Featured plant genetics topic of local and timely interest: The 2014 GMO Ballot Measure

Focusing on a plant: Roundup Ready sugar beets in the Willamette Valley

Beta vulgaris 2n = 2x = 18 ~758 Mb (the haploid (n) genome size, by convention)

Oregon's organic farmers fight genetically modified seeds by Scott Learn, The Oregonian Friday October 31, 2008, 9:52 PM

Genotype: RR Phenotype: resistant Seed production: Blue = male Red = female Pair of homologous chromosomes Each has R gene Showing only 1 pair of the 9 pairs of chromosomes (2n = 2x = 18) Genotype: 00 Phenotype: susceptible Seed production: Blue = male Red = female Pair of homologous chromosomes Each missing R gene Showing only 1 pair of the 9 pairs of chromosomes (2n = 2x = 18)

The “R”* locus (same position on each homologous chromosome) 2 copies of the R gene; each copy is one allele R R The R locus (same position on each homologous chromosome) 2 copies of the absence of the R gene; each copy is one allele 0 0 More on the transgene conferring resistance to glyphosate

R R R R meiosis Male gamete RR meiosis Female gamete 0 0

RR 0R0 0 All F1 progeny plants are R0 Resistant (R is dominant to 0) R0 RRRR F2 plants 3 Resistant: 1 susceptible 1 RR: 2 R0: 1 00 RR – select a resistant type (if you want)

Genome editing – TALENs; CRISPRs and…….