The current state of genetic engineering technologies and how to effectively talk about them to the public. Presented on 6/4/2016 at the annual conference of American Public Gardens.
Pests of mustard_Identification_Management_Dr.UPR.pdf
Lessons Learned in Communicating Plant Science Topics to a Concerned Public
1. Lessons Learned in
Communicating Plant Science
Topics to a Concerned Public
Kevin M. Folta
Professor and Chairman
Horticultural Sciences Department
kfolta.blogspot.com
@kevinfolta
www.talkingbiotechpodcast.com
kevinfolta@gmail.com
2. Outline
What is plant genetic improvement?
What are some of the current techniques?
How do we effectively engage the public?
3. What Plant Genetic Improvement Is
More varieties
Grow better under
given conditions
Improved yields
Safer products
Improved nutrtion
5. Why New Methods of Genetic Improvement
are Critical
Gene editing
6. Why New Methods of Genetic Improvement
are Critical
We can make precise
additions/subtractions to
otherwise improved plants
Speed. Genetic engineering
(slowed by public acceptance
and regulatory hurdles) is faster
than molecular-marker assisted
breeding, which is faster than
traditional breeding.
7. The genomics revolution has dramatically
changed plant genetic improvement
Traditional breeding
Genome-wide selection
Molecular markers
Transgenics (Genetic
engineering, “GMO”)
Gene Editing – CRISPR/Cas9
Increasingprecision
Lesscollateralchange
Publicacceptance
?
11. Marker-Assisted Breeding
Association between the likelihood of inheriting a trait
and a certain sequence of DNA
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Mara
Elyana
Plant5
Plant2
Plant4
Plant16
Plant8
Plant14
Plant1
Plant3
Plant9
Plant6
Plant12
Plant11
Plant13
Plant7
Plant17
Plant18
Plant19
Water
12. Marker-Assisted Breeding
Association between the likelihood of inheriting a trait
and a certain sequence of DNA
Can select for trait at seedling stage
Inexpensive and fast (relatively)
14. Transgenics
Can add traits from across species (like the Bt gene for insect resistance)
Can suppress traits or viruses using RNAi (as in the papaya and potato)
15. Keep it Simple– What are the Three Main Traits?
Virus Resistance
Insect Resistance
Herbicide Resistance
(how the traits work lecture online – (google “ UF biotechnology literacy day”)
19. Strengths Limitations
Virus resistance Works great, no foreign
material
Has cut insecticide use
by 10-70%
Saves time, labor, fuel.
Allows conservation
tillage
Can spread to nonGM
populations
Pockets of developing
resistance
Resistant weeds are a
problem in areas.
Insect resistance
Herbicide resistance
Distill Into Digestible Units - Keep it simple. Discuss
strengths and limitations (don’t create false equivalence)
20. Gene Editing
CRISPR (clustered regularly
interspaced short pallindromic repeats)
Targeted, few collateral
effects
Allows production of custom
mutations
Reasonably fast and efficient
No foreign genes present
21. Gene Editing
Horn Gene Horn Gene
NO HORNS!!!
Good beef
Bad milkHORNS!!!
Bad beef
Great milk
22. Gene Editing
Horn Gene Horn Gene
NO HORNS!!!
Good beef
Bad milkHORNS!!!
Bad beef
Great milk
Cross….
Mix of bad beef, bad milk production
23. Gene Editing
Horn Gene Horn Gene
NO HORNS!!!
Good beef
Bad milkHORNS!!!
Bad beef
Great milk
Horn Gene
NO HORNS!!!
Bad beef
Good milk
24. Gene Editing
Still strong opposition from activist NGOs
Some countries have taken stands on the
issue
Stands to generate rapid improvement of crop
plants, especially where traditional breeding is
long (trees)
25. Talking to public audiences
Plant genetic improvement techniques are safe.
All methods involve some small risk– but all are about the
same risk as traditional breeding.
Techniques that breed in traits can take a long time
Directed changes are more precise and more rapidly
available, but frequently require regulatory hurdles
26. Talking to public audiences
Don’t be a scientist, be a teacher.
Lead with your common values.
REMEMBER YOUR AUDIENCE!
-- Don’t try to change the unchangeable.
-- Most people just don’t know what to believe. Talk
about shared values and how modern solutions can
satisfy them.
27. Farmers
The Needy
Environment
Consumers
Talking to public audiences
We need to celebrate that we have the safest and most abundant
food supply in human history- and expand plant genetic
improvement techniques to serve the farmer, the needy, the
environment and the consumer.
28.
29. More Barriers: Avoid these Mistakes
Avoid “feed the world” rhetoric
Always discuss strengths and limitations
Don’t ever claim it is a single solution
Don’t inappropriately criticize other forms of genetic
improvement
Understand the ‘backfire effect’