Green genetic engineering

--- CONTENT ---
Green genetic engineering or agrog technology is the application of genetic engineering methods in the field of plant breeding. Genetically modified plants are the result of genetic engineering. In particular, the term refers to processes for the production of plant genetically modified organisms (GMOs) into whose genetic material individual genes are introduced in a targeted manner. If these genes come from other species, transgenic plants are formed. Green genetic engineering is thus part of green biotechnology, whereby the term “green” in contrast to “red” biotechnology and “white” biotechnology refers to the application on plants. Currently, herbicide- and insect-resistant plant varieties are marketed as genetically modified plants. Green genetic engineering is part of the bioeconomy.

Green genetic engineering transfers specific genes (unlike conventional breeding). It can cross species boundaries as well as other crossing barriers (such as infertility). Conventional plant breeding, on the other hand, uses spontaneous or induced mutations as an alternative, the expression of which is caused by external influences (e.g. cold shocks or radioactive irradiation). In both cases, selective sighting of the mutations is required before further breeding.

The question of whether the use of green genetic engineering is desirable or to be rejected has been the subject of lively debate in many countries. Among other things, aspects of food security, environmental protection, economic efficiency and the relationship between genetic engineering and “naturalness” played a role.

Research and techniques

Genetic engineering in research
Modern plant physiology often examines molecular processes in plants. Genetic engineering makes it possible to influence the behaviour of genes in the plant in a targeted manner. Plant cells contain between 20,000 and 60,000 genes, the function of which is so far only a fraction of known. Even in the most studied plant (Arabidopsis thaliana), more than half of the genes are still without known function.

In order to recognize the function of a gene, it is usually necessary to modify the control of the gene. For this purpose, three different plant populations are often examined. The first, unchanged, population is called the wild type. In the second population, the gene to be studied is cloned behind a viral promoter and transferred to the plant. This population increasingly produces the gene product of the gene (usually a protein). This population consists of overexpressors. A third population produces the gene product to a lesser extent (knockdown) or no more (knockout). For “knock down” the technique of RNA interference (RNAi) is mainly used. Classic “knock-out” plants are T-DNA insertion lines, so either a truncated protein is formed that has no function, or the promoter of the wild-type gene is through T-DNA