A Look at GM Soybeans
Posted by Ardent Editor on January 16th, 2008
When it comes to genetic modification of plants, the soybean initially comes to mind. GM soybean is one of the most widely planted genetically modified plants in the world today. The GM soybean, otherwise called as the Roundup Ready (RR) soybean, was developed by the biotech giant Monsanto and made it commercially available to farmers in 1996. It was developed to make the plant survive being sprayed on with the non
Efficient Biofuel with Genetically Modified E. Coli Bacteria
Posted by Ardent Editor on January 9th, 2008
According to an article in the Science Daily website, researchers have been able to develop a method of producing biofuels by genetically modifying the E. coli bacteria and making it into an efficient biofuel synthesizer.
A team of researchers from UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, made up of professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering James Liao, visiting professor Taizo Hanai a
Sea Cucumber Protein Used to Inhibit Development of Malaria Parasite
Posted by Ardent Editor on December 26th, 2007
According to an article on the Science Daily website, scientists have been able to genetically engineer a mosquito that is able to release a protein found in sea cucumbers that may help impair the development of parasites known to cause malaria. The said research states that this new development may be the next step towards discovering new methods in trying to prevent the eventual transmission of malaria by mosquit
Traitor Technology in GM Crops
Posted by Ardent Editor on December 19th, 2007
Questions and concerns among the vigilant public has continuously raised alarm over the development of GM crops by some biotech firms making use of the so-called "Traitor" technology. The Traitor technology is similar to the so-called Terminator technology that renders the next generation of patented commercial GM seeds sterile. But they differ in terms of how they are used in GM seeds. But their purpose
GM Crops to Fight World Hunger
Posted by Ardent Editor on December 12th, 2007
Biotechnology proponents who are pushing for more countries to accept GM crop cultivation have been presenting it as a means to fight world hunger. In fact, when looking at it more extensively, genetic modification truly may have the means to help fight off world hunger that has been a perennial problem in many of the poorest nations in the world. Developing better yielding crops through genetic modification can ha
GM Crops Around the World
Posted by Ardent Editor on December 5th, 2007
The United States today is known to be the leading producer of genetically modified crops. After all, it was in the United States that the technology behind genetic modification of crops was extensively developed and improved. From there, the technology and the resulting products were exported to other countries where a variety of genetically modified crops are also now being grown.
The United States still remains
Labeling Genetically Modified Foods in US
Posted by Ardent Editor on November 28th, 2007
Although there is a perceived increase of genetically modified foods in the US market for several years now, so few people seem to notice it. It seems that consumers may not have an idea of the type of food they are buying off the supermarket shelves. Is it genetically modified? Is it organically grown?
These questions may amount to be addressed by a simple solution that has recently become quite a controversial i
What is rBGH?
Posted by Ardent Editor on November 21st, 2007
The Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone is a synthetically produced form of the Bovine Growth Hormone or Somatotropin. Somatotropin is a protein hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland of all vertebrates that also includes cattle. It is also known in some other names such as BST (Bovine Somatotropin) or rBST for the synthetic form produced in laboratories.
Naturally, the BGH reacts with the receptors of the
Biotechnology and its Applications
Posted by Ardent Editor on November 19th, 2007
With the growth of the field of biotechnology through the years, it has come to be applied in a wide variety of different fields and industries.
Modern biotechnology that dealt with genetic engineering has made it quite an interesting as well as promising field of study and research that aims to produce and develop the next generation of new biological products aimed to make an impact in agriculture as well as med
Introduction to Plant Breeding
Posted by Ardent Editor on November 14th, 2007
By definition, plant breeding is the purposeful manipulation of certain species of plants in order to create desired varieties to achieve specific purposes. The manipulation may be done in several ways.
It can either be by means of controlled pollination or the direct manipulation of the plant’s genes as in genetic engineering. This usually progresses into artificial selection new strains that will eve