What are the advantages that crops may attain through genetic engineering? Follow

Genetic engineering has already proved its worth in multiple fields including medicine, environment, and production of energy and food. The methods of genetic engineering evolved more than three decades ago, and there have been many advances made in the field so far. There are many benefits for crops from genetic engineering, and here we will have a look at few.

Advantages for crops from genetic engineering

Genetically modified crops are those where the DNA of the plant is altered or replaced with the DNA of another plant or organism to produce a better result. The world of agriculture is probably the most benefited with the advent in genetic engineering.

• Higher yield in a shorter time: With genetic engineering, the crops thus produced are considered of low risk to diseases, and they are found to grow at a faster rate than the usual crops of the same kind. The genetic engineering increases their resistance to infections and improves the yield in a considerably shorter time than before.
• Can be grown anywhere: Today, you don’t have to worry about the soil being infertile or the water content being salty for growing crops. The genetic engineering has made sure that the modified crops can tolerate any land and water disaster, and survive in any condition and produce the same yield as expected in the optimal conditions.
• No more chemicals to kill pests: One of the kinds of genetic engineering involves injecting bacteria into the crops which will act as the natural pesticide keeping the insects and other pests from growing and harming your crops. This will kill other insects and pests, keeping your plant healthy and improving well.
• Better nutrition: Another important factor that makes genetic engineering a real boon to the human race, is the number of nutrients it brings along. Genetic engineering helps in making the plant resistant to diseases with less to zero use of fertilizers already ensuring that you get organic products. Additionally, you can genetically modify the crops so that they yield you the right set of nutrients your body needs and enjoy a healthy meal every day.
• Safer than conventional breeding: When you go for the traditional breeding, while there is a fusion of DNA from two plants, there is no control over how the resultant genes will be. There might be some undesirable ones mixed with what you want. In the case of genetic engineering though, there is precise control over where the genes are fused and how they are combined to produce the right product, even allowing you to include new traits if required.

With an increasing demand for quality food, Genetic engineering has certainly lent a hand to the conventional methods to provide a way for increased, and quality produces.

Genetic engineering is in use for more than two decades and helped farmers in cultivating different types of crops which can control diseases and attack of insects.  It reduced the use of pesticides and the requirement of land as well as water for crop growth. The technique of genetic engineering requires the inclusion of specific beneficial features, traits or you can say genes right into the plant DNA. There are a few steps which are involved in genetic engineering:

1: Extraction of DNA. 

2: Cloning of Gene 

3: Designing of Gene

4: Transformation

5: Doing Backcross Breeding.

The genetic engineers need to pass through all these steps to cultivate the crops. Now the question that will come to your mind is that what the benefits of genetic engineering towards crop cultivation are. 

•    It is one of the safest methods to cultivate the good quality crop.

•    It managed to improve the quality as well as taste, besides increased nutrients.

•    Supports in reducing the environmental effect due to human activities.

•    Reduces the need for chemicals to be used for the killing of the insects and pests.

•    Delivers higher yield in short span of time. Provides reliable as well as highly profitable crops for the global market.

•    Contributes towards lowering the percentage of deforestation.

•    Supports in decreasing the level of global warming.

•    Lowers down the cost of food in the market.

The above list of benefits is not all that you will get to enjoy when you opt for genetic cultivation. There are many more on the list which you will get to learn when you talk to a genetic engineer having several years of experience in this industry. But just like pros, there are some cons too about genetic engineering which also you must know before taking advantage of this technology.