What is a benefit of using genetic engineering to improve a plant species instead of more traditional selective breeding?

The benefit of using genetic engineering to improve a plant species is that it allows for the introduction of specific genetic traits without the need for traditional crossbreeding with other plants. This method enables the direct insertion of desired genes into the genome of a plant, which can be derived from completely unrelated organisms. This capability is particularly valuable because it bypasses the limitations of hybridization that traditional breeding often faces when trying to combine traits from compatible species.

In traditional selective breeding, traits are generally only exchanged between closely related species, which can limit the available options for improving certain characteristics such as disease resistance, drought tolerance, or nutritional content. Genetic engineering expands the toolbox available for plant improvement, making it feasible to incorporate beneficial traits that might not be present in the plant’s immediate relatives.

This precise targeting of traits can also lead to faster development of new plant varieties, as it allows scientists to work with individual genes rather than relying on the more time-consuming process of selecting and stabilizing a trait through multiple generations of breeding. Thus, the use of genetic engineering can lead to improved efficiency and effectiveness in achieving specific agricultural outcomes.