Alien genes from bacteria helped plants conquer the land

Genetically modified (GM) crops are cultivated in over 30 countries with their products and by-products imported by over 60 countries. This chapter seeks to highlight general concerns and potential lifelong effects of consuming GM plant-based food. The consumption of GM plant-based food is as risky as consuming conventional plant-based food. However, the alien genes in these products may be unstable leading to antinutritional and unintended short-term consequences. Due to the paucity of research, no long-term effects have been attributed to the lifelong consumption of these products. Nonetheless, possible lifelong health and socioeconomic effects may result from outcrossing of genes, increasing antibiotic resistance, development of new diseases, as well as potential effects on the environment and biodiversity. Biotechnology companies need to invest more in interdisciplinary research addressing the potential lifelong effects of these products. Although GM foods are safe for consumption, clarification of current risks and lifelong effects are required.

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Alien gene manipulation and expression in wheat

Genome ◽

10.1139/g89-024 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 134-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. P. Gustafson ◽

A. R. Dera

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽

Fragment Length Polymorphism ◽

Transformation System ◽

Genetic Stocks ◽

Alien Genes ◽

Alien Gene ◽

Deleterious Genes ◽

Transformation Systems ◽

Restriction Fragment Length

Of the several transformation systems available for plants, only one has proven successful with wheat: alien integration via wide crossing. With the aid of special genetic stocks, alien chromosomes, chromosome arms, or even small segments, have been substituted into wheat. However, the insertion of deleterious genes linked to desirable genes has occurred, and difficulties have been observed in obtaining expression of the inserted alien genes. It is likely that any newly developed transformation system(s) will also experience similar problems. Therefore, research has been expanded into studying the issues associated with transformation. Procedures have been developed that indicate not only the presence of alien genes, but also their physical location. Techniques are also available for analyzing the levels of alien gene expression in wheat.Key words: wheat, aneuploidy, restriction fragment length polymorphism.

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Alien genes introgression and development of alien monosomic addition lines from a threatened species, Allium roylei Stearn, to Allium cepa L.

Theoretical and Applied Genetics ◽

10.1007/s00122-011-1783-5 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 124 (7) ◽

pp. 1241-1257 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Hoa Q. Vu ◽

Yasuyuki Yoshimatsu ◽

Ludmila I. Khrustaleva ◽

Naoki Yamauchi ◽

Masayoshi Shigyo

Keyword(s):

Allium Cepa ◽

Threatened Species ◽

Addition Lines ◽

Allium Roylei ◽

Allium Cepa L ◽

Alien Genes ◽

Monosomic Addition ◽

Monosomic Addition Lines

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Highly expressed and alien genes of the Synechocystis genome

Nucleic Acids Research ◽

10.1093/nar/29.7.1590 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 29 (7) ◽

pp. 1590-1601 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

J. Mrazek

Keyword(s):

Alien Genes

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Alien genes in bacteria

Genome Biology ◽

10.1186/gb-spotlight-20030808-01 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 4 (8) ◽

pp. spotlight-20030808-01

Author(s):

Cathy Holding

Keyword(s):

Alien Genes

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Attempts to induce homoeologous pairing between wheat and Agropyron cristatum genomes

Genome ◽

10.1139/g05-074 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 49 (2) ◽

pp. 190-193 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Mélanie Jubault ◽

Anne-Marie Tanguy ◽

Paulette Abélard ◽

Olivier Coriton ◽

Jean-Claude Dusautoir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Triticum Aestivum ◽

Major Gene ◽

Wild Relatives ◽

Agropyron Cristatum ◽

Second Step ◽

Addition Line ◽

Homoeologous Pairing ◽

Ph1 Gene ◽

Alien Genes ◽

Suitable Technique

Agropyron cristatum (2n = 4x = 28, PPPP) possesses potentially valuable traits that could be used in wheat (Triticum aestivum) improvement through interspecific hybridization. Homoeologous pairing between wheat chromosomes and P chromosomes added to wheat in a set of wheat – A. cristatum addition lines was assessed. First, the Ph-suppressing effect of P chromosomes (except 7P) was analyzed. It was concluded that this system is polygenic with no major gene, and consequently, has no prospect in the transfer of alien genes from wild relatives. In a second step, the potential of the deletion ph1b of the Ph1 gene for inducing P–ABD pairing was evaluated. Allosyndetic associations between P and ABD genomes are very rare. This very low level of pairing is likely due to divergence in the repeated sequences between Agropyron and wheat genomes. Development of translocation lines using ionizing radiation seems to be a more suitable technique than homoeologous recombination to exploit the A. cristatum genome in wheat improvement.Key words: Triticum aestivum, Agropyron cristatum, addition line, GISH, Ph1 gene.

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