Designer genes at the dinner table
1985
Schwartz, Ronald
An overview of the utility of biotechnology in food production cites a number of applications. Biotechnology in this sense involves changing genetic "blueprints" in living cells so that they can perform new functions, such as producing certain chemicals or providing the organism (plant, animal or microorganism) with new features that enhance its food-producing ability. Applications include the accelerated development of new fruit and vegetable strains, producing "meatier" livestock, developing inexpensive animal feed alternatives, producing inexpensive food additives, enhancing the marketability and nutritive value of foods and developing new protein sources for human foods. Regulatory aspects of the use of biotechnology for food production are discussed. Specific technological applications (selective plant breeding, use of tissue culture to produce flavorings, and the recombinant DNA synthesis of phenylalamine to make sweeteners, aspartame) are described. (wz)
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