Role of reproductive biotechnologies in enhancing food security and sustainability

Abstract

• Animal biotechnologies related to reproduction have contributed to many improvements in agriculturally important traits in livestock. While the first biotechnology tool applied to improve reproduction and propagate superior genetics of farm animals was artificial insemination, numerous technologies have been developed over the years. The most recent of these emerging technologies is reproductive cloning and production of transgenic animals. • Cloning, or production of a genetically identical animal, is a natural event represented in nature with the birth of twins derived from the same oocyte that splits early in development. Similarly, cloning as a reproduction technique for multiplication of genetically superior animals has resulted in thousands of offspring. The production of clones can be accomplished through a variety of methods including splitting of 2 to 4 cell embryos, embryonic cell nuclear transfer, and somatic cell nuclear transfer. Though embryo splitting and embryonic cell nuclear transfer did not arouse public concern, production of Dolly the sheep from an adult somatic cell brought concern over food safety of cloned animals. • In contrast to cloned animals, a transgenic animal is one in which a gene has been added, deleted, or an existing gene has been modified. Transgenesis is a sophisticated tool that enables targeted gene modification with the potential to increase genetic diversity by creating animals with resistance to disease, reduced environmental impact, and improved productivity traits. • Modification of individual genes is becoming increasingly practical as the information available from genomic sequencing projects continues to grow. Use of transgenic technologies for production of farm animals could provide an instrument to address emerging issues and global challenges facing production agriculture. However, proponents of biotechnology tools such as cloning and transgenesis will likely face opposition by the general public who lack understanding and acceptance of these reproductive tools for animal production.