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Apomixis is a mode of asexual reproduction through seeds that originate progeny that is genetically identical to the mother plant. It is significant in the subfamily Panicoideae and genera Paspalum and its importance is given by the evolutionary connotations and its implications in breeding plant. Paspalum (Poaceae) is a genus comprising between 330 and 400 natural species of tropical, subtropical and temperate regions, mainly from North America and South America. Plicatula group of Paspalum comprises many promising species as forage resources and several of them are typical on natural fields of northeastern Argentina. Most apomictic species are tetraploid and usually possess sexual diploid co-specific counterparts. Sexual tetraploid plants have not been found in nature so far. The objectives of this research were: to generate a segregating population for the reproductive mode by crossing Paspalum plicatulum 4PT (completely sexual, experimentally induced) and P. guenoarum GR19 (natural apomictic) at tetraploid level, to construct genetic linkage maps of both species, to localize the region responsible for apomixis on the male map, to investigate the mode of inheritance (tetrasomic or disomic) of both parental genotypes. An interspecific hybrid population of 211 F1 plants, segregating for reproductive mode, was generated. Classification of 206 hybrids showed that 127 of them were sexual and 79 apomictic. The progeny showed morphological characteristics intermediate compared to their parents but resembling more the male plant. Inheritance of apomixis in Plicatula species showed a segregation distortion of 1.6:1, favoring to sexual individuals. This proposed apomixis segregation model in Plicatula is a novelty for interspecific hybrids of Paspalum. P. guenoarum and P. plicatulum are autotetraploids and both species show tetrasomic inheritance, according to the DDA markers of both genotypes that fixed to the 5:1 ratio. Moreover, some regions of both parental genomes showed disomic inheritance (markers 3:1 and bivalent chromosome associations). Both species share the same basic genomic complement. Seventeen AFLP primer combinations were assayed in 89 F1 individuals (55 sexual and 34 apomictic). The female genetic linkage frame map consisted of 89 markers [39 maternal (1:1) and 50 biparental (3:1)] assigned to 11 cosegregation groups, covering a distance of 819 cM. The genetic male linkage frame map was formed by 127 markers [76 paternal (1:1 and 1:1.6) and 51 biparental (3:1)], that were distributed in 23 cosegregation groups, spanning 1393 cM. The linkage group carrying apomixis (apo group, M10) was identified on the male map. Seven markers mapped onto the M10 linkage group: the character apomixis, 5 paternal markers and a biparental marker. Paternal markers that mapped onto M10 and apomixis showed segregation distortion, thus confirming the distorted transmission of the character and its associated genomic region. Unlike the data for other aposporic Paspalum species and other grasses, markers completely linked to apomixis have not been detected in P. guenoarum. Two paternal markers mapped to 4 and 7 cM from apomixis locus. Results presented in this work indicated that Plicatula species may be different cases from those previously described in the genus. Probably, P. guenoarum represents a new model for studying apomixis in Paspalum.

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 modified crops have become a topic of great interest among scientists, regulators, consumers, farmers, and politicians. Despite their potential benefits, public hostility toward these crops is causing dramatic changes to import/export policies, food safety regulations, and agricultural practices around the world. Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture provides a comprehensive overview of the subject and a balanced look at the costs and benefits of GMO products.

Part I reviews the scientific, economic, and political issues relating to the use of agricultural GMOs. Chapters cover specific applications, regulatory concerns, import/export patterns, international trade issues, and a discussion of future trends. Part II offers a unique look at all sides of the GMO controversies, with short chapters contributed by leading individuals with widely different perspectives. Part III presents a more in-depth look at selected issues plus helpful reference materials.

This book makes the latest information on GMOs accessible to all interested parties, including students, laypeople, scientists, activists, and professionals working in related fields.

* Additional detailed footnotes and references for the academic
* International contributions from the US, Europe and India
* Covers the perspectives of different groups involved in the controversies: governments, environmental agencies, consumers, industrial agencies and the developing world

Genetically Modified Organisms in Food focuses on scientific evaluation of published research relating to GMO food products to assert their safety as well as potential health risks. This book is a solid reference for researchers and professionals needing information on the safety of GMO and non-GMO food production, the economic benefits of both GMO and non-GMO foods, and includes in-depth coverage of the surrounding issues of genetic engineering in foods. This is a timely publication written by a team of scientific experts in the field who present research results to help further more evidence based research to educate scientists, academics, government professionals about the safety of the global food supply.

• Provides the latest on research and development in the field of GMOs and non-GMO safety issues and possible risk factors incorporating evidence based reviews for a better understanding of these issues
• Covers various aspects of GMO production, analysis and identification to better understand GMO development and use
• Includes definitions, a brief overview and history of GM foods from a global perspective and concise summaries with recommendations for actions for each chapter

A transgenic organism is a plant, animal, bacterium, or other living organism that has had a foreign gene added to it by means of genetic engineering. Transgenic plants can arise by natural movement of genes between species, by cross-pollination based hybridization between different plant species (which is a common event in flowering plant evolution), or by laboratory manipulations by artificial insertion of genes from another species. Methods used in traditional breeding that generate transgenic plants by non-recombinant methods are widely familiar to professional plant scientists, and serve important roles in securing a sustainable future for agriculture by protecting crops from pest and helping land and water to be used more efficiently.

There is worldwide interest in the biosafety issues related to transgenic crops because of issues such as increased pesticide use, increased crop and weed resistance to pesticides, gene flow to related plant species, negative effects on nontarget organisms, and reduced crop and ecosystem diversity. This book is intended to provide the basic information for a wide range of people involved in the release of transgenic crops. These will include scientists and researchers in the initial stage of developing transgenic products, industrialists, and decision makers. It will be of particular interest to plant scientists taking up biotechnological approaches to agricultural improvement for developing nations.

* Discusses traditional and future technology for genetic modification
* Compares conventional non-GM approaches and genetic modification
* Presents a risk assessment methodology for GM techniques
* Details mitigation techniques for human and environmental effects

Genetics and Biotechnology of Bacilli, Volume 3 covers the proceedings of the Fifth International Conference on Genetics and Biotechnology of Bacilli, held on July 9-12, 1989 at the Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, California. It summarizes the remarkable progress made in the genetics and biotechnology fields of Bacilli. It is organized into four parts, encompassing 43 chapters, which focus on gene regulation and structure, enzyme structure, Bacillus thuringiensis toxins, and stationary phase gene regulation.
Part I covers topics related to gene regulation and structure of Bacilli, such as control of gene expression, mutation, genetic organization, DNA sequence analysis, and identification of transcript units. It also discusses gene replication in Bacillus subtilis plasmids, levanase operon of B. subtilis, and characterization of global regulon in B. subtilis. The next part of this book focuses on the structure of various enzymes found in B. subtilis, including alpha amylases, subtilisin, alkaline phosphatase, and levansucrase. Part III discusses the generation of functional B. thuringiensis toxin hybrid genes, regulation of crystal protein gene promoters, toxicity of B. thuringiensis delta-endotoxin, and insecticidal activity of chimeric protoxins. The concluding part covers the aspects of signal transduction, regulation of differential gene expression during B. subtilis sporulation, and gene cloning and deletion for extracellular proteases of B. subtilis. It also discusses genetic and biochemical aspects of protein phosphorylation; properties of B. subtilis spores; control of stationary phase gene expression; and the novel regulatory gene, senS, of B. subtilis.
This book is a valuable source of information for microbiologists, research biologists, and Bacilli enthusiasts.