Cisgenesis as a novel prospect for crop improvement. A review

Nowadays, the development of new biotechnological methods is necessary to satisfy requirements of market to produce enough good-quality food. Application of novel scientific approaches can be of great importance for improving the quality and quantity of plant crops. However, the most efficient strategies are based on genetic modification, which is still very controversial issue. GMO opponents do not accept the use of genetic engineering in crop improvement and production of new varieties suited for organic agriculture. Major discussion among various scientific and social issues concerns the possibility of existence of unintended effects of GMO both on human and world safety. Political, ethical, and social fears are related mostly to the best known transgenic approach, which is 'transgenesis'. Novel strategies and techniques are therefore required in the development of genetically engineered crops of the future. Nowadays, a new plant breeding technique, called 'cisgenesis' is intensively studied. In this paper, we review the most common strategies for crops improvement and describe cisgenesis as an alternative to transgenesis for safe and eco-friendly agriculture.