Genetic modifications

[RopeShield]

How do you all feel about the use of Recombinant DNA technology of trees?

For example the American Sweet Chestnut, Castanea dentatas resistance to Endothia parasitica. At present I think it is an extracted gene from Picea being inserted into the DNA of Castanea. They call this a Transgenic organism.
Chestnut was the most important tree/nut for the survival of our pioneers discovering North America.

A new opportunity to bring a species back to its former glory.

Natural breeding in resistance has no guarantee and GMT Genetically modifying trees is another way.

Science moves forward and so does our trust in those with the specific knowledge.

Just thought to share and learn with the Arb society some of the science and technology.
Really interested in other comments and opinions.

So much has been done successfully(Relative), like Tobacco, Corn, Potatos etc

 

[Fernhorn]

Is this where they are spicing in Blight Resistant Chinese Chestnut Genes to the American Chestnut?

I've seen several good sized American Chestnuts around here that have yet to succomb to blight. But will.

 

[RopeShield]

Plant breeders have been cross pollinating with Chinese varieties.Mostly flowering parts. Have they started splicing with Chinese?

Recombinant DNA technology is scientists extracting a specific gene trait like blue eyes or disease resistance and splicing into the DNA and introducing the DNA into plant cells.

It could be compared to splicing an Arbo with an Orangutang or Chimp feet trait and getting an Arbo who can climb ropeless.

The Transgenic part is really very interesting and scary at times.

 

[Fernhorn]

So yes?

We have some sort of chestnut project logging in tree data like location elevation etc... around the area. Is that region wide or anyone ever heard of it?

 

[BostonBull]

Im against GMO's personally.

 

[guymayor]

Fernhorn, is that a USFS project?

Big money behind transgenics. attached are notes from a conf at duke a few years ago

 

[TreeCo]

It's a good thing.

 

[Fernhorn]

Guy,

I don't think what I was referring to had a lot of USFS involvement. I think it was put together here:

ENTS Chestnut project

Chestnuts are a very important tree. The Hemlocks are gonna be revered as the chestnuts are now that most of them are gone too. It hurts seeing those great towering evergreens barren.

 

[guymayor]

Ah, the ENTS, shoulda known.

sure would be nice if an anti-adelgid gene could be spliced into hemlocks, with no worries of chaos later.

 

[RopeShield]

The Demise and Potential Revival of the American Chestnut

Before a disastrous blight, the American chestnut was a keystone species in eastern forests. Could genetic engineering help bring it back?

www.sierraclub.org

 

[rico]

Fucking human beings thinking they are smarter than Mother Nature. When are we gonna learn to leave well enough alone?

 

[ATH]

I'm sure there are several efforts to bring back American chestnut, but the 2 biggest I am aware of:
1) American chestnut foundation has been crossing American and Chinese chestnuts. They'll take the most "American" (selected for form and nit characteristics) that are disease resistant and cross that with another American. And so on. Currently they have trees that are 15/16 American. These seem to have all of the American traits, but the disease resistance of Chinese chestnut.
2) Researchers at the State University of New York (Syracuse) have spliced a wheat gene into American chestnut. This makes an otherwise completely American chestnut disease resistant. Why wheat? Several years ago, there was a case that made its way to the SCOTUS where FDA was trying to block private efforts to use GMO southern pine species. The decision was that since it wasn't a food or drug, FDA did not have the authority to regulate those trees. However since Chestnut is a legit food source, they likely will regulate their introduction. Wheat was selected as the gene source with the hope that since it is also a food source, those loopholes will be more likely passable.

The American Chestnut Research & Restoration Project at ESF

The ESF American Chestnut Project has developed a blight-tolerant American chestnut tree, and is working to restore this iconic and valuable cultural symbol to the forest ecosystems of the eastern United States.

www.esf.edu

 

[surveyor]