Daria Schmidt, Researcher
Why Biotech? |
More comments from Daria Schmidt |
What is the reliability of this process . . . ? |
Transcript for Clip 1 -- Why Biotech?
Before biotechnology we were very limited to the types of genetics we
could work with in soybeans. [Genetic traits were limited to] basically
whatever was available in the soybean varieties, or what we might be able
to get as far as traits for disease reistance or grain quality from related
species or plant introductions. That was the limit. That was the scope of
genetics that was available. Biotechnology brought us a new tool by which
we could bring in genes that weren't of soybean source or that weren't
[related]...we could bring in [traits] we simply didn't have before.
Biotechnology...is a way to get those genetic traits into the soybean
variety so that we can grow them in the field.
More comments from Daria Schmidt...
Q: What is the reliability of this process, how often do you get the gene
where you want it?
A: Getting the gene into the right place, we're a little far away
from that.
But the technology of genetic transformation is evolving all the time and
it's better now than it ever was and it's going to continue to evolve. Right
now the biggest advances that we've made is to be able to pick out those
individual cells that have been transformed in the most efficient way
possible and then only generating and only continuing those lines that
have good expression and good stable Mendelian genetics. Those are the
things that we're able to do better now than we ever have before and that
will continue to evolve.
Top
- Bian Li, Student
- Charles J. Link, M. D.
- Daria Schmidt, Researcher
- Gary Comstock, Bioethics
- Jerry Fleagle, Iowa Grocery Industry
- Monica Post, Zoo Education Curator
- Rod Townsend, Director, Regulatory
Sciences
- Tom Vilsack, Governor of Iowa
- Brother Dave Andrews, Priest
- Cliff Mulder, Farmer
- Fred Kirschenmann, Organic Farmer
- Georg Anderl, Plant Manager
- Jerry Herrington, Pioneer
- Norma Hirsch, M. D.
- Steve Drucker, Lawyer
Posted March 6, 2001