Journal of Applied Genetics

, Volume 55, Issue 3, pp 287–294 | Cite as

Transgenic crops: the present state and new ways of genetic modification

  • Bartosz M. Szabala
  • Pawel Osipowski
  • Stefan Malepszy
Plant Genetics • Review
First Online:
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Abstract

Transgenic crops were first commercialised almost 20 years ago, which makes it a good opportunity to reflect on this technology. In this review, we compare its status with the predictions included in Vasil’s forecast published in 2002. Our analysis shows that science has provided a wide range of possibilities to modify different traits in plants, yet the economy benefits from that range to very different extents. We also point out the most important constituents of the technology development involving methodology improvement and novel traits expressed in varieties introduced into agriculture. Using native genes (or their elements) in transgenes, accumulating previously produced transgenes to cascade resistance and using herbicide resistance as a selectable marker have been considered typical of novel genetically modified (GM) plant varieties. A vast portion of the novelties in stacked varieties is doubtful in terms of EU regulations. Attention has also been directed to completely novel methodology solutions that hold out the prospect of a more comprehensive use of genetic modification in agriculture as a whole, and, particularly, make its use possible in the EU and even in sustainable agriculture.

Keywords

Agriculture Biotechnology Genetic modification Transgenic crops Genome editing 
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Notes

Acknowledgements

Prof. Anna Majewska-Sawka is acknowledged for her valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Copyright information

© Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan 2014

Authors and Affiliations

  • Bartosz M. Szabala
    • 1
  • Pawel Osipowski
    • 1
  • Stefan Malepszy
    • 1
  1. 1.Department of Plant Genetics, Breeding and Biotechnology, Faculty of Horticulture, Biotechnology and Landscape ArchitectureWarsaw University of Life SciencesWarsawPoland

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