Chromosomes of Bupleurum L. Especially for the Classification and Cross-Breeding of B. falcatum L. sensu lato
Sheng-Li Pan in Bupleurum Species, 2006
The present author has previously reported chromosome study in B. falcatum L. s. l. from Japan and abroad, with reference to the chromosome differentiation at metaphase and the speciation within the taxonomic group (Ohta et al., 1986; Ohta, 1991). Tanaka (1971, 1980, 1987) demonstrated that chromosome information at resting stage was useful to trace the speciation in Orchidaceae with a relationship to the cross-ability (affinity of crossing). In this chapter, we report the results of chromosome study at mitotic prophase and metaphase, and at resting stage in B. falcatum L. s. l. from Japan, Korea, China, Russia, and European countries including some of the other species, and based on them and their morphological study, propose the scientific names for Japanese and Korean plants of this species. Additionally, we describe for the first time artificial hybridization between the Japanese and the Korean source plants of Bupleuri radix.
Genetic Research and Health Care
Kant Patel, Mark E. Rushefsky in Health Care Policy in an Age or New Technologies, 2015
A second type of genetic engineering might be called unnatural selection or selective breeding. This is the basis for animal husbandry. Scientists and farmers try to improve their stock or products selecting those specimens that have particularly attractive qualities, such as cows that give more milk or horses that run faster, and breed them. Classical genetics, based on the work of Gregor Mendel is based on selective breeding. Classical genetics has its bad side, eugenics, which we consider below.
Genes
Lisa Jean Moore, Monica J. Casper in The Body, 2014
Eugenics is the practice of “improving” a population or species by selective breeding or genetic engineering. Any discussion of human genes requires acknowledgement of historical and contemporary attempts to control propagation of the species, including the use of ideas from the natural sciences to guide policy decisions. The term “eugenics” comes from Francis Galton (1822–1911), a cousin of Charles Darwin who also first used the term “nature versus nurture” (Moore 2003).
Gamma irradiation to induce beneficial mutants in proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.): an underutilized food crop
Published in International Journal of Radiation Biology, 2022
Neethu Francis, Ravikesavan Rajasekaran, Iyanar Krishnamoorthy, Raveendran Muthurajan, Chitdeshwari Thiyagarajan, Senthil Alagarswamy
Hardiness and resource use efficiency of millets make them particularly enticing for sustainable agriculture, food and nutritional security (Habiyaremye et al. 2016). Among millets, proso millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a promising candidate with many desirable traits (Das et al. 2019). It is a self-pollinated tetraploid crop of Poaceae family with a chromosome number 36 (2n = 4x = 36). It has very high water-use efficiency and hence low water requirement (Baltensperger 2002). Proso millet is a short duration crop (60–90 days) that can come up well in marginal lands. The short growing season of the crop help to escape drought, complete lifecycle quickly and grow well in arid and semi-arid regions (Gupta et al. 2011). It is rich in protein (10–14 g/100 g), is gluten-free and has a lower glycemic index than most cereals. It is also a good source of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Focused crop improvement programs can better exploit the immense potential of the crop and make it an alternative to the present-day cereals in the context of climate change (Rajasekaran and Francis 2020). The major stumbling block in achieving the desired crop improvement is the limited variability that is available for selection. The self-pollinated nature of the crop makes evolutionary dead end and limits the creation of natural variation. Small florets, overlapping anther dehiscence and stigma receptivity and withering of anthers in 5–10 minutes make artificial hybridization difficult.
Echinacea biotechnology: advances, commercialization and future considerations
Published in Pharmaceutical Biology, 2018
Jessica L. Parsons, Stewart I. Cameron, Cory S. Harris, Myron L. Smith
Conventional selective breeding techniques have traditionally led to the gradual improvement of many plant species. While industry will undoubtedly continue to develop “improved” varieties, published Echinacea breeding studies (and patents) have focused primarily on ornamentals (Ault 2002; Korlipara 2008) and reducing seed dormancy (Qu and Widrlechner 2012). Traditional selective breeding of Echinacea can make use of the existing genetic and phenotypic variation in commercial and wild collected plants and is widely accepted by the public, including within the organic farming industry. Conversely, direct alteration of the genome of a plant through molecular genetic techniques is the most precise way to modify developmental and biosynthetic processes. Whereas public concerns will likely continue to impede the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), several potentially “organically acceptable” biotechnological approaches have been developed to modify Echinacea, including transformation with Agrobacterium and the induction of polyploids.
Human Brain Surrogates Research: The Onrushing Ethical Dilemma
Published in The American Journal of Bioethics, 2021
This issue is about how we might use, or misuse, human brain surrogates, or the research on them, outside of research. At the science fiction extreme, Robert A. Heinlein’s short story, Jerry Was a Man, depicts a world where non-human animals were genetically modified in many ways, including producing intelligent dwarf elephants as pets and cognitively enhanced chimpanzees as farm workers (Heinlein 1947). Similarly, the Planet of the Apes series—from the original French book through the nine movies and one television series (so far)—is another version of the same approach (Boulle 1963; see IMDB for the movies). These seem wildly unrealistic, at least today. But consider how we have bred various traits into our domestic animals, using old fashioned selective breeding. For some of them, including some types of dogs, the breeding has led to at least some enhanced cognitive skills. (Ever seen a sheep dog working?) Might we do the same through genome editing or chimeras? Would that be good or bad—or, most likely, would “it depend”?
Related Knowledge Centers
- Animal
- Inbreeding
- Phenotypic Trait
- Sexual Reproduction
- Plant Breeding
- Natural Selection
- Offspring
- Hybrid
- Wheat
- Rice