In the mid-eighties, there was a revolution in plant biotechnology. Simple procedures could be used to genetically transform plants. Such transgenic plants will express alien genes, virtually from any organism, provided the genes are flanked by appropriate controlling elements. Soon after this biotechnology became available, there was an awareness that crop plants can serve as manufacturers of high-value medical products. This book provides the molecular and biotechnological background for genetic transformation in plants, as well as updated information about the production of antibodies, antigens and other medical and health products by transgenic plants. The book handles the relevant information in a critical manner by pointing out the risks and problems as well as presenting the outlook for development in this field. It provides a comprehensive and well-balanced treatment of its theme.

Assists policymakers in evaluating the appropriate scientific methods for detecting unintended changes in food and assessing the potential for adverse health effects from genetically modified products. In this book, the committee recommended that greater scrutiny should be given to foods containing new compounds or unusual amounts of naturally occurring substances, regardless of the method used to create them. The book offers a framework to guide federal agencies in selecting the route of safety assessment. It identifies and recommends several pre- and post-market approaches to guide the assessment of unintended compositional changes that could result from genetically modified foods and research avenues to fill the knowledge gaps.

"This excellent book should be present in all central libraries and in those of plant biology institutions. The book is recommended to advanced students and researchers".Journal of Plant Physiology, 1999

Transgenic crops offer the promise of increased agricultural productivity and better quality foods. But they also raise the specter of harmful environmental effects. In this new book, a panel of experts examines: • Similarities and differences between crops developed by conventional and transgenic methods • Potential for commercialized transgenic crops to change both agricultural and nonagricultural landscapes • How well the U.S. government is regulating transgenic crops to avoid any negative effects. Environmental Effects of Transgenic Plants provides a wealth of information about transgenic processes, previous experience with the introduction of novel crops, principles of risk assessment and management, the science behind current regulatory schemes, issues in monitoring transgenic products already on the market, and more. The book discusses public involvementâ€"and public confidenceâ€"in biotechnology regulation. And it looks to the future, exploring the potential of genetic engineering and the prospects for environmental effects.

Comprising 26 chapters, this volume deals with the genetic transformation of medicinal plants. It describes methods to obtain plants resistant to insects, diseases, herbicides, and plants with an increased production of compounds of medicinal and pharmaceutical importance. The plant species included are Ajuga reptans, Anthemis nobilis, Astragalus spp., Atropa belladonna, Catharanthus roseus, Datura spp., Duboisia leichhardtii, Fagopyrum spp., Glycyrrhiza uralensis, Lobelia spp., Papaver somniferum, Panax ginseng, Peganum hamala, Perezia spp., Pimpinella anisum, Phyllanthus niruri, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Scoparia dulcis, Scutellaria baicalesis, Serratula tinctoria, Solanum aculeatissimum, Solanum commersonii, Swainsona galegifolia, tobacco, and Vinca minor. The book is of special interest to advanced students, teachers, and researchers in the fields of pharmacy, plant tissue culture, phytochemistry, molecular biology, biomedical engineering, and plant biotechnology in general.

Genetically Modified Food Sources reports detailed results of studies on the medical and biological safety of 14 species of genetically modified plant-derived organisms (GMOs). The authors focus on issues in GMO production and world output, specifically the basic legislative regulations of modern biotechnology in the Russian Federation. Also covered are international approaches to the medical and biological assessment of safety and control of the food produced from genetically modified organisms. A special chapter is devoted to the problem of informational coverage of novel biological technologies.Previously available only in a 2007 Russian-language edition published by the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, this English translation has been completely revised and updated to include the latest developments in regulations and human and animal safety assessment practices.The book is addressed to a wide community of specialists working in the fields of food science, plant genetics, and food safety as well as medicine and biology. Students and postgraduates focusing on the problems of modern biotechnology and biological safety will find it a valuable guide to these topics. - Specific assessments of 14 species of genetically modified plant-derived organisms used for food supply - Addresses the safety assessment requirements to ensure consumer health - International coverage provides comparative insights into regulation development and application

Genetically engineered (GE) crops were first introduced commercially in the 1990s. After two decades of production, some groups and individuals remain critical of the technology based on their concerns about possible adverse effects on human health, the environment, and ethical considerations. At the same time, others are concerned that the technology is not reaching its potential to improve human health and the environment because of stringent regulations and reduced public funding to develop products offering more benefits to society. While the debate about these and other questions related to the genetic engineering techniques of the first 20 years goes on, emerging genetic-engineering technologies are adding new complexities to the conversation. Genetically Engineered Crops builds on previous related Academies reports published between 1987 and 2010 by undertaking a retrospective examination of the purported positive and adverse effects of GE crops and to anticipate what emerging genetic-engineering technologies hold for the future. This report indicates where there are uncertainties about the economic, agronomic, health, safety, or other impacts of GE crops and food, and makes recommendations to fill gaps in safety assessments, increase regulatory clarity, and improve innovations in and access to GE technology.