The Use of GM Crops in Developing Countries
Glossary G-M
Gene:
A linear fragment of DNA which contains the information needed to make proteins.
Gene flow:
The transfer of genes via pollen to or from a cultivated crop to other crop plants, wild relatives, other plant species or other organisms.
Genetic modification:
A technology which allows selected individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, including genes from unrelated species. The technology can be used to promote a desirable crop characteristic or to suppress an undesirable trait.
Gene use restriction technology (GURT):
A technology which genetically compromises the fertility or the performance of a cultivar so that harvested grains cannot germinate without agrochemical treatment. The technology is intended to prevent undesired gene flow and/or to protect the market of the seed producer.
Genome:
The entire complement of DNA (genes plus non-coding sequences) present in each cell of an organism.
Germplasm:
Tissue from which new plants can be grown, for example seeds, pollen or leaves. Even a few cells may be sufficient to culture into a new plant.
Golden Rice:
A type of genetically modified rice, which contains increased amounts of ß-carotene (a precursor of vitamin A). It was achieved by genetically modifying rice with two genes from daffodils and one from a bacterium.
Green Revolution:
The Green Revolution is the popular term for the development and spread of high-yielding staple foods in developing countries from the 1950s (see also Box 1.3).
Gross national income:
The dollar value of all goods and services produced by a nation’s economy, including goods and services produced abroad.
Herbicide:
A substance that kills plants and is used to control weeds. Herbicides vary in their specificity. Some kill a broad spectrum of plant species, while others kill only specific species or groups of species.
Herbicide tolerance:
This allows a plant to tolerate a herbicide that would otherwise kill it. This can be achieved by means of either genetic modification or conventional plant breeding.
Hybrid:
See F1 hybrids.
Hybrid vigour:
The extent to which a hybrid crop performs better relative to the parents with respect to specific traits, particularly yield.
Informal seed system:
Seed production and exchange activities by farmers and grassroots organisations. The informal seed system is a semi-structured system which primarily deals with small quantities of farm-saved seed, farmer to farmer exchange and informal markets.
In situ/ex situ:
Generally used in the context of conservation of germplasm. In situ describes the conserving of germplasm in its natural environment. This can include conservation by continued farming of crop varieties. Ex situ refers to conserving germplasm in long term storage such as seed banks and by growing it, for example, in botanical gardens.
Intellectual property:
An intangible form of personal property. Copyrights, patents, and trademarks are examples of intellectual property. Intellectual property rights enable owners to select who may access and use their property, to protect it from unauthorised use and to recover income.
Introgression:
The incorporation of genetic material from one species into another. The term was originally coined in connection with the directed transfer of useful genes from wild relatives to crop plant species. Recently the term ‘transgene introgression’ has been used in connection with the inadvertent transfer of genetic material from transgenic crops to wild relatives. In each case introgression requires the production of a fertile hybrid between a crop plant and a wild relative with subsequent backcrossing either to the crop plant species or the wild species.
Landrace:
A crop cultivar that has been genetically improved and maintained by traditional methods of selection rather than modern breeding practices.
Lathyrism:
A disease resulting from poisoning by a substance found in certain legumes of the genus Lathyrus and characterised by severe symptoms including spastic paralysis.
Marker-aided selection:
The use of DNA markers to select a particular trait. Selection of a DNA sequence near the gene on a chromosome avoids time-consuming and expensive tests to select the ideal parent or offspring.
Material Transfer Agreement (MTA):
A widely used means to govern the property rights in relation to the exchange of materials used in plant breeding research such as isolated DNA sequences and plasmids. An MTA is a binding private contract between the provider of the material and the recipient. In essence, it allows the recipient the right to work with the materials under terms agreed by both parties.
Micronutrient enrichment:
The production of crops with increased levels of essential micronutrients. This process aims to address the problem of micronutrient malnutrition which occurs primarily as the result of diets poor in vitamins and minerals.
Moisture stress:
A condition of abiotic physiological stress in a plant caused by lack of water.
Mutation breeding:
The induction of novel and useful variation by the exposure of plants or seeds to radiation or chemical mutagens. Mutants can be used directly as new cultivars or used as parents in conventional breeding programmes.
Mutations:
The modification of a DNA sequence that can lead to a change in gene function.
Mutations can be harmful, beneficial or, as is most often the case, have no effect at all. Open-pollination:
Pollination by wind, insects or other natural mechanisms. See also selfpollination.