Genetically Modified Plants Or Transgenic Plants: Transgenic plants are genetically engineered plants. These are developed by introducing new qualities through recombinant DNA technique during plant breeding programme.
These new qualities pass in the progeny generation after generation. These genetically engineered plants or organisms are called genetically modified organisms (GMO). The products obtained from such plants are referred to as genetically modified food (GM food).
During the last few decades many transgenic plants both among dicotyledons and monocotyledons, have been developed through genetic engineering and these are being tested in the crop fields. Transgenic plants of desired species can be developed by the following steps:
- Identification and isolation of the gene of desired features.
- Formation of recombinant plasmid and transformation of Agrobacterium.
- Transfer of transformed Agrobacterium in the cells of the target plant.
- Selection of transformed plant cells, their culture and regeneration.
- Expression of the desired gene in the developed transgenic plants.
Importance of Transgenic plants:
As Bioreactors:
Genetically modified plants are used as bioreactors. We know plants are like chemical factories and are capable of synthesizing several types of chemical compounds by using sunlight as the source of energy.
By incorporating right (desired) genes plants can be made to serve as bioreactors to produce the desired type of compounds such as amino acids, proteins, vitamins, pharmaceutical products, enzymes etc. for use in food and medicine industry.
Thus transgenic plants are being used to produce various types of chemicals. Because of this, the field of biotechnology is called molecular farming.
Some of the plants developed for molecular farming are:
- “Golden Rice” (Vitamin A enriched).
- Super Potato.
- Improved seed protein quality.
- Edible vaccines.
- Important medicines.
- Biodegradable Plastic.
- Genetically engineered metabolism
