The transgenic seeds, also called genetically modified (GM) seeds, come from plants that have been inserted, deleted, or modified a gene in the laboratory. The purpose is to confer concrete features that wouldn't easily appear through traditional breeding, such as herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, or quality and conservation improvements. If you'd like to delve deeper into the differences between traditional, hybrid, and transgenic seeds, you can visit Our comparison of seed types.
What are transgenic seeds?
An organism is considered transgenic when it incorporates genetic material that has been altered in a targeted manner. Unlike conventional varietal selection, genetic engineering allows choose specific genes and place them in specific positions in the DNA, minimizing the introduction of unwanted traits. In addition, the genome editing offers to add, delete or change DNA fragments precisely.
Sometimes genes are transferred between unrelated species, such as introducing a bacterial gene into a plant to produce a protein that confers defense against pests. There were pioneering foods, such as Flavr Savr tomato, which faced extensive regulatory scrutiny before being authorized and eventually withdrawn due to their commercial and technical performance.
What are they for and what are their objectives?
GM seeds are created to provide agronomic advantages or quality. Among the most common objectives are: plants that tolerate herbicides specific to simplify weed control; crops with genes from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that produce proteins active against certain larvae; tolerance to drought or stress; or improvements in nutritional value and shelf life. It is also sought that some foods generate less undesirable compounds when cooking.
Lines have been developed with uses aimed at the public health, such as rice with provitamin A, or potatoes with special properties. In the animal field, fish have been investigated Accelerated growth and, as a line of work, dairy animals that produce functional milksTo learn more about the benefits and risks of genetically modified seeds, you can consult Advantages and disadvantages of transgenic plants.
Main crops and examples
Among the most widespread crops are: soybean herbicide tolerant, the Bt corn’s most emblematic landmarks, the Bt cotton and rapeseed herbicide tolerant. In some regions there are also beet, pumpkin, alfalfa y papaya MG. In Europe, commercial cultivation is very limited and the corn This is the most representative case; the surface area varies by country, and Spain has stood out for its adoption, while other states have opted for transgenic flower seeds.
Differences with traditional and hybrid (F1) seeds
The traditional seeds are selected and preserved cycle after cycle; F1 hybrids They are controlled crosses with hybrid vigor, but their offspring are not stable. MGs, in addition to their genetic modification, are usually protected by patents and licenses: in many cases the farmer cannot save seed for the next sowing and must be purchased each campaign along with associated technology packages.
Regulation, evaluation and safety
GM plants and foods undergo evaluations of food safety, environmental and health. Agencies such as the FDA, EPA and the USDA They analyze their safety, and in Europe the law is in force Precautionary PrincipleThere are precedents of products being recalled by allergenicity or by incorporating marker genes antibiotic resistanceAt the same time, the agencies note that the authorized MGs have exceeded established standards.
Labeling and traceability are key aspects for freedom of choice. Debates persist about the independence of studies and possible revolving doors in regulators, which fuels the demand for transparency and open science.
Environmental impacts and potential risks
The widespread use of herbicide-tolerant crops may favor “superweeds”, and continued exposure to Bt proteins can drive the emergence of “superpests”. Furthermore, the gene flow by pollen or seeds can cause contamination of conventional or organic crops, with effects on the biodiversity and productive coexistence.
Impacts have been reported on soil fauna and beneficial organisms, as well as the global increase in the use of agrochemicals in intensive models. The expansion of monocultures linked to feed chains, such as the soybean, has been related to processes of deforestation and land use change in certain regions. There is also concern about the emission of nitrous oxide associated with synthetic fertilization.
Socioeconomic aspects and intellectual property
MGs operate under a regime of patents and license agreements that may generate dependence of inputs and services from supplier companies. There were technologies such as the so-called "Terminator" (sterile seeds) that, despite being developed, are not marketed due to their potential impact. Debates persist about seed costs, royalties, infringement litigation and effects on small farmers.
Pressures for the regulatory approval in different countries and political controversies, in addition to side effects such as the difficulty of certain sectors (for example, apiculture) to certify the absence of GM pollen in products. In contrast, organic farming and agroecological systems are presented as sustainable alternative with high employment potential and local resilience.
Experimental fields and risk management
Open-air testing can disperse pollen and plant material to neighboring crops, introducing unwanted traces into the environment. Therefore, measures such as isolation distances, outdated flowering calendars, physical barriers, public location of plots, chain segregation (harvest, transportation and storage) and robust programs of monitoring and withdrawal if appropriate.
Beyond the positions, the technical debate focuses on whether the commercialized traits really contribute net profit facing its costs and risks, and how to ensure that biotechnology innovation is aligned with the sustainability, biodiversity and the right to choose of producers and consumers.
