Every day scientists are developing new ways to use nature's living elements to protect and enhance plant resourses. Saskatoon is a major centre for this activitiy. Plant Power One of the most interesting accomplishments of agbiotechnology is the development of new crops which have unique features. The new processes which use specific plant genes rather than working with whole plants, have improved the older, slower breeding systems and allow faster, relatively inexpensive transfer of specific characteristics. A gene is a tiny piece of DNA which carries a chemical code that instructs plant cells to produce selected features.
Scientists can now insert genes into cells.
This delivers new chemical instructions to the cells and introduces new traits. The process is called gene transfer. Genes can be transferred from one species of plant, micro-organism and animal to another using this system. As a result of genetic engineering, there are now many ways in which plants can protect themselves. On the prairies, crops must use water as effeciently as possible.