding a gene from soil bacteria. The incorporation of genes from other organisms may change specific properties of an altered species and is surely a concern about its effects. For example, genetically engineered tomatoes could potentially contain a protein gene from wheat that could cause an allergic reaction in some people. Also, some people believe it is not ethically or morally acceptable to alter the natural properties of any species as they believe that this act is a direct interference with natural phenomena (Martin & Riepe, n. d., p. 6).