Consultants | Dr Paul Brennan

Plant Improvement Aspects of Biotechnology

In 1988 Dr Brennan undertook study leave at the (then) Plant Breeding Institute, Cambridge, UK. This enabled him to develop a comprehensive understanding of restriction enzyme technology and the utility of this technology in gene marker development and plant transformation. On returning to Australia he obtained investment to undertake regional, national and international research into the development of molecular markers for wheat. This was his major research interest for the remainder of his time with QDPI.

• Dr Brennan has not worked on plant transformation. His responsibilities with SRDC in particular and to a lesser extent with GRDC required him to develop a detailed knowledge of transformation methodology and the technical problems associated with this technology. These included:
• transformation efficiency,
• minimising “collateral’ damage,
• developing/isolating gene promoters and
• overcoming gene silencing.

Dr Brennan has been a keen follower of the debate on the commercialisation of GMO varieties through international email newsletters and other sources. He is aware of the social issues concerned with the commercial application of this technology and the workings of Australia’s Office of Gene Technology to address these issues. He has a copy of the report of the NZ Royal Commission on GM technology (Report of the Royal Commission on Genetic Modification) and is aware of its major findings.

This experience has given him the necessary skills to evaluate, develop and coordinate R and D activities on the utilisation of biotechnology (markers and transformation) in plant improvement.