Rational view of "genetic engineering breeding technology"

When it comes to GM, it will touch some people sensitive nerve, who is going to replace GM to say a few words, will be rendered and speculation. In such a public perception of environment and public opinion environment, the development of transgenic technology application in China is facing enormous resistance.

In fact, any one of the emergence of new species are gene transfer between species and species (scientific name "hybrid" restructuring or species) mutations result, but this phenomenon on earth happen all the time. With the development of people constantly improve the cognitive ability and level of science and technology, found that performance traits of species is determined mainly by genes, i.e. species characteristics we feel directly actually is the external performance of genetic. Gene transfer between species by human intervention at the same time, variation in species gene can also be artificially interference. Based on the above cognition, cross breeding, gene engineering (referred to as "genetically modified") breeding, mutation breeding (including physical mutagenesis and chemical mutagenesis, space breeding, radiation breeding technology emerge as the times require fall into this category). This is the greatest discovery nature of human, made a significant contribution to the progress of human civilization.

Therefore, both the hybrid breeding or genetic engineering breeding, are essentially by artificially to gene transfer between species and the re combination of new species, are transgenic breeding. The main difference is that, according to the breeding objective cross breeding is predetermined, manual selection of different species together, in the state of nature through pollen or animal semen, gene transfer and re combination transfer ways between different species, and then into the artificial selection of new varieties breeding objectives in line with expectations. For example: to foster a high yield and resistance to stripe rust of wheat varieties with high yield, we must take genetic traits in wheat were hybridized with stripe rust resistance and genetic traits in wheat, the hybrid offspring of repeated screening to obtain high yield new stripe rust resistance varieties. But the process is long, often require several years or even decades of time to complete, why nurtured this is why breeders can breed new varieties of life for a few or even a new varieties are not.

The main problems of hybrid breeding: one is the long breeding cycle; two is a great chance. Because they do not know whether it can successfully achieve the target gene transfer, also do not know after the transfer can show the target gene genetic traits, while also facing the other gene (ride) occur at the same time transfer recombinant embarrassment. Therefore, whether to produce new varieties of hybrid target has considerable uncertainty; three is the variety of what actually happened between gene transfer, unable to control, also can make nothing of it. Because, some species actually contains many genes, there are still many mysteries. Moreover, by cross breeding, already can not adapt to the rapid growth of global food consumption demand.

Transgenic breeding technology is advanced breeding technology based on hybrid breeding technology. Its main principle is: to determine a variety of target gene specific genetic attributes were labeled and screened out, through certain technical processing and Technology (microinjection, gene gun) means to transfer to another species, and the specific genetic attributes of transgenic demonstrated in into varieties, gene recombinant produce new varieties of target.

The main advantage of genetic engineering breeding: one is the breeding cycle is greatly shortened; the two is the target gene to achieve a qualitative directional transfer, and fully controllable; three is the transfer of genes is clear, can guard against the risk of unknown gene transfer. Therefore, in theory, genetic engineering technology than hybridization breeding technology is more advanced, more secure. The transgenic technology can break the isolation between species, the species gene transfer, although this inter species gene transfer is also exist in nature, but the world, including our country special legislation to manage it, through genetic engineering breeding technology to breed new varieties to be true for the commercial production, must be after the evaluation of food safety and environmental safety assessment strictly. Therefore, the public need not be confound at, don't be some no scientific basis to demonize transgenic curry favour by claptrap statements. "Radical" color, smell.

Our country about genetically modified food safety debate, never stop. But the safety of genetically modified food is finalized, it is usually through transgenic safety evaluation, safety certificate, genetically modified food into the market are safe. In fact, the development speed of genetic engineering techniques has more than we imagined, commercial application of transgenic varieties more rapidly. In the United States, European Union and other developed economies in the world and Brazil, Argentina and other developing countries, although there are different voices for GM, but the people of genetically modified food is widely accepted, especially in the United States with genetically modified food everywhere. Do the Americans do not value their own lives? Is the United States government put the people as a mouse? Objectively speaking, we have actively or passively accept GM, have even cannot do without GM. Even if you dislike or hate transgenic transgenic, rejection of genetically modified, if you travel abroad or in the United States, do not eat contain genetically modified food cannot survive, because in the United States of America very rare pure non genetically modified food. Similarly, China's edible soybean oil, the most is the raw material of transgenic soybean.

Don't because of transgenic fear affect our confidence, affect our mood, affect our life. Genetic engineering breeding technology, led by the United States has lead the world, if we all still bickering, not to pursue, to narrow the gap, we will be brought about by the industry and food security problem. Of course, the transgenic technology is new after all, public perception is bound to have a process, a pressing matter of the moment is to speed up the popularization of knowledge of transgenic, dispel the public transgenic fears and doubts, need the joint efforts of all sides. One is to expand the transgenic knowledge popularization, using various communication ways and means to let the public know transgenic common sense. Two is the full play the role in the propaganda of scientists. Scientists have the right to speak to the GM, the public need expert authority issued. Three is the responsibility of the media. Seek truth from facts, objective and impartial information dissemination, lie lie, it is the responsibility of the media, also is the media code of conduct. Four is the strict application of transgenic technology development management. For transgenic research in accordance with the law, strengthen the transgenic safety management, the potential risks to the minimum.

(deputy director of the Department of the Ministry of Agriculture Rural Economic Research Center)