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Plant Genetic Engineering 植物基因工程 Key Notes: 要点 The concept: 概念 Genetic manipulation involves inserting foreign genes or modifying the activity of existing genes. Methods to insert foreign genes are coupled with the methods of plant tissue culture to regenerate identical populations of plants with novel characteristics. 基因操作涉及插入外源基因或者改变原有基因的活性。插入外源基因和植物组织培养技术相结合可再生出具有新特征的纯一的植物群体。 Basic genetic manipulation methods: 基因操作的基本方法 Agrobacterium tumifaciens is a soil bacterium with a plasmid that inserts foreign DNA into a plant. The plasmid contains a T-DNA transferred into the plant and a VIR region that facilitates transfer of the T-DNA. Binary vectors for genetic engineering consist of one plasmid containing the VIR region and a second containing the T-DNA including the foreign DNA. Where the Agrobacterium system cannot be used, direct gene transfer techniques may be employed, for instance using a DNA particle gun. 农杆菌是一种土壤细菌，它含有一个将外源DNA插人植物体的质粒。质粒含有一段转移到植物体中的DNA和有利于T-DNA转移的VIR区(毒性区)。用于 基因工程的双载体系统由一个含有VIR区的质粒和一个含有T-DNA的质粒组成，其中T-DNA含有外源基因。不能利用农杆菌系统的植物可以采用直接的基 因转移技术，如利用DNA粒子枪。 Possibilities of genetic manipulation: 基因操作的可能性 The aims of genetic manipulation are to enhance agriculture by modifying crop plants, to minimize inputs and losses, and maximize yields and value. To date, crops have been engineered for herbicide tolerance, insect and virus resistance and post-harvest quality. In the future, a much broader spectrum of improvements of wider benefit is proposed. 基因操作的目的是通过改变农作物的基因组成从而尽量降低投入和损失，尽量提高农作物的产量和品质。迄今为止，已经针对农作物的耐除草剂、抗虫和抗病毒的特性以及采后品质进行了基因操作。今后将在更广泛程度上增加更大的利益。 Risks of genetic manipulation: 基因操作的风险 Risks identified include: environmental, such as cross pollination and gene transfer with native species; food safety, mainly the transfer of antibiotic resistance to bacteria, allergies and toxicity; and socio-economic, food supply in the hands of few multinational companies. 基因操作也有风险，被人们一致认可的基因操作风险包括：环境风险，如异花授粉与本地植物的基因转移；食品安全，主要是对细菌、过敏反应和毒素