Biotechnology 101

Wendy Srnic,
Director Integrated Product Characterization
& Development
Humans have been genetically modifying crops for >10,000 years!

Source: GMO Answers

What are GMOs?

Biotechnology in plant agriculture has come to mean the process of

intentionally making a copy of a gene for a desired trait from one
plant or organism and using it in another plant.

What Solution are we seeking?

Which genes or traits to use?
What is the best tool to use?
Conventional Breeding?
Advanced Breeding?
Biotechnology?

Source: https://croplife.org/a-seed-story/
Leveraging Mother Natures Toolbox
How much of a seed does plant biotechnology change?
To put it into perspective, in an average meal, you eat around
150,000 km (or more than 93,000 miles) of DNA, while the genes
inserted into a plant using biotechnology would represent just a
handful of genes in that 150,000 km long string.

Source: http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/life-cycle-genetically-modified-seed
 Rigorous Testing to Develop into a Commercial Product

Genetics Efficacy Agronomics Robustness Durability

Clean Works in the Grows, Performs in Resistance
insertion target plant performs, target Development
as intended and yields in environments Strategy
No
Disruption the field as Stress
intended
No residual Non-stress
DNA

Fact
The research and development required to deliver a biotech
crop from the testing lab to a farmers field will, on average,
take more than 13 years and $136 million dollars. During
this period the process is overseen by government
regulatory bodies that make the final decision on when a
new biotech crop can be marketed to farmers.
Fact
For every one trait that is brought to
market, more than 6,000 others are
screened and tested.
Source: https://croplife.org/a-seed-story/
Example Characterization ProcessInsect Trait
Lead Characterization Durability Assessment

Lead Component Selection Field (Research, pre-regulatory)

Result: Lead Component Identified,

balanced for agronomics, efficacy,
and durability

- Component selection and advancement based on agronomic,

efficacy, and durability data generated in parallel.
- We select events in the context of elite germplasm AND
environments, initially and throughout
Integrating the trait into our high quality genetics to deliver value
Drought tolerance example:

100% A 50%:50% 25%:75% 12.5%:87.5% 6.75%:93.25% 3.38%:96.62%

Tolerant
to
drought
Lower
quality
plant Trait Donor Parent

Sensitive
to
drought
Higher
quality GOAL
plant High Quality Parent 100% high quality plant
100% B +
drought tolerance

Conventional Breeding Process (backcrossing)

Goal is to maximize the genetics of the high quality parent, while only
maintaining the new trait from the other parent
Process takes about 7-8 cycles, completed in ~2 years