Agriculture Biotechnology

USDA organic

A concept and practice of agricultural production that focuses on production with the use of specific synthetic inputs and does not allow the use of transgenic organisms. USDA's National Organic Program has established a set of national standards for certified organic production which are available online

Field trial

A test of a new technique or variety, including biotech-derived varieties, done outside the laboratory but with specific requirements on location, plot size, methodology, etc

GMO (actual)

An organism produced through genetic engineering

Transgenic organism

An organism resulting from the insertion of genetic material from another organism using recombinant DNA techniques

Clone

An organism that is genetically identical to the organism from which it was produced

Bt crop

Crops that are genetically engineered to carry a gene from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt). The bacterium produces proteins that are toxic to some pests but non-toxic to humans and other mammals. Crops containing the Bt gene are able to produce this toxin, thereby providing protection for the plant.

Herbicide-tolerant crops

Crops that have been developed to survive application(s) of particular herbicides by the incorporation of certain gene(s) either through genetic engineering or traditional breeding methods

Gene sequencing

Determining the exact sequence of nucleotide bases in a strand of DNA to better understand the behavior of a gene

Gene mapping

Determining the relative physical locations of genes on a chromosome. Useful for plant and animal breeding

Cisgenic organism

Genetic modification of a recipient plant with a natural gene from a crossable—sexually compatible—plant.

Selective breeding

Making deliberate crosses or matings of organisms so the offspring will have particular desired characteristics derived from one or both of the parents

Genetic engineering

Manipulation of an organism's genes by introducing, eliminating or rearranging specific genes using the methods of modern molecular biology, particularly those techniques referred to as recombinant DNA techniques

Insect-resistant crops

Plants with the ability to withstand, deter or repel insects and thereby prevent them from feeding on the plant

Intellectual property rights

The legal protection for inventions, including new technologies or new organisms (such as new plant varieties). The owner of these rights can control their use and earn the rewards for their use. Intellectual property rights protection includes various types of patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Gene flow

The movement of genes from one individual or population to another genetically compatible individual or population