ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with studies carried out with transgenic plants to quantify gene flow and evaluate strategies to control or minimize it. The application of biological sciences to develop products and traditional plant and animal breeding techniques being under use since the dawn of civilization can be included under biotechnology. Biotechnology typically refers to new techniques used to develop products by modifying the genetic make-up of organisms and producing unique individuals or characteristics that conventional breeding techniques cannot easily produce. The transfer of genetic characters across species held promises to resolve issues in managing agricultural crops and offer a new revenue earning avenue for farmers through contract production of industrial crops. Proponents of modern biotechnology cite its ability to increase food security as their principal argument for genetically modified (GM) crops. Yet supporters of GM technologies opine that biotechnology can enhance traditional breeding programmes and find solutions when other methods are not successful.
