Gene Banks for a Warming Planet

TitleGene Banks for a Warming Planet
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsSwaminathan M.S.
JournalScience
Volume325
Start Page517
Date Published07/2009
Keywordsbiodiversity, gene banks, plants, Science
Abstract

THE BICENTENARY OF CHARLES DARWIN’S LIFE AND WORK REMINDS US THAT THE GREAT biodiversity on Earth underlies natural selection, selective breeding, and the biotechnologies required to provide humanity with food, fi ber, fodder, and fuels. In particular, biodiversity affords the development of plant varieties with novel genetic combinations, which will be required to meet the challenges arising from adverse alterations in temperature, precipitation, sea level, and the frequency of drought and fl oods—all of which are anticipated from human-induced climate change. The loss of each gene and species therefore limits our options for the future

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