Smart breeding

SMART breeding (Selection with Markers and Advanced Reproductive Technologies) or Precision breeding refers to a genetic engineering technique of reproducing a species members together to retain desirable traits and so produce a stronger hybrid. The technique was successfully used by Nachum Kedar, an Israeli scientist, who applied the technique using beefsteak tomatoes to produce a fruit that would ripen on the vine and remain firm in transit.

Smart breeding has been advanced as an alternative to transgenics as a way to produce plants that are resistant to various environmental problems.

See also

• Genomics of domestication
• Marker assisted selection

External links

• Worldchanging: "Biomimicry, Smart Breeding and Prairie-Like Farms" by Alex Steffen, August 25, 2004
• Wired News: "Super Organics" by Richard Manning, May 2004
• PLoS Biology: Diversifying Selection in Plant Breeding; ESSAY about SMART breading by Susan McCouch, 12.10.2004
• HortResearch: New apple (made with SMART breading technology) packs health punch