Section of Biochemistry, Molecular & Cell Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, U.S.A.
This year's genetic engineering report is focused on evaluating the potential for producing useful transgenic rice plants that harbor insect-resistant or disease-resistant genes. The report is divided into three sections. The first two sections describe the available cloned genes that can be used for conferring insect resistance or disease resistance in transgenic rice. The last section summarized the content of a recent report by R. E. Evenson (1994) on the time assessment and economic evaluation of the Rice Biotechnology Program initiated and funded by the Rockefeller Foundation.
Techniques for genetic transformation of rice plants have been well established. Thus, it is now possible to apply genetic engineering techniques to produce useful transgenic rice plants which are inherently resistant to insect pests or to fungal pathogens. The production of these transgenic plants and, then, planting them in farmer's fields will obviate, or at least greatly decrease, the need to use chemical insecticides and fungicides.