Round-Up Ready GMO Plants

Glyphosate is the active compound in the herbicide Roundup. It inhibits
the enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase,
which is required to synthesize the aromatic amino acids tryptophan,
tyrosine, and phenylalanine. Plants sprayed with glyphosate stop growing
and die because they cannot make these aromatic amino acids needed
for protein synthesis. Transgenic crop plants that contain a gene encoding
the glyphosate-resistant bacterial enzyme CP4 EPSP synthase are
called Roundup Ready plants and do not die when treated with glyphosate.
Glyphosate has been shown to increase yields in Roundup Ready
crops; however, its detrimental effect on native plants, and possible
human health hazards resulting from chronic exposure to high levels of
glyphosate, have raised concerns. Moreover, because glyphosate-resistant
weeds are becoming more common, there is a need to develop alternate
approaches to sustainable agriculture in order to meet predicted global
food shortages.