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Agriculture & Environment: Agri-biotech

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Definitions

Below is a directory of terms used in the field of genetically modified crops. Most of the terms have been reproduced from the University of California Biotech [UCB] or John Innes Centre [JIC].

See All Definitions

N

Nucleotide

Strings of thousands of nucleotides form a DNA or RNA molecule. Nucleotides are composed of phosphate, sugar and one of four bases (adenine, guanine, cytosine, and uracil or thymine). Three bases form a codon, which specifies a particular amino acid; amino acids are strung together to form proteins. [UCB]

Nucleus

Central compartment in cells of 'higher' organisms (eukaryotes); it houses most of the heritable genetic information in the cell. [UCB]

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Flickr/Nazir Amin

Science for oceans

Our Spotlight examines how countries can make better use of scientific tools for sustainable management of marine resources
Flickr/d0ug&r0byn

Ocean knowledge

The facts and figures on 20 years of ocean monitoring progress — but also continuing challenges

Guardian Network

SciDev.Net is part of the Guardian’s network of the world’s best environmental websites
Local Kubulau youth with a giant trevally

Balancing act

Science and tradition are coming together in Fiji to help locals conserve their marine resources
Anchored fish aggregating devices improve access to tuna for coastal communities in the Pacific : Natalie Behring

Win-win adaptations

Better access to tuna can help coastal communities adapt to climate change — but fishing must be tightly monitored, says Johann Bell
Biologists record algal diversity during an underwater survey - Flickr/ NOAA Photo Library

Going local

Pacific islands need to pull their own weight on monitoring, says Cook Islands marine resources secretary Ben Ponia
Buoys gather real-time data that feed into ocean hazard warnings and rescue missions : NOAA

Buoy vandals

Countries must step up measures against damage of data buoys that puts early warning systems at risk
Men working on a water pipeline in Honduras - Flickr/Water Sanitation and Hygiene Photos

Measuring progress

New, science-based indicators of sustainable development are needed at Rio+20, a conference hears
Participatory mapping in Uganda - Flickr/ILRI

Mapping locally

With a little help, communities can use technology to build local knowledge of climate change risks
Green planet - Courtesy of Gas2.org

Seeking sustainability

If Rio+20 proposes an intergovernmental science panel, what form should it take?
Oedaleus asiaticus juvenile locust by Muren Bao

What locusts like to eat

Locusts prefer what grows on degraded land, and avoid crops rich in nitrogen – to scientists' surprise
Asia–Pacific Analysis

Be prepared

Devastation from typhoons and floods will only increase unless South-East Asian governments start planning now

Man walking through a flooded ricefield by Flickr/ World Bank Photo Collection

Agriculture after Durban

This policy brief outlines how science can help improve policies for agricultural adaptation and mitigation
Engineers - Flickr/Engineering at Cambridge

Forgotten engineers

The role of engineering in shaping sustainable development is being forgotten, say engineers

Priced out of nutrition

The economic crisis is increasing global hunger — nutritional interventions are desperately needed