I came across this video which looks at how the potential of genetic modification to help resolve impending climate change issues is being explored. If you're interested it's worth a watch because it nicely sums up the various processes and why it is felt to be necessary and be worth investing expertise and huge amounts of money in, to access the latest technology.
It features the Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology who are working with german scientists to explore whether it is feasible to transfer the gene from a hardy drought and cold-resistant Himalayan plant into other plant species, to give them the same qualities. These are qualities which would be beneficial to the plant in the face of fluctuating extremes of temperature and precipitation which are becoming more common as a result of climate change.
The initial studies have shown that the modified plants can survive the drought conditions better than their 'normal' relatives, however the results are not clear until the genetically modified plant has had offspring.
The scientists are also exploring the potential that this technique might have in modifying cotton, a key cash crop in India. It is felt that it will be harder for the technique to be successful in the cotton plants as it is larger and has a more complicated genome therefore integrating the gene from the Himalayan plant will be more difficult.
However, if it is successful, these hardy drought resistant qualities could be applied to the cotton crop, which would mean they would need less irrigation and could withstand drought conditions. This could be very beneficial for the survival of this cotton industry in the face of climate change.
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