Editing Germplasm

{{Short description|Genetic material of an organism}}
{{distinguish|text=[[germ plasm]], a germ cell's determining zone}}
[[File:INTA - Banco de germoplasma.jpg|thumb|Germplasm bank of the [[Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria]].]]
'''Germplasm''' refers to [[genetic resources]] such as seeds, tissues, and DNA sequences that are maintained for the purpose of [[Animal husbandry|animal]] and [[plant breeding]], conservation efforts, agriculture, and other research uses. These resources may take the form of seed collections stored in [[Seedbank|seed banks]], trees growing in nurseries, animal breeding lines maintained in animal breeding programs or [[Gene bank|gene banks]]. Germplasm collections can range from collections of wild species to elite, domesticated breeding lines that have undergone extensive human selection. Germplasm collection is important for the maintenance of biological diversity, food security, and conservation efforts.

In the United States, germplasm resources are regulated by the National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP), created by the U.S. congress in 1990. In addition the web server The Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)<ref>{{Cite web |title=USDA ARS GRIN |url=https://www.ars-grin.gov/ |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=www.ars-grin.gov}}</ref> provides information about germplasms as they pertain to agriculture production.<ref>{{Citation |last=Kinard |first=Gary |title=Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) |url=https://data.nal.usda.gov/system/files/FAOBIOVERSITY_MULTI-CROP_PASSPORT_DESCRIPTORS_V.2.1_2015_2020.pdf |publisher=USDA NAL |language=English |access-date=2023-02-08}}</ref>

== Regulation ==
In the United States, germplasm resources are regulated by the National Genetic Resources Program (NGRP), created by the U.S. congress in 1990. In addition the web server The [[Germplasm Resources Information Network]] (GRIN) provides information about germplasms as they pertain to agriculture production.

Specifically for plants, there is the [[National Plant Germplasm System|U.S. National Plant Germplasm System (NPGS)]] which holds > 450,000 accessions with 10,000 species of the 85 most commonly grown crops. Many accessions held are international species, and NPGS distributes germplasm resources internationally.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2016-10-18 |title=USDA ERS - Plant Genetic Resources: New Rules for International Exchange |url=http://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2003-june/plant-genetic-resources.aspx#.WAV3XezP0Up |access-date=2023-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018011403/http://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2003-june/plant-genetic-resources.aspx#.WAV3XezP0Up |archive-date=2016-10-18 }}</ref>

As genetic information moves largely online there is a transition in germplasm information from a physical location (seed banks, cryopreserving) to online platforms containing genetic sequences. In addition there are issues in the collection germplasm information and where they are shared. Historically some germplasm information had been collected in developing countries and then shared to researchers who then sell the donor country the original germplasm that they altered. There is a lack of compensation to the donor countries and this is an issue. <ref name=":1" />

== Storage methods ==
Effective Germplasm work includes the collection, storage, analysis, documentation, and exchange of genetic information. This information can be stored as [[Accession number (bioinformatics)|accessions]], which is DNA sequence information, or live cells/tissues that can be preserved. However, only about 5% of current germplasm resources are living samples.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Germplasm Conservation |url=https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/11232 |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=encyclopedia.pub |language=en}}</ref> For live cells/tissues, germplasm resources can be stored [[Ex situ conservation|''ex situ'']] in [[Seed bank|seed banks]], [[Botanical garden|botanic gardens]], or through [[cryopreservation]]. Cryopreservation is the process of storing germplasm at very low temperatures, such as liquid nitrogen.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Merritt |first1=David J. |last2=Hay |first2=Fiona R. |last3=Swarts |first3=Nigel D. |last4=Sommerville |first4=Karen D. |last5=Dixon |first5=Kingsley W. |last6=Herendeen |first6=Editor: Patrick S. |date=2014 |title=Ex situ Conservation and Cryopreservation of Orchid Germplasm |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/673370 |journal=International Journal of Plant Sciences |volume=175 |issue=1 |pages=46–58 |doi=10.1086/673370 |jstor=10.1086/673370 |s2cid=53319038 |issn=1058-5893}}</ref> This process ensures that cells do not degrade and keeps the germplasm intact. In addition, resources can be stored [[in situ]] such as the natural area the species was found.

