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Genetic engineering of plants: nature was first
September 01, 1998Queen Mary and Westfield College scientists studying resistance to infection in plants have discovered by chance that a natural form of genetic engineering has already brought foreign genes into their genetic make-up.
The finding sheds new light on the genetic engineering debate, suggesting that the issue is not so much genetic engineering itself, but whether foreign genetic material is sufficiently powerful to force itself into future generations and other species.
The discovery came about when Professor Conrad Lichtenstein began to introduce genes which help resist virus infection into tobacco plants. He was astonished to discover that hundreds of similar foreign viral genes already existed within the make-up of non-engineered plants.
The genes were uncovered through analysis of DNA sequences, and were found to be currently inactive. However, it is believed they may have been active long ago, giving tobacco resistance to certain viruses and therefore a selective advantage over other species.
Professor Lichtenstein and Dr Andrew Leitch have now embarked on a trail to reconstruct ancient plant history to discover how and when the genetic cross-over occurred.
The transfer of genes from one species to another is known as horizontal transmission, as opposed to vertical transmission which changes a species gradually as it evolves to fit its environment.
The genetic engineering techniques that have allowed the production of transgenic crops are really a form of artificial horizontal transmission, enabling one organism to carry the genes of another, for example, to give them resistance to pests and herbicides.
It is currently a mystery as to how plants such as the tobacco came naturally to assimilate foreign viral genes into its genetic make-up. Evidence points to a genetic accident at some point in the early evolution of the tobacco plant.
Professor Lichtenstein said: "A study of when and how the plants acquired the foreign genes through natural processes could provide vital information to help assess the possible risks of artificial plant genetic engineering.
"With the recent publicity over genetically engineered plants for food production, it is salutary to discover that nature appears long ago to have assimilated genes from other species with consequent effect on the longer-term development of plants."
Ends
Queen Mary, University of London
The genes were uncovered through analysis of DNA sequences, and were found to be currently inactive. However, it is believed they may have been active long ago, giving tobacco resistance to certain viruses and therefore a selective advantage over other species.
Professor Lichtenstein and Dr Andrew Leitch have now embarked on a trail to reconstruct ancient plant history to discover how and when the genetic cross-over occurred.
The transfer of genes from one species to another is known as horizontal transmission, as opposed to vertical transmission which changes a species gradually as it evolves to fit its environment.
The genetic engineering techniques that have allowed the production of transgenic crops are really a form of artificial horizontal transmission, enabling one organism to carry the genes of another, for example, to give them resistance to pests and herbicides.
It is currently a mystery as to how plants such as the tobacco came naturally to assimilate foreign viral genes into its genetic make-up. Evidence points to a genetic accident at some point in the early evolution of the tobacco plant.
Professor Lichtenstein said: "A study of when and how the plants acquired the foreign genes through natural processes could provide vital information to help assess the possible risks of artificial plant genetic engineering.
"With the recent publicity over genetically engineered plants for food production, it is salutary to discover that nature appears long ago to have assimilated genes from other species with consequent effect on the longer-term development of plants."
Ends
Queen Mary, University of London
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