GENERAL OVERVIEW OF AGRICULTURAL

BIOTECHNOLOGY IN GHANA AND THE AFRICAN

PERSPECTIVE

MICHAEL OSAE, PHD

DEPUTY DIRECTOR
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND NUCLEAR AGRICULTURE RESEARCH INSTITUTE
P. O. BOX 80, LEGON, ACCRA
[email protected]
PRESENTATION OUTLINE

 Brief definition of Biotechnology

 Applications of Biotechnology in Plant Breeding

 Genetically Modified Organism (GMOs)

 Basis of Genetic Modification

 Genetic Modification in the past and present

 Prospects of Genetic Modification for Ghana and Africa

 Conclusion 2
 WHAT IS BIOTECHNOLOGY?

By definition, biotechnology refers to any technological application that uses biological

systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes
for a specific use.

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 Classification of Biotechnology

Conventional Biotechnology: Modern Biotechnology:

uses microbiology and other biological agents Use of techniques that bring about specific
to make new products. man made changes in the genetic materials
(DNA) in plants, animals and the microbes to
Examples generate useful products and services.

• Fermentation It is also known as:

• Baking of Bread •Gene Technology
• Local brewing of alcohol •Genetic Engineering
• Cheese production •Genetic modification
•Recombinant DNA Technology
• Vaccine production
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IMPACT OF BIOTECHNOLOGY

Biotechnology has made significant impact in

 Medicine

 Industry

 Animal Breeding

 Plant breeding

 Crop production
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APPLICATION OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN PLANT BREEDING

1. MARKER – ASSISTED SELECTION

An indirect selection process where a trait of interest is selected, not based on

the trait itself, but on a marker linked to it or DNA sequences linked to the trait.

For example, selection of disease resistance, the level of

disease resistance is not quantified but rather a marker
allele that is linked with disease resistance is used.

E.g. Oil palm breeding

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 2. CELL AND TISSUE CULTURE

Growing of cells, tissues or organs in artificial medium under

sterile conditions

 Rapid Multiplication

 Disease elimination

 Long term germplasm

conservation

 Genetic engineering 7

Yam plantlets Plantain multiplication

3. RECOMBINANT DNA OR GENETIC ENGINEERING OR GENETIC MODIFICATION (GMO)

Direct transfer of genes from one organism to

another. Organisms may or may not be related.

 Highly specific

 Overcomes genetic barriers

 Saves time and labour

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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

What is a GMO?

An organism in which one or more genes have been

introduced into its genetic material (DNA) from
another organism using recombinant DNA technology
or genetic transformation techniques.

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 Types of Genetic Modification
Cisgenesis

Genetic modification of a recipient plant with

a natural gene from a crossable—sexually
compatible—plant

Transgenesis

Genetic modification of a recipient plant with one

or more genes from any non-plant organism, or
from a donor plant that is sexually incompatible
with the recipient plant
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Schouten et al, 2006

 Genetically Modified Organism

In some cases more than one gene can be inserted into one living organism. This is known
as stack genes.

Above ground Corn borer

Weed control Glyphosate

tolerance

Below ground Rootworm

Pest, diseases and weeds can be controlled at the same time 11

 Basis for Genetic Modification

Genes form long strands called DNA.

DNA stores all the genetic information

The chemical compound of DNA is the same

for all living organisms and hence they can
be moved from one species to another. This
is the basis for genetic modification.

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 Genetic Modification in the Past

This mutation occurs as a result of background radiation 13

 Genetic Modification in the Past

Farmers selected seeds from vigorous, high yielding plants and used them for sowing in
the following season. Selective sowing of seeds with preferred traits, from year to year led
genetic modification of wild plants into domesticated crops (Conway, 2012)

Maize
Teosinte 14
How your food would
look if it hadn’t been
genetically modified
over millennia?

http://gawker.com/is-the-gmo-
labeling-movement-just-a-
long-con-to-get-you-
1699015048
 Genetic Modification in the Past

Artificial hybridization including conventional cross pollination and unnatural wide crosses.

Development of plants with high yield

and good resistance to diseases

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GENETIC MODIFICATION/ENGINEERING IN THE PRESENT

A gene of a specific trait of one organism is

isolated, cut, and moved into the genome of
another organism via Agrobacterium or
particle bombardment.

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 Genetic transformation

Agrobacterium tumefaciens Direct transfer

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Source: Learn Biotechnology Online

 GM Crops under Confined Field Trials in Ghana
Species Genetically conferred trait Institute

Cowpea Pest resistance SARI

N use efficiency
NEWEST Rice Water use efficiency CRI
Salt tolerance

Courtesy: PBS Ghana 19

 PROSPECTS OF GENETIC MODIFICATION/GM CROPS IN GHANA

 Creation of new plant varieties and animal breeds with

higher yields thereby ensuring food security.

 Higher economic benefits for resource poor farmers

 Resistant to pest and diseases

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PROSPECTS OF GENETIC MODIFICATION/GM CROPS IN GHANA

 Reduction in the use of chemicals.

 Protection of the environment

 Tolerance to drought, salinity, chemical toxicity

 Production of crops with enhanced nutritional

value e.g. Golden rice (enriched with pro-
vitamin A). 21
SOME PROBLEMS THAT NEED URGENT GENETIC MODIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Cassava Brown Streak Virus (CBSV) Disease Devastation in East Africa

Availability of cassava tubers on the market does not mean 22

that there are no problems with the cultivation of the crop.

SOME PROBLEMS THAT NEED URGENT GENETIC MODIFICATION SOLUTIONS

‘’Bosom nsia’’ cassava Bosom nsia with African Cassava Mosaic Virus
variety without ACMV (ACMV) infection
infection
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SOME PROBLEMS THAT NEED URGENT GENETIC MODIFICATION SOLUTIONS

Genetically engineered plantains/bananas are needed to solve the black sigatoga

disease associated with plantains, Cape St Paul disease in coconuts. These are
diseases that require genetic solutions.

If the gene technology can stop it, why not use it? 24
 Conclusion

 Modern biotechnology or Genetic modification has become one of the best tools in plant
breeding which is used to solve crop production crises .

 Thus, its application is driven by a need (eg low yield, diseases and pests, drought)
 Has huge potential to:
 improve crop yield and income of farmers,
 improve their livelihood
 ensure healthy environment for both humans and animals.

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 Which one is safer?

Industrial vaccines Edible vaccines

this is safe but this is not! WHY?

Why no public concerns about use of vaccines? 26

THANK YOU