Modern biotechnological methods like in vitro micropropagation technique hold tremendous potential for the production of high-quality plant-based medicine. They also allow to achieve the large scale multiplication of diseasefree plants, faster cloning and the conservation of desired genotypes, in a very short span of time. Via genetic transformation techniques, the modification of both genetic information of MAPs and the regulation of genes responsible for the production of valuable biologically active substances has also become possible in either higher amounts or with better properties.Micropropagation protocols are worked out for many plant species cultured in vitro to provide macro-and micro-mineral nutrients, vitamins, source of carbohydrates, appropriate environmental conditions (light intensity, photoperiod and temperature) and plant growth regulators required to obtain high regeneration rates. As such they are expected to facilitate commercially feasible micropropagation. Well-defined cell culture methods have also been developed to produce pharmacologically important secondary metabolites. Genetic engineering is applied to produce transgenic medicinal plants and metabolites.This chapter offers a brief insight into the present status of the biotechnology of MAPs. Special emphasis has been placed on the in vitro micropropagation and rapid clonal multiplication of selected elite genotypes, the regulation of organogenesis and somatic embryogenesis, the exploitation of advantages in somaclonal variation and genetic engineering techniques for both crop improvement and in vitro germplasm conservation. The production of flavor and volatile constituents in tissue cultures will also be briefly discussed, similarly to the application of farther biotechnological approaches.

Food and feed samples were randomly collected from different sources, including local and imported materials from the Syrian local market. These included maize, barley, soybean, fresh food samples and raw material. GMO detection was conducted by PCR and nested PCR-based techniques using specific primers for the most used foreign DNA commonly used in genetic transformation procedures, i.e., 35S promoter, T-nos, epsps, cryIA(b) gene and nptII gene.The results revealed for the first time in Syria the presence of GM foods and feeds with glyphosate-resistant trait of P35S promoter and NOS terminator in the imported soybean samples with high frequency (5 out of the 6 imported soybean samples). While, tests showed negative results for the local samples. Also, tests revealed existence of GMOs in two imported maize samples detecting the presence of 35S promoter and nos terminator. Nested PCR results using two sets of primers confirmed our data.The methods applied in the brief data are based on DNA analysis by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). This technique is specific, practical, reproducible and sensitive enough to detect up to 0.1% GMO in food and/or feedstuffs. Furthermore, all of the techniques mentioned are economic and can be applied in Syria and other developing countries. For all these reasons, the DNA-based analysis methods were chosen and preferred over protein-based analysis.