Recent Advances in Applied Biology

Applied biology is playing major role in many facets of our society in terms of facility, technology and danger. Some of them are discussed here.

Genetically modified crops/food (GM crop/food)

Crops - which are bred after deliberate modification of their genetic make up in order to bring a definite change in their characters. The modification of their genetic makeup is done at laboratory level by tissue culture and biotechnology methods. The modification is usually in terms of introducing a new gene or removal of some gene.

When some genes are removed or added, the characters associated with them are lost or gained in their next generations. Such modification remains a permanent feature of such plants over generations - unless out crossing deteriorates it.

Many crops are genetically modified now

Cotton - with its Bt gene - which is responsible for secretion of proteins having known potentiality to kill bollworms (called popularly as Bt cotton).

Rice - with its added gene responsible for containing vitamin A in Kernels of rice (called popularly as golden rice)

Tomato - with its new gene to attain herbicide resistance