Introduction
Our mission is to provide open access to reliable and up-to-date information on New Genomic Techniques in plant science. Whether you are a seasoned researcher, a student eager to learn, or an enthusiast curious about the latest advancements, we aim to make this platform your go-to resource.
Stay tuned as we delve deeper into various genomic techniques, their applications, success stories, and the ongoing research shaping the future of plant science.
Let’s embark on this exciting journey together and unlock new knowledge about New Genomic Techniques. We have developed various modules for you to get started, going further and further in-depth per level. Pro tip: before you get started, check whether you are familiar with some background knowledge!
Happy learning!
Level 0: Background
Level 1: Introduction
Level 2: Advanced
Level 3: Expert
Bonus: Opinions on NGTs
Knowledge level 0 - Background
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What is "Plant Breeding?"
- How did Plant Breeding start?
- What falls under modern Plant Breeding?
- What is DNA and why is it relevant?
Plant Breeding is a collective term for “the science of changing the traits of plants to produce desired characteristics”.
In other words: it is a deliberate effort by humans to improve certain characteristics or traits of a plant. With plant traits, we can mean many aspects that determine, amongst others, how a plant looks, smells, or performs. Traits that are often sought after in agriculture are: yield, resistance to diseases, colours of flowers, taste of the harvested product, and much more(!).
Just like farming, plant breeding has been practised for thousands of years.
Plant breeding has, and continues to influence the world around us, as it affects society on many levels.
After all, the products of plant breeding has determined what we can get in the (super)markets, affecting our diet, medicine availability, fuels, clothing materials etc. You may not realise it, but when you buy a product or make use of a service, there is an extremely large chance that bred plants have attributed to it. So good on you for wanting to read more about it!Question: Do you know what product is being produced here by these trees?
Answer: It is fresh rubber from the rubber tree! Responsible for tires, gloves, toys, boots and much, much more!
Source: Encyclopedia Britannica
Through the course of human evolution, we progressed from a “hunter-gatherer” lifestyle, where society was pre-dominantly nomadic in nature and relied on wandering from region to region to hunt animals and gather edible plants to a point where we have mastered the principles of agriculture and used it to domesticate a plethora of plants and animals for human consumption.
All of this occurred, over 10,000 years ago, when our forefathers had the brilliant foresight to rather sow their seeds and take care of their plants which would yield them plenty of food thereby limiting the need for frequent migrations marking our society’s transition towards the farmer lifestyle and beginning of human civilizations.
With this idea to grow edible crops, more ideas on farming were developed. Early farmers began to realise that storing seeds from plants displaying ideal traits in terms of yield or stalk lengths, bushiness, disease resistance, or even colour and using them in the next seasons resulted in similar or even better plant characteristics in certain instances.
In other words, at the end of each season, the farmers started to select seeds of well-performing plants for subsequent seasons. As a result of this selection, the plants started to look distinct compared to their ancestors; and were accompanied by unique desirable characteristics such as higher yields or tastier fruits/seeds etc. In this way, we developed several unique local varieties! What started out as art developed into a precise science over the next 10 millennia. We can, therefore, refer to the people who started this process of selection as “the early plant breeders” as those who are involved in practising modern plant breeding have utilized several principles derived from the farming concepts developed since the dawn of human civilization.
To this day, modern plant breeders essentially still do the same as what mankind did thousands of years ago; they still strive for new varieties that can be beneficial to farmers and humankind. However, with modern tools, a lot of experience, and knowledge, plant breeders now can scientifically select for more specific traits, rather than be dependent on chance occurrences.
For example, plant breeders are keen on developing varieties that ….
1. Show resistance against pests.
The latter could be very helpful for farmers, as resistant crops do not require chemical or biological pesticides, which can sometimes be harmful to human, animal, and environmental health.
2. Show improved tolerance against environmental stresses.
Plant breeders may for example strive for maize that can grow in poor conditions, like drought-prone regions, or in salty soils. Farmers who have to grow crops in such an environment often do not get high yields, as crops often suffer from poor conditions. With crops that are better ‘equipped’ against such stresses, higher yields can be obtained and the farmer’s income can be more secure!
3. Contain increased concentrations of health-related compounds.
One can think of lettuce and tomatoes that contain extra vitamins and minerals so that salad consumers become even healthier!
4. Are more efficient in resource uptake.
Resources that are necessary for plants to grow are minerals, water, sunlight and specific molecules of which nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are very famous – very common in fertilisers! As many of those resources such as concentrated molecules and fresh water are quite scarce, breeders aim for making the crops have better uptake. At the moment, plant breeders are trying to develop rice that requires less freshwater use. Although most farmers still use rice paddy fields (with plants drowned in water), they require a lot(!) of fresh water, whereas the rice plants that are more efficient in water uptake do not rely on such high amounts. Some plant breeders have a lot of high hopes to develop and breed for such ‘dry rice’ so that fresh water can be used for other important goals instead of flooding the rice fields.
Arguably plant breeding and scientific knowledge about plants have become so advanced, that many plant breeders are looking at the genetic markup of plants (DNA) to confirm and even predict desirable traits for farmers and consumers.
Click on our last introductory tab to find out what DNA is, and why it is so relevant!
Deoxyribonucleic Acid, commonly known as DNA, is the fundamental building block of life. It serves as the genetic blueprint that carries the hereditary information in all living organisms, including plants. Understanding DNA and its role in plant breeding has revolutionized the way we improve and develop crops to meet the diverse challenges of the modern world.
At its core, DNA is a complex molecule composed of nucleotides, each containing a sugar, a phosphate group, and a nitrogenous base. The sequence of these bases holds the instructions necessary for the growth, development, and functioning of every living organism. In plants, DNA governs traits such as growth rate, yield potential, resistance to pests and diseases, and tolerance to environmental stresses.
The deciphering of the DNA structure and the development of molecular biology techniques have unlocked a deeper understanding of how genetic traits are inherited and expressed in plants. This knowledge has led to the emergence of modern plant breeding techniques that are more precise, efficient, and targeted.
One of the key applications of DNA technology in plant breeding is marker-assisted selection (MAS). Through MAS, breeders can identify specific DNA markers linked to desired traits, allowing for early and accurate selection of plants with the desired genetic makeup. This significantly accelerates the breeding process, saving time and resources while increasing the likelihood of success.
Moreover, the study of DNA variation within plant populations has enabled the development of gene banks and germplasm collections. These repositories store a diverse range of plant genetic resources, safeguarding valuable traits that could be utilized in future breeding efforts. DNA sequencing and analysis further facilitate the exploration of untapped genetic potential, paving the way for more resilient and adaptable crops.
In conclusion, DNA is a cornerstone of modern plant breeding. Its understanding has provided breeders with the tools to precisely select and manipulate desirable traits in plants, leading to improved agricultural practices and sustainable crop production. By harnessing the power of DNA technology, plant breeders and scientists alike can address the challenges posed by climate change, population growth, and food security, ensuring a brighter and more prosperous future for agriculture and society as a whole.
Knowledge level 1 - Introduction
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What are New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)?
- What can NGTs do?
- Why are people discussing NGTs?
- Current and potential applications of NGTs
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Knowledge level 2 - Advanced
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Which techniques fall under NGTs?
- What do the different techniques do?
- Current legislation of NGTs
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Knowledge level 3 - Expert
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What are New Genomic Techniques (NGTs)?
- What can NGTs do?
- Why are people discussing NGTs?
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