genetics Agriculture and animal husbandry

Agriculture and animal husbandry apply genetic techniques to improve plants and animals. Breeding analysis and transgenic modification using recombinant DNA techniques are routinely used. Animal breeders use artificial insemination to propagate the genes of prize bulls. Prize cows can transmit their genes to hundreds of offspring by hormone treatment, which stimulates the release of many eggs that are collected, fertilized, and transplanted to foster mothers. Several types of mammals can be cloned, meaning that multiple identical copies can be produced of certain desirable types.

Plant geneticists use special techniques to produce new species, such as hybrid grains (i.e., produced by crossing wheat and rye), and plants resistant to destruction by insect and fungal pests.

Plant breeders use the techniques of budding and grafting to maintain desirable gene combinations originally obtained from crossbreeding. Transgenic plant cells can be made into plants by growing the cells on special hormones. The use of the chemical compound colchicine, which causes chromosomes to double in number, has resulted in many new varieties of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Many transgenic lines of crop plants are commercially advantageous and are being introduced into the market.