Synthetic Engineered Genes, GMOs, and Hybridization with Wild Relatives

The focus of this chapter is to discuss the impact of genetically modified organism (GMO)s on crop wild relatives (CWR)s at length, the possibilities of hybridization, gene flow, and gene introgression from GMO crops into wild relatives. Interspecific Genetic Modification (GM) is a targeted approach and allows the integration of genetic material from different species. Indeed, GMO crops are the most important achievements of biotechnology helping to address the constraints of agriculture, including environmental issues, diseases resistance, and herbicide tolerance. Specific attention is required to possible gene flow and introgression of transgenes into CWR that endangers their utility. Hybridization, gene flow, and introgression are important processes associated with vertical gene transfer between populations. To estimate whether a transgene is capable of introgression all steps and factors affecting the process of introgression is considered. Finally, the chapter highlights on the possible effects of gene flow and introgression within highly complex ecosystems.