Abstract This paper discusses how genetic engineering (GE) has made it possible to alleviate food shortages by inducing viral resistance in plants. Since the discovery and development of genetic engineering methods, many strategies for introducing viral resistance into crop plants have been researched and implemented, and several are described. The author explains how both pathogen-derived resistance (PDR) and non-PDR methods show great promise for the future; crop yields of many different plants throughout the world can potentially benefit from GE technology. Papaya and potato are only two of a large number of food-producing plants that have already been engineered successfully, and more successes will certainly follow in future years.
Outline:
Introduction
Background of Genetic Engineering in Plants
Pathogen-Derived Resistance
Non-Pathogen-Derived Resistance
Using Genetic Engineering to Confer Viral Resistance
Genetically Engineered Resistance Strategies
Conclusion
From the Paper "Previous to the rise of genetic engineering, plant breeders had to rely on traditional methods of selecting for viral resistance in plants. This was a time-consuming and imprecise process; the development of transgene technology has allowed this to become a much more exact and effective science. While methods of introducing resistance into plants are advancing almost daily, there are a few solid methods that have been used consistently since their discovery, including coat-protein mediated resistance (CPMR), post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS), ribosomal inactivating proteins, and resistance (R) genes. These differing methods can confer different types of resistance (e.g. against broad or narrow ranges of viruses) and are often chosen depending on which type of virus is being targeted (Dasgupta et al. 2003)."