== Conservation efforts ==
About 10,000 years ago is when humans began to domesticate plant species for the purpose of food, seeds, and vegetation. <ref name=":0" /> Since then, agriculture has been a staple for human civilizations and plant breeding has allowed more [[genetic diversity]] and a more diverse gene pool.<ref name=":0" />  Germplasm resources allow for more genetic assets to be used and integrated for agricultural systems for [[plant breeding]] and bringing about new varieties. In addition, researchers are looking at crop wild relatives (CWRs) that could expand gene pools of crop species and provide more ability to select target traits.

Furthermore, we are currently facing a [[Biodiversity loss|biodiversity crisis]] event that is caused by human activities and industrialization. Many plants and animals have gone extinct due to losing their habitat, their habitat being degraded with contaminants, and [[climate change]]. Germplasm resources are a way to conserve the pre-existing biological diversity and to possibly regenerate habitats. By storing this genetic information there is data about what species are present including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi and what a complete ecosystem in specific areas look like.

==See also==
*[[Animal genetic resources for food and agriculture]]
*[[Conservation biology]]
*[[Cryoconservation of animal genetic resources]]
*[[Forest genetic resources]]
*[[International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture]]
*[[Plant genetic resources]]
*[[Seed saving]]
*[[Germ plasm]]

==References==
*Day-Rubenstein, K and Heisey, P. 2003. ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20161018011403/http://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2003-june/plant-genetic-resources.aspx Plant Genetic Resources: New Rules for International Exchange]''
* {{cite book |author=Carmen De Vicente |first=Maria |title=Issues on gene flow and germplasm management |publisher=Bioversity International |year=2005 |isbn=9789290436935 |url=http://www.bioversityinternational.org/Publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=1079 |access-date=December 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503213405/http://www.bioversityinternational.org/publications/pubfile.asp?id_pub=1079 |archive-date=May 3, 2008 |url-status=dead}} 63 p. 
*Economic Research Service. ''[http://webarchives.cdlib.org/sw1wp9v27r/http://ers.usda.gov/Briefing/GlobalResources/Questions/whyaregeneticresources.htm Global resources and productivity: questions and answers]''
* {{cite book |author=Engels |first=Jan |title=A Guide to Effective Management of Germplasm Collections |publisher=Bioversity International |year=2003 |isbn=9789290435822 |editor-last=Engels |editor-first=Jan |page= |url=http://www.bioversityinternational.org/Publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=899 |editor-last2=Visser |editor-first2=L |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070525135543/http://www.bioversityinternational.org/publications/pubfile.asp?ID_PUB=899 |archive-date=May 25, 2007 |url-status=dead}} 174 p. 
*SeedQuest [http://www.seedquest.com/keyword/seedbiotechnologies/primers/germplasmresources/introduction.htm Primer Germplasm Resources]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.bioversityinternational.org Bioversity International]
*[http://www.bioversityinternational.org/scientific_information/themes/germplasm_collection.html Bioversity International: Germplasm Collection]
*[http://www.bioversityinternational.org/nc/scientific_information/information_sources/germplasm_databases/list_of_germplasm_databases.html Bioversity International: Germplasm Databases]
*[http://www.bioversityinternational.org/scientific_information/themes/germplasm_documentation/overview.html Bioversity International: Germplasm Documentation - overview]
*[http://www.bioversityinternational.org/scientific_information/themes/germplasm_health.html Bioversity International: Germplasm Health]
* [[DAD-IS|DAD-IS: Domestic Animal Diversity Information System]]
* [https://www.ars-grin.gov/ USDA-ARS Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)]
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[[Category:Developmental biology]]
[[Category:Conservation biology]]
[[Category:Food security]]
[[Category:Biorepositories]]