Download PPT Introductie Piet van der Meer

"Genetisch Gewijzigde Organismen in relatie
tot de voedselvoorziening in 't algemeen,
en in 't bijzonder in ontwikkelingslanden”
Discussie Forum
28 Januari 2010, Leuven
Piet van der Meer
Moderator
Introduction
 Historische context en introductie van de sprekers
 11.00: Prof. Marc van Montagu
 11.30: Dr. Vera Dua
 12.00: Korte pauze
 12.10: Algemene discussie
 12.55: sluiting
Historical context
 10.000 years ago man changed from hunting animals and
gathering plants in the wild, to keeping animals and
growing plants – agriculture was born.
 For thousands of years, man has selected and crossed
animals and plants that had characteristics they liked, such
as better taste or more yield.
 In this process, humans have dramatically changed the
animals and plants they originally found in nature.
Historical context
 For thousands of years, cross breeding was ‘trial and
error’
 19th century: Gregor Mendel
discovered the rules of inheritance.
 Early 20th century: discovery of hybrids
 Early 20th century: discovery of inducing mutations by
radiation and chemicals.
Historical context
While cross breeding and induced mutation are important
tools of plant breeding, they also have limitations:
1. Cross breeding only works between related plants.
2. For some species cross breeding is extremely difficult.
3. Cross breeding can take very long.
4. Not only the desired genes are crossed over
5. Mutation is undirected and unpredictable
Historical context
Scientific developments in the 20th century to overcome
these limitations:
 Discovery of ‘genes’ and
of the building blocks - DNA.
 Discovery of genetic modification
- identify a specific gene
- isolate that gene,
- transfer genes into plant cells
Genetic Modification of Plants
Traditional
plant breeding
x
“elite”
variety
Genetic
Modification
Related
variety

any
gene
source
Genetic Modification of Plants
Differences compared to conventional breeding:
• Specific
• Faster
• Possible with plants that do not cross sexually
• Much greater reservoir of genes
Genetic Modification
Society has two questions for any new technology:
•
Can it be useful?
•
Is it safe?
De Sprekers
Prof. Marc van Montagu
Dr. ir. Vera Dua
Em. Prof. Marc van Montagu
•
Co-discovered DNA transformation of plants and the molecular
basis of several plant physiological processes.
•
Among the 10 most cited scientists in Plant & Animal Science
•
Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries - 2000
•
Received the title of Baron for his scientific accomplishments
•
Member of several academies of science, and holder of numerous
Doctor Honoris Causa degrees.
•
President of the European Federation of Biotechnology (EFB),
and of the Public Research Responsibility Initiative (PRRI).
Dr. ir. Vera Dua
•
Doctor in de landbouwwetenschappen
•
Verleden als wetenschappelijk medewerker + ambtenaar
leefmilieuadministratie
•
19 jaar nationale politieke voor een groene partij in diverse
parlementen
•
4 jaar Vlaams Minister van Leefmilieu en Landbouw
•
Altijd het thema landbouw politiek van dichtbij opgevolgd
•
Momenteel actief in Terra Reversa, een sociaal-ecologische
denktank