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Forest biotechnology:
Present status and
future applications
Toby Bradshaw
College of Forest Resources and
Botany Department
University of Washington
[email protected]
http://faculty.washington.edu/toby
What is a GMO?
• Genetically Modified Organism
• Asexual gene (DNA) transfer (genetic
engineering/GE)
• Unlimited gene pool
• Research tool
• Pharmaceuticals (e.g., human insulin)
• Crops (e.g., Roundup Ready soy, Bt corn)
• Livestock? (no commercial release yet)
• Fish? (no commercial release yet)
• Forest trees? (no commercial release yet)
Gene transfer (transformation)
Transgenic plant
Typical traits engineered into transgenic crops
•Herbicide resistance (e.g., ‘Roundup Ready’)
•Insect resistance (Bt toxin)
•Vitamin A (‘golden rice’)
•Fruit firmness (‘Flavr Savr’ tomato)
Gene transfer in hybrid poplar
Photo courtesy of Rick Meilan, Tree Genetic Engineering Research Cooperative
Why genetically engineer
forest trees?
• Basic research to discover how trees
work, and which genes are responsible for
the unique biological features of trees
• Increase wood yield and quality by
accelerating progress in applied tree
breeding for plantation forests
• Improve environmental quality by
restoring endangered tree species
(chestnut, elm) and by using GE trees for
phytoremediation of toxic waste
Traits being genetically
engineered in forest trees
• Gene traps to
discover genes
involved in tree
growth and
development
Photo courtesy of Andrew Groover, Institute of Forest Genetics
Traits being genetically
engineered in forest trees
• Herbicide resistance (weed control)
• Insect resistance (leaf beetle, budworm)
Transgenic
Non-transgenic
Photos courtesy of Rick Meilan, Tree Genetic Engineering Research Cooperative
Traits being genetically
engineered in forest trees
• Lignin reduction (reduced chemical use,
waste, and energy consumption in pulping)
• Reproductive sterility (prevention of
transgene escape)
Traits being genetically engineered in
forest trees
• Phytoremediation
(removal of toxic wastes)
• Disease resistance
(chestnut blight, Dutch
elm disease)
Traits of the future
• Growth/yield (wood, fiber, renewable energy)
• Wood quality (strength, stiffness,
straightness, few knots)
• Tolerance of cold, drought, salt
• Novel photosynthetic pathways
• Self-pulping wood
• ‘Farm’aceuticals
• Industrial chemical feedstocks
• DOMESTICATION
From the ELF communiquè
"Bradshaw, the driving force in
G.E. tree research, continues
to unleash mutant genes into
the environment that is [sic]
certain to cause irreversible
harm to forest ecosystems.
As long as universities
continue to pursue this
reckless 'science, ' they run
the risk of suffering severe
losses. Our message remains
clear, we are determined to
stop genetic engineering."
From the ELF FAQ
“The ELF targets have included
such issues as deforestation
(for human development of
roadways, for luxurious living
and/or recreation areas, for
profit by selling or using
trees, etc.), urban sprawl,
genetic engineering, natural
habitat and ecosystem
destruction, the use of slave
labor by corporations and
more.”
Setting Fires
With Electrical
Timers - An
Earth
Liberation
Front Guide
Who opposes tree genetic
engineering research?
• Earth Liberation Front: “You cannot control
what is wild.”
• Greenpeace: moratorium on all field research
with transgenic plants
• Forest Stewardship Council: denies
certification to entities conducting field research
on transgenic trees
US National Research
Council/National Academy of
Sciences position on GE and
conventional plant breeding
“The same physical and biological laws
govern the response of organisms
modified by modern molecular and
cellular methods and those produced
by classical methods.”
US National Research
Council/National Academy of
Sciences position on GE and
conventional plant breeding
The focus should be on
PRODUCT,
not PROCESS
From the ELF FAQ
“Capitalism as a target is not
easily identifiable due to it
being an ideology rather
than a physical object. But
forms and symbols of
capitalism can be targeted
successfully … [t]he list is
endless but could include
such symbols in the U.S. as
Mt. Rushmore, the Statue of
Liberty, Disney, Wall Street,
etc.”