Scientists are currently developing genetic approaches to conferring resistance to fungal diseases and are testing their effectiveness on wheat.

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That was an important distinction for some of the company's customers, as there remained "a lot of resistance in Europe" to genetic modification, he said.

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Resistance can arise due to a genetic mutation in bacteria which are normally susceptible to antibiotics.

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However to date, the only widely used traits developed by genetic modification are herbicide tolerance and Bt insect resistance.

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The genetic engineering of plants to enhance their pest-resistance offers a way to prevent the problem.

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Henry Amerson, also at North Carolina State University, is using genetic markers too, this time to breed fungal resistance into southern pines such as the loblolly.

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Drug resistance and disease progression have been observed all for anticancer drugs that target specific genetic alterations.

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Because it allows precise control of the activation or silencing of genetic traits, Dr Greenland and others are testing their molecular switches on such properties as insect or fungal resistance.

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