The development and use of molecular markers for the detection and exploitation of polymorphism h... more The development and use of molecular markers for the detection and exploitation of polymorphism have been playing a significant role in plant breeding studies. The earliest type of the DNA marker was RFLP. However, the development of PCR allowed designing other approaches like RAPD, SSR, AFLP, and SNPs. Also, new powerful technologies as microarray and RNA-sequencing have made possible to use RNA as a molecular marker. The presence of various types of molecular markers provides to combine some desirable properties. Selecting one or more of such techniques that are based on different principles, methodologies, and application should be considered carefully. Molecular markers can be a useful tool for biotechnological developments.
Increasing agricultural productivity to provide food security for a growing world population is o... more Increasing agricultural productivity to provide food security for a growing world population is one of the pressing challenges of the 21st century. Genetic engineering has the potential to greatly accelerate crop improvement, as it bypasses the lengthy process of selecting for a desired trait over several generations that is required by classical breeding methods. Genetically modified (GM) foods have been available for 20 years; however, public and political concern about potential risks associated with GM has led to tight restrictions on their import and use in some countries, and strict monitoring of foodstuffs that may contain them. In this context, a new group of technologies collectively referred to as ‘Genome Editing’ is now being applied to crop plants, which offers the advantages of standard GM approaches without many of the perceived risks. In this chapter, we examine the food safety aspects of current GM crops, considering the methods by which they are produced, what risks this may present and how these risks are assessed. We also explore the methods currently employed to monitor the presence and prevalence of GM material in the global food industry. Finally, we discuss the potential impact of Genome Editing on the next generation of genetically engineered foods.
Germins and germin-like proteins (GLPs) known as germination markers are encoded by multigene fam... more Germins and germin-like proteins (GLPs) known as germination markers are encoded by multigene families in several plant species, including barley. To date, functional analysis has revealed germins and GLPs are involved in diverse processes such as embryonic development and stress responses. The aim of this study was the analysis of barley germins and GLPs. In this study, 80 putative germins and GLPs have been identified in barley by using known 17 germins and GLP sequences. Analysis of germins and GLPs showed all germins and GLPs are distributed on all seven chromosomes that most of them spread through chromosome 3, 4 and 7 with 16, 18 and 12 proteins on each, respectively. The protein sizes varied between 185 and 335 amino acids, with an average length of 225 aa. Twelve conserved motifs were found. While germin motifs 1 and 3 were detected in all germins and GLPs, some motifs were found to be related to signalization. Interestingly, protein-protein interaction analysis demonstrated some GLPs are associated with RAB6-interacting golgin, oligopeptide transmembrane transporter activity, beta-glucuronidase activity, protein N-linked glycosylation, multi-pass membrane protein, and proteins containing zinc finger (Znf) domain and RING (really interesting new gene)-type zinc finger domains. Our findings suggest that barley germins and GLPs may have diverse functions that make them important candidates for crop improvement.
The millions of natural and/or synthetic substances with the unknown biological effects found in ... more The millions of natural and/or synthetic substances with the unknown biological effects found in our environment, their mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials are still unknown. For this reason, it is very important to evaluate the mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials of natural and/or synthetic substances that are placed in our daily lives. Considering the cost and duration of the tests, researchers have developed tests are easy to use and inexpensive in a short time. The most common short-term test systems are bacterial mutagenicity tests. Various tests for the detection of mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of chemicals in bacteria, insects, plants and all mammalian cells for DNA damage, chromosome alterations, and cell cycle are often used at the same time. Recently retrotransposon based systems came into consideration. Use of various molecular markers in an effort to establish high-throughput screening methods that could revolutionize future toxicology studies.
The development and use of molecular markers for the detection and exploitation of polymorphism h... more The development and use of molecular markers for the detection and exploitation of polymorphism have been playing a significant role in plant breeding studies. The earliest type of the DNA marker was RFLP. However, the development of PCR allowed designing other approaches like RAPD, SSR, AFLP, and SNPs. Also, new powerful technologies as microarray and RNA-sequencing have made possible to use RNA as a molecular marker. The presence of various types of molecular markers provides to combine some desirable properties. Selecting one or more of such techniques that are based on different principles, methodologies, and application should be considered carefully. Molecular markers can be a useful tool for biotechnological developments.
Increasing agricultural productivity to provide food security for a growing world population is o... more Increasing agricultural productivity to provide food security for a growing world population is one of the pressing challenges of the 21st century. Genetic engineering has the potential to greatly accelerate crop improvement, as it bypasses the lengthy process of selecting for a desired trait over several generations that is required by classical breeding methods. Genetically modified (GM) foods have been available for 20 years; however, public and political concern about potential risks associated with GM has led to tight restrictions on their import and use in some countries, and strict monitoring of foodstuffs that may contain them. In this context, a new group of technologies collectively referred to as ‘Genome Editing’ is now being applied to crop plants, which offers the advantages of standard GM approaches without many of the perceived risks. In this chapter, we examine the food safety aspects of current GM crops, considering the methods by which they are produced, what risks this may present and how these risks are assessed. We also explore the methods currently employed to monitor the presence and prevalence of GM material in the global food industry. Finally, we discuss the potential impact of Genome Editing on the next generation of genetically engineered foods.
Germins and germin-like proteins (GLPs) known as germination markers are encoded by multigene fam... more Germins and germin-like proteins (GLPs) known as germination markers are encoded by multigene families in several plant species, including barley. To date, functional analysis has revealed germins and GLPs are involved in diverse processes such as embryonic development and stress responses. The aim of this study was the analysis of barley germins and GLPs. In this study, 80 putative germins and GLPs have been identified in barley by using known 17 germins and GLP sequences. Analysis of germins and GLPs showed all germins and GLPs are distributed on all seven chromosomes that most of them spread through chromosome 3, 4 and 7 with 16, 18 and 12 proteins on each, respectively. The protein sizes varied between 185 and 335 amino acids, with an average length of 225 aa. Twelve conserved motifs were found. While germin motifs 1 and 3 were detected in all germins and GLPs, some motifs were found to be related to signalization. Interestingly, protein-protein interaction analysis demonstrated some GLPs are associated with RAB6-interacting golgin, oligopeptide transmembrane transporter activity, beta-glucuronidase activity, protein N-linked glycosylation, multi-pass membrane protein, and proteins containing zinc finger (Znf) domain and RING (really interesting new gene)-type zinc finger domains. Our findings suggest that barley germins and GLPs may have diverse functions that make them important candidates for crop improvement.
The millions of natural and/or synthetic substances with the unknown biological effects found in ... more The millions of natural and/or synthetic substances with the unknown biological effects found in our environment, their mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials are still unknown. For this reason, it is very important to evaluate the mutagenic and carcinogenic potentials of natural and/or synthetic substances that are placed in our daily lives. Considering the cost and duration of the tests, researchers have developed tests are easy to use and inexpensive in a short time. The most common short-term test systems are bacterial mutagenicity tests. Various tests for the detection of mutagenic and carcinogenic activities of chemicals in bacteria, insects, plants and all mammalian cells for DNA damage, chromosome alterations, and cell cycle are often used at the same time. Recently retrotransposon based systems came into consideration. Use of various molecular markers in an effort to establish high-throughput screening methods that could revolutionize future toxicology studies.
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Papers by Elif Karlık