What are the similarities and differences between transgenic technology and traditional breeding technology?

Transgenic breeding technology and traditional breeding technology are in the same strain, and the essence is to obtain the excellent characters we need by changing crop genes. The only difference is the way to get the target gene. Traditional breeding techniques rely on hybridization between different varieties to obtain genes with excellent traits. For example, if hybrid rice wants to achieve high yield, it is necessary to find varieties with high yield advantages in the rice family and find ways to preserve this Excellence through "marriage" between different varieties of rice.

The breeding cycle of traditional breeding process is very long, and some researchers need years or even more to cultivate new varieties that meet people's expectations. However, cross breeding also has limitations. If a certain trait that people need does not exist in the big family of this species at all, traditional breeding methods will be powerless.

Transgenic breeding technology has solved this problem well. Through transgenic technology, scientists can "borrow" specific genes across species barriers, so that the target crops can obtain the traits people need, which can greatly shorten the breeding time, broaden the source of breeding genes, and achieve the purpose of accurately improving variety traits.

For example, the insect-resistant cotton planted in China was cultivated by transferring the insecticidal protein gene originally existing in Bacillus thuringiensis into cotton. This kind of insect-resistant cotton can greatly reduce the harm of cotton bollworm to cotton, not only reduce the use of pesticides, but also achieve stable production and increase production.

The combination of transgenic breeding technology and traditional breeding technology has brought more possibilities to the future of agriculture. With the development of technology, people's future will be better!

Reference source: What is the difference between general breeding and transgenic breeding?