Editing Agricultural biotechnology (section)

== Crop modification techniques ==

=== Traditional breeding ===
Traditional [[crossbreeding]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.biofortified.org/portfolio/infographic-crop-modification-techniques/|title=Infographic: Crop Modification Techniques - Biology Fortified, Inc.|newspaper=Biology Fortified, Inc.|access-date=2016-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414094558/http://www.biofortified.org/portfolio/infographic-crop-modification-techniques/|archive-date=2016-04-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> has been used for centuries to improve crop quality and quantity. [[Crossbreeding]] mates two sexually compatible species to create a new and special variety with the desired traits of the parents. For example, the [[honeycrisp apple]] exhibits a specific texture and flavor due to the crossbreeding of its parents.  In traditional practices, pollen from one plant is placed on the female part of another, which leads to a hybrid that contains genetic information from both parent plants. Plant breeders select the plants with the traits they're looking to pass on and continue to breed those plants. Note that crossbreeding can only be utilized within the same or closely related species.

=== Mutagenesis ===
[[Mutation]]s can occur randomly in the [[DNA]] of any organism. In order to create variety within crops, scientists can randomly induce mutations within plants. [[Mutation breeding|Mutagenesis]] uses radioactivity to induce random mutations in the hopes of stumbling upon the desired trait. Scientists can use [[mutagen|mutating chemical]]s such as [[ethyl methanesulfonate]], or radioactivity to create random mutations within the DNA. [[Atomic gardening|Atomic gardens]] are used to mutate crops. A radioactive core is located in the center of a circular garden and raised out of the ground to radiate the surrounding crops, generating mutations within a certain radius. Mutagenesis through radiation was the process used to produce [[ruby red grapefruit]]s.

=== Polyploidy ===
[[Polyploidy]] can be induced to modify the number of chromosomes in a crop in order to influence its fertility or size. Usually, organisms have two sets of [[chromosome]]s, otherwise known as a [[diploidy]]. However, either naturally or through the use of chemicals, that number of chromosomes can change, resulting in fertility changes or size modification within the crop. [[Seedless watermelon|Seedless watermelons]] are created in this manner; a 4-set chromosome [[watermelon]] is crossed with a 2-set chromosome watermelon to create a [[Seedless fruit|sterile (seedless) watermelon]] with three sets of chromosomes.

=== Protoplast fusion ===
[[Protoplast fusion]] is the joining of cells or cell components to transfer traits between species.  For example, the trait of male sterility is transferred from radishes to [[Red cabbage|red cabbages]] by protoplast fusion. This male sterility helps [[Plant breeding|plant breeders]] make hybrid crops.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=De Beuckeleer|first1=Mariani|last2=De Beuckeleer|first2=Celestina|last3=De Beuckeleer|first3=Marc|last4=Truettner|first4=Jessie|last5=Leemans|first5=Jan|last6=Goldberg|first6=Robert|year=1990|title=Induction of Male Sterility in Plants by a Chimaeric Ribonuclease Gene.|journal=Nature|volume=437.6295|issue=6295|pages=737–41|doi=10.1038/347737a0|bibcode=1990Natur.347..737M|hdl=2066/17394|s2cid=2755373|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

=== RNA interference ===
[[RNA interference]] (RNAIi) is the process in which a cell's [[RNA]] to protein mechanism is turned down or off in order to suppress genes. This method of genetic modification works by interfering with messenger RNA to stop the synthesis of proteins, effectively silencing a gene.

=== Transgenics ===
[[Transgenics]] involves the insertion of one piece of DNA into another organism's DNA in order to introduce new genes into the original organism. This addition of genes into an organism's genetic material creates a new variety with desired traits. The DNA must be prepared and packaged in a test tube and then inserted into the new organism. New genetic information can be inserted with [[gene gun]]s/biolistics. An example of a gene gun transgenic is the rainbow papaya, which is modified with a gene that gives it resistance to the [[papaya ringspot virus]].<ref name="ACSH-papaya">{{cite web | title=The Gene Gun That Saved Hawaii | website=[[American Council on Science and Health]] | date=2016-01-21 | url=http://www.acsh.org/news/2016/01/21/gene-gun-saved-hawaii | access-date=2021-12-01}}</ref>

=== Genome editing ===
[[Genome editing]] is the use of an enzyme system to modify the DNA directly within the cell. Genome editing is used to develop herbicide resistant canola to help farmers control weeds.