Genetic Plants

Strategy of global agriculture has caused exiting debates about genetic modification plants. These debates are taking place almost everywhere with the specific features in scientific, economic, political and even religious. People mention it in the laboratory, law office, newspapers, schools, supermarkets, cafes and even at their houses. What is important about genetic plants and why people are sensitive to this issue?

According to traditional methods, farmers try to combine two genes between individual plants in order to create a plant that brings the desired features. This method is done by transferring pollen from one plant to other's flowers. However, this method is limited between same species or close relatives, and it takes a long time to have desired results and usually the characteristic that we need do not exist in these same plants. Gen transfer techniques allow people to get the gens from other species in to unique plant. This method allows human to create new type of plant faster and overwhelm the limitation of the traditional method.

Most researches on genetic modification are carried out in developed countries, mainly North America and Western Europe. Aventis, DowAgro Sciences, Dupont / Pioneer, Monsanto and Syngenta are companies currently working on genetic plants in developed countries. However, recently many developing countries are also beginning the researches on engineering gene.

The genetic plants are plants which carry many different genes of various species. Those genes maybe come from the same typed or completely different plants. In 1994, Calgene tomato was the first genetic production and consumption in some industrialized countries. Since then there have been many countries planting genetic plants, increases more than 20 times the area of genetic plants. The area of genetic modification plants increased from 1.7 million ha in 1996 to 90 million ha in 2005, fourteen countries have been considered to have the largest area of genetic plants from 50,000 hectares or more, including ten developing countries and four industrialized countries.

How are genetic plants created? Genetic plants are created through a process called genetic engineering. The needed genes are transferred from many plants to one individual by two methods. First method uses a tool called "gene gun". The genes are surrounded by metallic particles and then these extremely small particles will carry the genes to the plants through a physical process. The second method is to use a type of bacteria to transplant the genes to trees.

In the developed countries, the application of genetic trees has showed benefits, for example, the increasing of production, reducing the costs, increasing the profitability of agriculture, improving environment... The first filial has reduced the production costs. But, the scientist are trying to create the second filial plants that have ability to increase diet and benefits directly to the users, for example, rice rich in vitamin A and iron, potatoes with larger amount of starch, corn seed that are able to grow in poor soil... However, besides all the benefits, they're always risks in new technology such as the risk of accidentally bring the substance causing allergy or reduce nutrients in food product, or decrease plants protection from decease.

Besides some unprofitable points about genetic plants, most of them can benefit the economy; people can product food faster and greater value.