Seeds- Hybrids, F1 and Genetically modified Organisms

We had been discussing this topic for a long time and I see that there is no
simple information freely available anywhere for the public to access and
comprehend. I am trying to make this complicated and highly technical and
scientific subject rewritten in Lay mans language so that this will be well
understood by all. I wish I had done it.
Hybrids and Pure breeds:
To understand Hybrids and Pure breeds, I think I will have to explain
Genetics and Cytology to all in simple language.
All major living organisms have Somatic cells (Biological cells) and
reproductive cells. (Lower organisms like protozoan or single celled organism will
not have these two distinct cells.)
Both these cells have the total instructions to live, multiply and express.
These are in coded language specific for the expression. These are called
Genes which are lined up in a particular sequence specific to that organism
on microscopic strands called Chromosomes. In somatic cells there are
two such strands. The expression of character is the result of the combined
coded instruction of one gene on one strand and its corresponding one on
the other strand. (I have simplified this area too much to make it look easy.)
The Reproductive cells (Gametes) have only one strand of genetic
information. So they are incomplete as it is just a half code. Only when the
two halves the sperm and the Egg fuse and unite will they be able to start
to decipher the coded language on the strands and a new life is formed.
So if the Gametes (sperm and eggs) are from the same species and origin,
the code (Genes) corresponding to each character will be exactly adjacent
to its partner on the other strand and thereby the newly formed life will be
able to express the full coded information and this way a new pure off
spring is produced.
When the fusing genetic pairs are from two different origins, the chance of
certain genes getting suppressed or highlighted are very high as they will
be expressing as per available controls restrictions and at times have the
freedom to dominate the other gene. This way we get new off springs with
some special characters which will be highlighted. This new one Hybrid,
can be of interest to us due to its special qualities. Or sometimes the good
qualities of the parents may be suppressed. Breeders select the off springs
with beneficial qualities and promote its multiplication. This is called
selective hybridization. When these form genetic cells and their coded
pair of strands split and re-unites with new halves, the good qualities may
further be highlighted or may be totally suppressed. This way we get
variable off springs so we call these impure breeds or Hybrids
With the above basic information in mind, please try to follow the points we
discuss below:
What are Hybrids and Pure breeds?
Off springs formed when Gametes (sperms and eggs) of an organism of
same origin and species with same physical and genetic qualities unite, the
off springs are called Pure breeds. (They are Homozygous with same
type of genes on both strands) But if the off springs are formed from union
of sperm and eggs of same species but different origin, expressing different
physical and genetic qualities, the offspring is a Hybrid.( Heterozygous
with different linear arrangement of genes on both strands) This is the basic
classification. These hybrids are genetically compatible and will be able to
produce new ones but their behaviour, character and expressions may
never be the same and will be unpredictable unlike the pure breeds which
will be able to continue copying their internal genetic pattern without any
error.
Now that we know the meaning of the above two important terms we can
go a step further on this.
There are different types of hybrids, of which those of interest to us here
are listed.
Simple Hybrids - any offspring resulting from the breeding of two
genetically distinct individuals of the same species.
Inter-specific Hybrids - any offspring, resulting from the breeding of two
individuals of different species. These will not be able to produce further
living off springs
Permanent hybrid - is a situation where only the heterozygous individuals
survive, because all homozygous combinations never born alive.
Genetically Modified Hybrids -here the genes of an organism is artificially
modified to make it express some selected character of any other organism
which is do not have naturally. These too will not be able to produce further
living off springs as the strand that carry genetic information is modified and
will not align with any other at all.
Since I have written the above for a lay man to understand and if this
elaborate scientific information is said in true scientific terms, many of us
will find it not absorbable. So after explaining the common terms like: cells,
Chromosomes, Genes, Gametes, Off springs, Pure breeds and different
types of Hybrids, I feel we can have a look into the work of the father of
Genetics - Gregor Johann Mendel (20 July 1822 6 January 1884). His Pea
plant experiments conducted between 1856 and 1863 established many of
the rules of heredity, now referred to as the laws of Mendelian
inheritance.
Gregor Mendel worked on hybridization and found that the hybrids have
particular patterns of forming new off springs. Some points from his
experiments can be discussed below;
The off spring of two different Pure varieties is called a F1 hybrid (or Filial
1 hybrid). They will have their own characters based on what is highlighted
and which qualities are suppressed.
When we cross the F1 between themselves, the Pure parental trait
(Behaviour and expression) will be exposed back.. He noticed that in these
new off springs of F1 parents which can be called F2, a few(In 3:1 ratio) will
be pure, expressing parental character. Few will have one parental
character each but with mixed Chromosomes expressing dominant
characters of each. A pictorial diagram is below for easy understanding:



Dominant and recessive individuals.
(1) Parental generation.
(2) F1 generation.
(3) F2 generation. Dominant (red) and recessive (white) individual look
alike in the F1 (first) generation and show a 3:1 ratio in the F2 (second)
generation.
An extract is pasted below which was copied from the internet for better
understanding for interested people:
In cross-pollinating plants that either produces yellow or green pea seeds
exclusively, Mendel found that the first offspring generation (f1) always has
yellow seeds. However, the following generation (f2) consistently has a
3:1 ratio of yellow to green.


This 3:1 ratio occurs in later generations as well. Mendel realized that this
underlying regularity was the key to understanding the basic mechanisms
of inheritance.
He came to three important conclusions from these experimental results:
1. that the inheritance of each trait is determined by "units" or
"factors" that are passed on to descendents unchanged
(these units are now called genes )
2. that an individual inherits one such unit from each parent for
each trait
3. that a trait may not show up in an individual but can still be
passed on to the next generation.




I feel if we can understand this much we can decide whether Hybrids are
Organic or not and if Hybrids what the seed sellers claim are good for us or
if those will reproduce copies of their original characters or not or will
Hybrids fail to produce genetically fatal off springs or any with good or bad
qualities. We now know why the Genetically modified organisms do not
produce viable seeds and why our farmers have to approach the seed
manufacturers each time for seeds. Further, by growing Genetically
modified plants, the natural plants of that family too are put to danger
because if the pollen from these GM plants gets to fertilize the regular
ones, all those seeds too will be either sterile or will produce GM plants
which in turn will produce sterile seeds.

Anoop Kumar C.P