A Holistic Approach To Rice Research And Genetic Engineering

The aim of this book series is to familiarize scientists, students and the general public with exciting new discoveries and developments in rice genomics. Leading scientists in rice genomics and related fields are invited to write articles in a cohesive format that appeals to both researchers and laypersons with an interest in genomics and biotechnology. The first volume provides the background information and highlights the major achievements in rice genomics; ongoing developments in this exciting field are also discussed. This volume promotes genomics as a holistic approach to rice research and genetic engineering. The chief editor of the series is Prof Huanming Yang of the Beijing Genomics Institute. As one of the most distinguished scientists in rice research today, Prof Yang led a team of researchers who successfully sequenced and analyzed the draft sequence of the indica rice subspecies. In Vol 1 of the series, he co-authors an article entitled “An International Campaign for Agricultural and Livestock Genomics”. Contents:From Human Genome to Rice Genome and Beyond BGI — A Success Story of Jumpstarting Genomic Projects (B Liu et al.)Rice Genomics and the Future of Publicly Funded Rice Research (R P Cantrell)Rice Bioinformatics: From Sequences to Applications (B A Antonio et al.)Rice Microarray Project in Japan (S Kikuchi)Rice Functional Genomics by T-DNA Insertional Mutagenesis (G An)Rice Functional Genomics by Transposon Mutagenesis (C-D Han)Rice Gene Machine: A Vehicle for Finding Functions of Cereal Genes (N M Upadhyaya et al.)Hybrid Rice: The Futute of Rice Cultivation (S S Virmani)Rice Biotech Research at Taiwan Agricultural Research Institute (C-S Wang et al.)An International Campaign for Agricultural and Livestock Genomics (CALG) (J Yu et al.)Retrospective and Advance in Rice Improvement in China (Z-X Sun et al.) Readership: Researchers and university students in rice genomics, genetics, biotechnology and agriculture as well as non-specialist readers. Keywords:Rice;Genomics;Agriculture;Food;Genetics;Biotechnology;Plant

This book focuses on the conventional breeding approach, and on the latest high-throughput genomics tools and genetic engineering / biotechnological interventions used to improve rice quality. It is the first book to exclusively focus on rice as a major food crop and the application of genomics and genetic engineering approaches to achieve enhanced rice quality in terms of tolerance to various abiotic stresses, resistance to biotic stresses, herbicide resistance, nutritional value, photosynthetic performance, nitrogen use efficiency, and grain yield. The range of topics is quite broad and exhaustive, making the book an essential reference guide for researchers and scientists around the globe who are working in the field of rice genomics and biotechnology. In addition, it provides a road map for rice quality improvement that plant breeders and agriculturists can actively consult to achieve better crop production.

This book presents the latest advances in rice genomics, genetics and breeding, with a special focus on their importance for rice biology and how they are breathing new life into traditional genetics. Rice is the main staple food for more than half of the world’s population. Accordingly, sustainable rice production is a crucial issue, particularly in Asia and Africa, where the population continues to grow at an alarming rate. The book’s respective chapters offer new and timely perspectives on the synergistic effects of genomics and genetics in novel rice breeding approaches, which can help address the urgent issue of providing enough food for a global population that is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050.

Does nature have intrinsic value? Should we be doing more to save wilderness and ocean ecosystems? What are our duties to future generations of humans? Do animals have rights? This revised edition of "Life Science Ethics" introduces these questions using narrative case studies on genetically modified foods, use of animals in research, nanotechnology, and global climate change, and then explores them in detail using essays written by nationally-recognized experts in the ethics field. Part I introduces ethics, the relationship of religion to ethics, how we assess ethical arguments, and a method ethicists use to reason about ethical theories. Part II demonstrates the relevance of ethical reasoning to the environment, land, farms, food, biotechnology, genetically modified foods, animals in agriculture and research, climate change, and nanotechnology. Part III presents case studies for the topics found in Part II.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) hosted an Expert Consultation on "Genetically Modified Organisms in Crop Production and Their Effects on the Environment: Methodologies for Monitoring and the Way Ahead" from 18 to 20 January in Rome. The main objective of the consultation was to review the scientific basis for, and procedures to establish, effective post-release monitoring of genetically modified (GM) crops and develop guidelines to strengthen member countries' capacities to design and carry out monitoring programmes. The consultation was a follow-up to the earlier FAO Expert Consultation on "Environmental Effects of Genetically Modified Crops", which had recommended the environmental effects of GM crops be assessed on a case-by-case basis and emphasized the need to monitor possible medium- to long-term environmental impacts. The main outputs of the meeting were: a review of the scientific criteria and procedures; strategies that could form the basis of efficient monitoring programmes; recommendations for both scientists managing the monitoring process and policy makers.

Fruit Crops: Diagnosis and Management of Nutrient Constraints is the first and only resource to holistically relate fruits as a nutritional source for human health to the state-of-the-art methodologies currently used to diagnose and manage nutritional constraints placed on those fruits. This book explores a variety of advanced management techniques, including open field hydroponic, fertigation/bio-fertigation, the use of nano-fertilizers, sensors-based nutrient management, climate- smart integrated soil fertility management, inoculation with microbial consortium, and endophytes backed up by ecophysiology of fruit crops. These intricate issues are effectively presented, including real-world applications and future insights. Presents the latest research, including issues with commercial application Details comprehensive insights into the diagnosis and management of nutrient constraints Includes contributions by world renowned researchers, providing global perspectives and experience

This volume explores interactions between academia and different societal stakeholders with a focus on sustainability. It examines the significance and potential of transdisciplinary collaboration as a tool for sustainability and the SDGs. Traditionally, academia has focused on research and education. More recently, however, the challenges of sustainable development and achieving the SDGs have required the co-production of knowledge between academic and non-academic actors. Compromising theory, methods and case studies from a broad span of transdisciplinary collaboration, Transdisciplinarity For Sustainability: Aligning Diverse Practices is written by specialists from various academic disciplines and represents an important step forward in systematising knowledge and understanding of transdisciplinary collaboration. They are designed to provide a roadmap for further research in the field and facilitate pursuing and realizing the SDGs. The book will appeal to researchers and postgraduate students in a variety of disciplines such as architecture, design, economics, social sciences, engineering and sustainability studies. It will also be of significant value to professionals who are engaged in transdisciplinary collaboration that supports sustainable development.