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A

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens

A genus of bacteria that researchers can use to transfer DNA to plants.  Agrobacterium tumefaciens can infect plants and cause crown gall disease – a tumerous growth at the base of plants.  The DNA transfer occurs naturally during the crown gall disease, and can be used as a method of transformation.

B

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

A naturally occurring bacterium present in soil and used successfully by home gardeners and organic farmers to control certain insects for more than 40 years.  When ingested by a target insect, the protein produced by Bt controls the insect by disturbing the digestive system.  The Bt protein is harmless to other insects, people and animals.

Biodiversity

The word – a contraction of ‘biological diversity’ – refers to the number, variety and variability of living organisms.  It encompasses three basic levels of organization in living systems:  the genetic, species and ecosystem levels.  Plant and animal species are the most commonly recognized units of biodiversity.

Biotechnology

A broad term used to describe any technique that uses living organisms or parts of organisms to solve problems or develop new products.  Biotechnology is used in a wide range of applications including the production of foods and medicines, testing for disease, removing wastes in the environment, and improving agricultural plants.  Modern biotechnology includes the tools of genetic engineering, although it is only one of many applications.

Bt crops

Crops that are genetically engineered to carry a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The bacterium produces proteins that are toxic to target pests but non-toxic to humans and other mammals. Crops containing the Bt gene are able to produce this toxin, thereby providing protection for the plant.  Bt corn and Bt cotton are examples of commercially available Bt crops.

C

Carbon dioxide (CO2)

A colorless, odorless, unreactive gas that is a normal part of the atmosphere.  It is produced during the combustion of fossil fuels when the carbon in the fuels reacts with oxygen.  It is also produced when living organisms respire.  It is essential for plant nutrition.  While relatively innocuous in itself, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases can trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and contribute to Global Warming.

Chromosome

Tightly coiled strands of genes (DNA) located in the nucleus of every cell that determines the inheritance of traits.  Each chromosome has a fixed number of genes, and every species has a characteristic number of chromosome pairs – humans have 23 pairs, mice have 19 and pea plants have 7. 

Conservation tillage

An approach to the cultivation of agricultural land, which reduces or eliminates plowing of soil for crop planting and weed control.  In addition to reducing soil erosion, conservation tillage retains soil carbon and reduces greenhouse gases, which can trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and contribute to Global Warming.

D

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

A complex molecule that contains, in chemically coded form, all the information needed to build, control and maintain a living organism.  DNA is a ladder-like double-stranded nucleic acid that forms the basis of genetic inheritance in all organisms except for a few viruses.  In organisms other than bacteria, it is organized into chromosomes and contained in the cell nucleus.

E

Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ)

A universal indicator that integrates the various environmental impacts of individual pesticides into a single field value per acre (hectare).  EIQ incorporates the impact of the key toxicity and environmental exposure data on farm workers, consumers and ecology, providing a consistent and comprehensive measure of the non-intentional impact of different pesticides on the environment.  EIQ is not universally accepted and is an indicator only; it does not take into account all environmental issues and impacts.

Erosion

A process by which rock particles and soil are detached from their original site, transported and deposited in a new location.  The main agents of erosion are water and wind.

F

Field trial

A test of a new technology or variety, including biotech-derived varieties, done outside the laboratory but with specific limitations and requirements on location, plot size, methodology, etc.

G

Gene

A specific segment of DNA in a chromosome that produces a specific product or has an assigned function.

Genetic engineering

The technique of removing, modifying or adding genes to a living organism.  Also referred to as gene splicing, recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology or genetic modification. 

Genetically engineered organism (GEO)

A new variety of plant produced using traditional plant breeding techniques, supplemented by the insertion of a specific beneficial gene or genes.  Also referred to as genetically modified organism (GMO).

Genetic modification

The technique of removing, modifying or adding genes to a living organism via genetic engineering or other more traditional methods.  Also referred to as gene splicing, recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology or genetic engineering.

Genetically modified organism (GMO)

A new variety of plant produced using traditional plant breeding techniques, supplemented by the insertion of a specific beneficial gene or genes.  Also referred to as genetically engineered organism (GEO).

Genetics

The study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits.

Genome

All the genetic material in all the chromosomes of a particular organism.  It is the master blueprint for the total set of an organism’s genes.

Global warming

The consequences of the greenhouse effect, caused by the rising concentrations of greenhouse gases.  The suspicion is that global warming will disrupt weather and climatic patterns.  It could lead to droughts in some areas and flooding in others, and is seen as one of the major environmental problems facing the world.

Glyphosate tolerant (Roundup Ready) crops

The most common herbicide-tolerant crops, which provide tolerance to glyphosate, a herbicide effective on many species of grasses, broadleaf weeds and sedges.  Roundup Ready crops (cotton, corn, soybeans, canola) contain the Roundup Ready gene, which allows glyphosate to be applied to the crop to provide effective weed control without damaging the crop itself.

