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World Affairs, Ecology & Environment
Mahesh

22/02/23 07:38 AM IST

For the first time, genetically modified trees have been planted in a US forest

In News
  • Genetically modified trees have been planted in the United States for the first time in a low-lying tract of southern Georgia's pine belt.
GM Trees
  • The poplars may be the first genetically modified trees planted in the United States outside of a research trial or a commercial fruit orchard.
  • Living Carbon, a San Francisco-based biotechnology company that produced the poplars, intends for its trees to be a large-scale solution to climate change.
  • Genetically modified trees, also known as GM trees, are trees that have been genetically modified using biotechnology.
  • These are done to enhance their desired traits, such as faster growth, disease resistance, or ability to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
  • These trees are created by introducing foreign genes into their DNA through techniques like gene editing or gene gun method.
Concerns
  • The long-term effects of GM trees on the environment and ecosystems are not yet fully understood.
  • There are concerns about the potential risks of cross-pollination with wild or non-GM trees, which could lead to unintended consequences.
  • Critics argue that GM trees could harm biodiversity and increase the use of harmful pesticides and herbicides.
Source- Indian Express

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