A number of pressing, interrelated, global challenges face the human race in the 21st century: environmental change, population growth and a rapid decline in fossil fuel reserves.
This web focus accompanies a special issue of Nature Reviews Genetics that explores a range of areas in which genetics can be put to use in tackling these issues. Topics include: crop genetic manipulation to improve yields and provide resistance to environmental stress; approaches in plant genetics to allow economical biofuel production; and the genetic monitoring of effects of environmental change on the world�s biodiversity.
The accompanying library collects the most relevant recent publications from across Nature Publishing Group.
Reviews
Detecting genetic responses to environmental change
Ary A. Hoffmann & Yvonne Willi
doi:10.1038/nrg2339
Nature Reviews Genetics 9, 421-432 (2008)
Advances in genomics and gene mapping allow sets of candidate genes to be identified for use in monitoring adaptive responses to specific environmental stresses. Such toolkits will allow us to predict the ability of species to adapt to changing environments.
Plant genetic engineering for biofuel production: towards affordable cellulosic ethanol
Mariam B. Sticklen
doi:10.1038/nrg2336
Nature Reviews Genetics 9, 433-443 (2008)
Making ethanol from cellulose-containing parts of plants is a promising route to abundant biofuel production. Using genetics to decrease the need for crop pretreatment and processing, and to increase yield, will be important in making bioethanol an affordable and plentiful fuel.
Genetic approaches to crop improvement: responding to environmental and population changes
Shin Takeda & Makoto Matsuoka
doi:10.1038/nrg2342
Nature Reviews Genetics 9, 444-457 (2008)
The combination of environmental change and a rapidly increasing human population is putting global food supplies in danger. Crop improvements that increase yields and enable plants to withstand abiotic stresses will provide an important route to tackling this urgent problem.
Perspective
Opposition to transgenic technologies: ideology, interests and collective action frames
Ronald J. Herring
doi:10.1038/nrg2338
Nature Reviews Genetics 9, 458-463 (2008)
Despite its potential benefits, opposition to transgenic crops remains strong in influential European countries. This article explores the basis for this opposition and looks at its implications for applying transgenic technology in poorer nations, where it is needed the most.
Highlights
Global challenges: One gene, lots of rice
Patrick Goymer
doi:10.1038/nrg2392
Nature Reviews Genetics 9, 415 (2008)
Global challenges: A sense of identity helps stressed-out plants
Louisa Flintoft
doi:10.1038/nrg2384
Nature Reviews Genetics 9, 414 (2008)
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