14 • Impacts of Applied Genetics— Micro-Organisms, Plants, and Animals 
single variety— must be dealt with at an institu- nologies existed, farmers would still select only 
tional or social level. Even if no genetic tech- one or a few “best” varieties for planting. 
ISSUE: Should an assessment be con- 
ducted to determine how much 
diversity in plant germplasm 
needs to be maintained? 
An understanding of how much germplasm 
should be protected and maintained would 
make the management of genetic resources 
simpler. 
OPTIONS: 
A. Congress could commission a study of how 
much genetic variability is necessary or desir- 
able to meet present and future needs. 
A comprehensive evaluation of the National 
Germplasm System’s requirements for collec- 
ting, evaluating, maintaining, and distributing 
genetic resources for plant breeding and re- 
search could serve as a baseline for a further 
assessment. 
B. Congress could commission a study on the 
need for international cooperation to manage 
and preserve genetic resources both in natural 
ecosystems and in repositories. 
This investigation could include an evaluation 
of the rate at which genetic diversity is being 
lost from natural and agricultural systems along 
with an estimate of the effects this loss will 
have. 
C. Congress could commission a study on how to 
develop an early warning system to recognize 
the potential vulnerability of crops. 
Where high genetic uniformity still exists, 
proposals could be suggested to reduce any 
risks due to uniformity. Alternatively, the 
avenues by which private seed companies could 
be encouraged to increase the levels of genetic 
diversity could be investigated. 
What are the most appropriate 
approaches in overcoming the 
various technical constraints 
that limit the success of molec- 
ular genetics for plant improve- 
ment? 
Although genetic information has been trans- 
ferred by vectors and protoplast fusion, 1)N,\ 
transformations of commercial \ alue ha\ e not 
yet been performed. Molecular engineering has 
been impeded by the lack of vectors that can 
transfer novel genetic material into plants, 
by insufficient knowledge about which genes 
would be useful for breeding purposes, and by 
a lack of understanding of the incompatibility of 
chromosomes from diverse sources. ,\noth(M' 
impediment has been the lack of researc'hei's 
from a variety of disciplines. 
OPTIONS: 
A. The level of funding could be increased for 
plant molecular genetics research supfiorled 
by NSF and USDA. 
B. Research units devoted to plant molecular ge- 
netics could be established under the auspices 
of the National Institutes of Health (NIW, with 
emphasis on potential pharmaceuticals de- 
rived from plants. 
C. An institute for plant molecular genetics could 
be established under the Science and educa- 
tion Administration at LLSDA that would in- 
clude multidisciplinary teams to consider both 
basic research questions and direct applica- 
tions of the technologv to commercial net'ds 
and practices. 
The discoveries of mokunilar |)lant genetics 
will be used in conjunction with traditional 
breeding programs. Henct?, (>ach of the ihia'c 
options could retiuire additional ap|)ro[)riaiions 
for agricultural research. 
Issues and Options — Plants 
ISSUE: 