Greenhouse effect

Process whereby greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere cause heat to be trapped in the atmosphere rather than escaping into space.  The greenhouse gases form an insulating blanket around the planet.  This blanket allows light and heat from the sun through, but prevents some of the heat, which radiates back from the earth from escaping.  The same effect occurs in greenhouses, hence the name.  The effect is natural and vital to current life forms on earth.  Without it, the planet would be frozen. 

Greenhouse gases

Some gases – such as carbon dioxide, methane and water vapor – trap the sun’s heat in the lower atmosphere and prevent it from escaping into space. A major source of the increased concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is the combustion of fossil fuels.

H

Herbicide

A substance used to kill plants, especially weeds.

Herbicide-tolerant crops

Crops that have been developed to survive application(s) of particular herbicides by the incorporation of certain gene(s) either through genetic engineering or traditional breeding methods. The genes allow the herbicides to be applied to the crop to provide effective weed control without damaging the crop itself.

I

Insecticide

A substance used to control certain populations of insect pests.  In agriculture, insecticides are used to control insect pests that feed on crops or carry plant disease.

Insect-resistant crops

Plants with the ability to withstand, deter or repel insects and thereby prevent them from feeding on the plant. The traits (genes) determining resistance may be selected by plant breeders through cross-pollination with other varieties of this crop or through the introduction of novel genes such as Bt genes through genetic engineering.

J

There are no glossary terms at this time.

K

There are no glossary terms at this time.

L

There are no glossary terms at this time.

M

There are no glossary terms at this time.

N

No-till farming

A method of farming that eliminates plowing to prepare the land for planting seeds and weed control.  Instead, crop residue is left on fields, and seed and nutrients are placed in narrow rows or in drilled holes.  Weed control is accomplished with suitable herbicides.  Because the soil is not disturbed or exposed through plowing, it is much less susceptible to erosion from both water and wind.

O

Organic agriculture / Organic farming

To qualify to use recognized organic labels, farmers must conform to a strict agricultural system that minimizes the use of synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives.  As far as practical, organic farming relies on crop rotation, crop residues, animal manure, legumes, green manures, off-farm organic wastes, mechanical cultivation, mineral-bearing rocks, and biological pest control to sustain soil productivity, supply plant nutrients and control crop pests.

P

Pesticide

A substance used to control pests, such as harmful insects, weeds or microorganisms.

Pest-resistant crops

Plants with the ability to withstand, deter or repel pests and thereby prevent them from damaging the plants. Plant pests may include insects, nematodes, fungi, viruses, bacteria, and weeds, among others.

Plant biotechnology

The addition of selected traits (genes) to plants to develop new plant varieties.

Plant breeding

The essential process of constantly developing newer, better and more environmentally suitable plants for the purpose of food production.  Plant breeders use cross-pollination, selection and other techniques involving crossing plants to produce varieties with particular desired characteristics (genes) that can be passed on to future plant generations.  These become important starting material for further improvements using genetic engineering.

Plant pests

Organisms that may directly or indirectly cause disease, spoilage or damage to plants, plant parts or processed plant materials. Common examples include certain insects, mites, nematodes, fungi, molds, viruses and bacteria.

Protein

A molecule composed of one or more chains of amino acids in a specific order. Proteins are required for the structure, function and regulation of an organisms’ cells and tissues, and each protein has a unique function.

Q

There are no glossary terms at this time.

R

Recombinant DNA (rDNA)

Fragments of DNA from two different organisms, such as a corn plant and a bacterium, spliced together into a single molecule.

Recombinant DNA technology

Procedures used to join DNA segments in a cell-free system (e.g. in a test tube outside living cells or organisms). Under appropriate conditions, a recombinant DNA molecule can be introduced into a cell and copy itself (replicate), either as an independent entity (autonomously) or as an integral part of a cellular chromosome.

S

Selective breeding

Making deliberate crosses or matings of organisms so the offspring will have particular desired characteristics derived from one or both of the parents.

T

Tillage

Cultivation, including hoeing and plowing.  In agriculture, tillage is used to fight weeds.

Traditional breeding

Modification of plants and animals through selective breeding.  Practices used in traditional plant breeding may include aspects of biotechnology such as tissue culture and mutational breeding (mutagenesis).

Transgene

A gene from one organism inserted into another organism by recombinant DNA techniques.

Transgenic organism

A plant, animal, bacterium or other living organism, which has had one or more transgenes added to it by means of genetic engineering.

U

There are no glossary terms at this time.

V

Variety

A group of individual plants that is uniform, stable and distinct genetically from other groups of individuals in the same species.

W

There are no glossary terms at this time.

X

There are no glossary terms at this time.

Y

There are no glossary terms at this time.

Z

There are no glossary terms at this time.