History of plant genetic mutations ± human influences
2021
Reichert, Nancy A.
Genetic mutations in plants pre-date human influences and involvement. Throughout evolution, spontaneous mutations contributed to natural selection, enabling plants to better adapt to their environment. As humans became more sedentary (farmer-herders), they assisted in the domestication of crops by favoring specific characteristics (spontaneous mutations) within plant species over time. Since spontaneous mutation rates were low, plant breeders developed procedures to induce mutations via physical (primarily ionizing radiation) and chemical treatments; although first proven in 1928, it took approximately three decades to become more widely adopted with an emphasis placed on massive phenotypic screening efforts. Unfortunately, many hidden mutations were also present in the selected mutant lines. Starting in 1983, researchers confirmed more precise genetic changes could be made through gene introduction. Three decades later, these techniques were used in the present field of genome editing once the prokaryotic CRISPR/Cas system was modified by researchers for use in eukaryotes. This made it possible to generate precise mutations in plant genomes thereby increasing specificity and reducing unwanted/hidden mutations. Regardless of how mutations are generated, they will continue to facilitate adaptation to human-focused goals and the ever-changing environment.
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