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Agriculture & Environment

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].

Producing enough food for a rapidly growing population, and taking care of our planet are two of the world's biggest challenges.

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R

Ribonucleic acid (RNA)

Chemical chains made up of the sugar ribose attached to a phosphoric acid and a base. Different types of RNA exist in cells, some of which serve as the immediate code for proteins, others of which are involved in the physical process of protein synthesis. RNA can also serve instead of DNA as the only genetic information in certain viruses.

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Information Services

Where is science in the developing world?

A series of articles, written by TWAS members and published by Nature, discusses the status of science in the South

Pest control goes local

Integrating biopesticide research and development with local knowledge and resources is helping India's poor farmers

The global food crisis

A series of articles debate key issues such as GM technology, media reporting and agricultural policymaking

Guardian Network

SciDev.Net joins a new network of the world's best environment websites

Who's to blame for the Kosi floods?

Could Nepal's flood disaster have been avoided with better technological choices and institutional arrangements?

The challenges facing African agriculture

Florence Wambugu, winner of the 2008 YARA prize for African agriculture, discusses the challenges facing the field