ISB News Report - November 2014
http://www.isb.vt.edu/news/2014/Nov14.pdf

Table of Contents

PLANT RESEARCH

RNAi-mediated Gene Silencing and Its Implications for Agriculture 
A. Koch and K-H. Kogel
RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as a powerful genetic tool for scientific research over the past several years. RNAi has been utilized not only in fundamental research for the assessment of gene function, but also in various fields of applied research, such as human and veterinary medicine and agriculture. The first investigations on the potential of RNAi in agriculture research focused on the "proof of concept" that lethal outcomes are possible by gene silencing through RNAi signals in vitro. Recent work suggested that novel RNAi-based plant protection strategies may provide new opportunities for improving the world's food supplies and thus can have a huge impact on world's economy.

Combining Genome-wide Association and QTL Analysis: Opportunities and Challenges 
Humira Sonah, Louise O'Donoughue, Elroy Cober, Istvan Rajcan, Francois Belzile
Soybean provides an exceptional source of high quality oils and proteins for human food, a key element in ensuring a more sustainable and healthy diet. A high correlation has been observed among seed oil content and different traits, including a highly negative correlation between oil and protein content in the seed, making it extremely challenging to improve one of these traits without compromising the other. These seed traits have been found to be governed by many loci and highly influenced by environment. The identification of genomic loci that govern complex traits has been facilitated by the development of quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping approaches.

Genetic Use Restriction Technologies: Good for Seed Companies and Bad for Farmers? 
Luca Lombardo
The term "Genetic Use Restriction Technologies" (GURTs) relates to a series of experimental methods aimed at restricting the unauthorized use of genetic material by controlling gene expression in genetically engineered (GE) plants. As a consequence of the strong protests all over the world, in June 2000 a de facto global moratorium was imposed on this technology. In the light of the hypothetical pros and cons, it is difficult to make a definitive judgment on them. On the one hand, T-GURTs could allow farmers to decide whether, and possibly when, to activate a valuable trait. On the other, the ethical concerns against V-GURTs that led to the global moratorium seem too strong to overcome and will surely play a preeminent role in the future social and political debate.

Website: http://www.isb.vt.edu

Published: November 28, 2014