生命科学概论论文概要1.docVIP

An introduction to life science Course assignments Bt and Monarch Despite widespread adoption of genetically modified crops in many countries, heated controversies about their advantages and disadvantages continue. Especially for developing countries, there are concerns that genetically modified crops fail to benefit smallholder farmers and contribute to social and economic hard-ship. Many economic studies contradict this view, but most of them look at short-term impacts only, so that uncertainty about longer-term effects prevails.So, Bt or not Bt, that is a question. Plant resistance to insect pests has evolved naturally over many millions of years and involves (i) both constitutive and inducible phytochemical and morphological mechanisms in plants, (ii)counteradaptations to plant defenses by the herbivores,and(iii)biotic interactions of the multitrophic level communities of insect pathogens, parasites, and predators (1–4). The outcomes of such complex biotic interactions are sometimes determined by local mosaics of abiotic environmental conditions or regional climate changes that directly influence the component participants and their behavioral, physiological, and genetic adaptations (5–7). The intentional selection and breeding of insect andyor pathogen-resistant plant genotypes such as corn (Zea mays) has resulted in slow, but steady, progress against stalk-boring larvae such as the European corn borer and other such species, and host plant resistance in general has significantly reduced the need for broad-spectrum insecticides across agro-ecosystems and forests (8, 9).It has recently been possible to genetically engineer plants, such as Z. mays, to avoid problems with insecticidal spray drift and more efficiently express toxins in particular plant tissues against lepidopterous pests. Such efficient, effective, and relatively safe tools for pest management have eluded classical plant breeders and integrated pest management practitioners for many decades (10).