Small RNAs for Crop Improvement: Applications and Considerations for Ecological Risk Assessments

Abstract

The world faces many challenges in the development of crop systems that produce more food, fiber, and biofuels while minimizing environmental impacts. Today, the central dogma of "one gene, one protein" has been supplanted by a realization that small RNA molecules have profound effects in plants and can be engineered to create novel crop traits. Crop improvement using small RNAs has potential in two broad areas: (1) modifying metabolic and biochemical pathways and (2) silencing genes in pest organisms to provide plant protection. In the USA, genetically engineered (GE) crops have been grown since 1992 with RNA-mediated