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Genetic modification plays a crucial role in increasing crop yield by enhancing resistance to pests, diseases, and environmental conditions.
Genetic modification, or genetic engineering, is a process where the DNA of an organism is altered to create a new set of genes. This technology is used in agriculture to create crops that have desirable traits, such as increased yield. The main way this is achieved is by making the crops more resistant to pests and diseases. For example, Bt cotton is a genetically modified crop that produces a toxin that is harmful to many pests, reducing the need for chemical pesticides and increasing the overall yield.
Another way genetic modification can increase crop yield is by making crops more tolerant to harsh environmental conditions. This includes tolerance to drought, salinity, and extreme temperatures. By modifying the genes of a crop, scientists can create plants that can survive and even thrive in conditions that would normally be detrimental to crop growth. This not only increases the yield of the crop in these conditions but also allows crops to be grown in areas where it was previously not possible.
Genetic modification can also directly increase the yield of a crop by altering the plant's growth characteristics. For example, scientists can modify the genes of a plant to increase its size, speed up its growth, or increase the number of fruits or seeds it produces. This can significantly increase the yield of the crop.
In summary, genetic modification plays a vital role in increasing crop yield. It does this by enhancing the crop's resistance to pests and diseases, increasing its tolerance to harsh environmental conditions, and directly altering the plant's growth characteristics to increase its yield.
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