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Genetic Engineering vs Hybrids
Genetic Engineering vs Hybrids
Source: Organic Gardening
In the beginning, there was natural selection. This is what happens when plants are left
to their own devices and are pollinated by wind, rain, insects, or birds. Because these
chance crossings have been happening for millions of years, the germ plasm of these
open-pollinated plants has stabilized. In other words, you can plant their seeds and get
plants that are basically the same as the parent plants.
Eventually, people learned how to produce special plants by allowing two selected,
closely related parents to cross-pollinate. This is called hybridization. Whenever you
want seeds of that special plant (hybrid), you have to isolate the two specific parents so
you get genetic material only from those specific sources. That's why you get a lot of
surprises when you collect and plant the seeds of a hybrid that has matured in your
garden and not in isolation. Plants make hybrids among themselves all the time, but the
science of plant breeding did not begin until Gregor Mendel showed how genetic traits
were inherited.
Genetically engineered plants are a giant step beyond hybrids, which, as we mentioned,
are the result of two closely related plants being crossed. Scientists now have the ability
to determine exactly which genes control every characteristic of every living organism—
and they have developed techniques that allow them to take genes from any animal,
plant, bacteria, or virus and transfer the genes into another organism. Genetic
engineering is an unnatural technology with unprecedented power to "engineer" the
nature of any living organism. The debate over whether genetic engineering is good or
bad is raging among the world's scientists. On one side are those who see genetic
engineering as a boon to humankind, with the potential to end hunger, improve health,
reduce pesticide use, and conserve natural resources. On the other are those who think
the speed at which genetic engineering is showing up in laboratories, fields, and kitchens
is unethical and unsafe.
Source: Organic Gardening
In the beginning, there was natural selection. This is what happens when plants are left
to their own devices and are pollinated by wind, rain, insects, or birds. Because these
chance crossings have been happening for millions of years, the germ plasm of these
open-pollinated plants has stabilized. In other words, you can plant their seeds and get
plants that are basically the same as the parent plants.
Eventually, people learned how to produce special plants by allowing two selected,
closely related parents to cross-pollinate. This is called hybridization. Whenever you
want seeds of that special plant (hybrid), you have to isolate the two specific parents so
you get genetic material only from those specific sources. That's why you get a lot of
surprises when you collect and plant the seeds of a hybrid that has matured in your
garden and not in isolation. Plants make hybrids among themselves all the time, but the
science of plant breeding did not begin until Gregor Mendel showed how genetic traits
were inherited.
Genetically engineered plants are a giant step beyond hybrids, which, as we mentioned,
are the result of two closely related plants being crossed. Scientists now have the ability
to determine exactly which genes control every characteristic of every living organism—
and they have developed techniques that allow them to take genes from any animal,
plant, bacteria, or virus and transfer the genes into another organism. Genetic
engineering is an unnatural technology with unprecedented power to "engineer" the
nature of any living organism. The debate over whether genetic engineering is good or
bad is raging among the world's scientists. On one side are those who see genetic
engineering as a boon to humankind, with the potential to end hunger, improve health,
reduce pesticide use, and conserve natural resources. On the other are those who think
the speed at which genetic engineering is showing up in laboratories, fields, and kitchens
is unethical and unsafe.