Genetically Modified Crops : Their Development, Uses and Risks

Contents: Preface. 1. Transformation: a powerful tool for crop improvement/D.Z. Skinner, S. Muthukrishnan and G.H. Liang. 2. Mechanism(s) of transgene locus formation/David A. Somers, Paula M. Olhoft, Irina F. Makarevitch and Sergei K. Svitashev. 3. Gene stacking through site-specific integration/David W. Ow. 4. Transgenics of plant hormones and their potential application in horticultural crops/Yi Li, Hui Duan, Yan H. Wu, Richard J. McAvoy, Yan Pei, Degang Zhao, John Wurst, Qi Li and Keming Luo. 5. Avidin: an egg-citing insecticidal protein in transgenic corn/Karl J. Kramer. 6. Genetic engineering of wheat: protocols and use to enhance stress tolerance/Tom Clemente and Amitava Mitra. 7. Development and utilization of transformation in Medicago species/Deborah A. Samac and Stephen J. Temple. 8. Sorghum transformation for resistance to fungal pathogens and drought/S. Muthukrishnan, J.T. Weeks, M.R. Tuinstra, J.M. Jeoung, J. Jayaraj and G.H. Liang. 9. Rice transformation: current progress and future prospects/James Oard and Junda Jiang. 10. Cotton transformation: successes and challenges/Roberta H. Smith, James W. Smith and Sung Hun Park. 11. Progress in transforming the recalcitrant soybean/Jack M. Widholm. 12. Progress in vegetable crop transformation and future prospects and challenges/Zamir K. Punja and Mistianne Feeney. 13. Genetic transformation of turfgrass/Barbara A. Zilinskas and Xiaoling Wang. 14. Risks associated with genetically engineered crops/Paul St. Amand. Index.

"This book is a useful reference for all researchers working on the improvement of crops through plant transformation. Breeders of all field crops (corn, wheat, rice, soybean, cotton, sorghum, and alfalfa), vegetable crops, horticultural crops, and turfgrasses can get an overview of the progress of genetic engineering efforts in a particular crop. Molecular biologists and cell/tissue culture specialists will find chapter 1 through chapter 3 very informative for understanding the methods, strategies, and mechanisms of transgene integration. Both scientists and the general public need to carefully evaluate the benefits and risks of transgenic crop plants by first understanding all facets of each one. This book covers those facets, from the source of the gene, compositions of a gene construct, method of gene delivery, and result of gene integration and expression, to effects of the transgene on plants and the ecology."