SUMMARY

Genetic modification of plants using gene fragments isolated in the laboratory is a technology developed from the 80s. The use of recombinant DNA technology, along with the use of in vitro cultures of plants and the development of gene transfer in plants based on the properties of some bacterial pathogens of plants were at the origin of these methodologies. Subsequently other approaches were developed but the possibility of modifying the genome of a plant with a gene that has been isolated previously opened the door to many applications. One is the use of genetic modification as a research tool. Thanks to genetically modified plants it is possible to precisely study the role of gene sequences isolated and this has enabled a huge advance in our understanding of basic phenomena of plants and their physiology, their development or their interactions with pathogens. But apart from applications for basic research in plant biology, genetically modified plants have aroused a great interest to farmers and seed companies. This interest is based on the opportunities for genetic improvement. Plant Breeding is a discipline based on the Genetics and aimed to produce plants with improved properties or crop quality. This discipline has allowed throughout the twentieth century that food production has grown faster than the increase in population but it has its limitations. Among these perhaps the most important is that it relies on genetic variability that exists in the species. If a gene does not exist among populations that form the species breeding is impossible. Genetic modification of plants appeared as an opportunity to create a new type of variability to be used for crop improvement.

The use of transgenic plants therefore offers an interesting opportunity but it presents also risks because its range of applications is very vast. For this reason in the world regulations were put in place that make a scientific analysis necessary in a case by case base of the modified plants that are proposed for cultivation or for human and animal consumption. This analysis should consider any possible information with the aim to ensure that before releasing one of these crops there is no indication that the plant posed any health or animal or damage to the environment than traditional crops. In the European Union this analysis is conducted by a panel of scientists (the GMO Panel) established within the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Currently there are over 100 million hectares of transgenic plants planted in the world that are primarily maize, soybean, canola and cotton in many countries especially in America and Asia. These species have been modified with genes that confer resistance to insects or tolerance to herbicides. Plants have also been designed that should have positive effects on health such as rice plants that produce provitamin A or tomato plants that produce anthocyanins. Both should provide doses of vitamin to prevent problems of avitaminosis or antioxidants. It has been shown that it is possible to produce therapeutic proteins in plants although no products of this type have been approved yet.

Genetically modified plants are not the only option proposed by Molecular Genetics in its applications for Plant Breeding. Genetic markers based on DNA techniques are being used since long time and they allow speeding up the breeding process. We are currently witnessing an explosion of data on the genomes of the plants that are used as models for plant biology or that are among the main crops. Genomics should provide us a wealth of information that may be used in Plant Breeding opening the range of application of molecular approaches to more complex characters or species that have not been studied due to their own complexity.

The implementation of these new technologies has sparked a great controversy, especially in Europe. A general reflection on the conditions of application of new technologies in agriculture should be able to identify the basic criteria that would prevail in the decisions made regarding their use. On the one hand agriculture is intended to provide adequate food, safe and healthy as possible to the greater proportion of the population of our planet. On the other hand is a condition of justice that the technologies we apply would produce no problems in feeding the generations following us. Therefore the sustainability of agriculture based on new technologies should also appear as a requirement in the use of new techniques. It is within this complex framework where the future of transgenic plants and other technology should be discussed.