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8-GMO Edited

The document discusses genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their implications. It begins by defining GMOs as organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. It then discusses some of the potential uses of GMOs, including for human gene therapy and developing transgenic plants and crops. However, it also notes there are ongoing ethical debates around GMOs, particularly regarding their safety for human consumption and potential environmental impacts. It examines some of the social concerns surrounding GMOs, such as whether they pose health risks or could negatively impact biodiversity. The document aims to have learners discuss the ethics and implications of GMOs and consider their potential future impacts.

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Marc Francis Tero
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32 views5 pages

8-GMO Edited

The document discusses genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their implications. It begins by defining GMOs as organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. It then discusses some of the potential uses of GMOs, including for human gene therapy and developing transgenic plants and crops. However, it also notes there are ongoing ethical debates around GMOs, particularly regarding their safety for human consumption and potential environmental impacts. It examines some of the social concerns surrounding GMOs, such as whether they pose health risks or could negatively impact biodiversity. The document aims to have learners discuss the ethics and implications of GMOs and consider their potential future impacts.

Uploaded by

Marc Francis Tero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Genetically Modified Organism

Intended Learning Outcome

Within the given period, the learners are expected to:

discuss the ethics and implications of GMOs and potential future impacts (PO 4)

Preparation

Due to the advancements of technology in this modern era, it is inevitable to


cease the technological innovations. The DNA of organisms especially food are now
altered to improve its growth, development and quality for human welfare. Of course,
there are always ethical issues faced for this technological advancements. The main
question is “Is it safe for human utilization”? This is still a debatable issue even until
now.

Note: Before the implementation of this module, in the form of assignment, students
were already divided as to their stand during the debate on the issue “Are GMOs
acceptable for human utilization”? Each group should have decided as to who will
be their debaters from their respective groups. The debate follows the usual process
on how a debate should be done. Rubric is provided to show how students are rated
with their performances.

Introductory Activity: (Movie Clip: Are GMOs good or bad?)


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TmcXYp8xu4
Time Allocation: 15 minutes

Presentation:

Genetically Modified Organism

- It is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic


engineering techniques.
- GMOs are source of medicines, genetically modified foods, are widely used in
scientific research & to produce other goods.
- The first genetically modified mouse was produced in 1981, the first plant was
produced in 1983, the first GM human (modified Mt DNA) was born on July 21,
1997.

Uses

GMOs have wide arrays of applications in different fields of Biology.

1. Human Gene Therapy


2. Transgenic Plants (crops)
3. Producing food quality traits
4. Research use
5. Microbes
6. Mammals.

Human Gene Therapy

- Gene therapy is a collection of methods that allows correction of a gene defect


that has been diagnosed in a child/embryo. Here genes are inserted into a
person’s cells and tissues to treat a disease.
- Correction of a genetic defect involves delivery of a normal gene into the
individual or embryo to take over the function of and compensate for the non-
functional gene.

Genetically Modified Crops

- Genetically modified crops (GM crops, or biotech crops) are plants used in
agriculture, the DNA of which has been modified using genetic engineering
techniques.
- In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not
occur naturally in the species.
- Examples in food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, or
environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, or resistance to chemical
treatments (e.g. resistance to a herbicide), or improving the nutrient profile of the
crop.
- Examples in non-food crops include production of pharmaceutical agents,
biofuels and other industrially useful goods

Genetically Modified Food

- Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods.


- GM foods are developed – and marketed – because there is some perceived
advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods.
- This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in
terms of durability or nutritional value) or both.
- Initially GM seed developers wanted their products to be accepted by producers
and have concentrated on innovations that bring direct benefit to farmers (and
the food industry generally).
- One of the objectives for developing plants based on GM organisms is to
improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed
at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance
against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased
tolerance towards herbicides.

Social Concerns

- Health Risks
- Environment
- Labeling GM food
- Economical issues

Health Risks: Animals

- Many scientific data indicate that animals fed by GM crops have been harmed.
E.g. rats exposed to GM potatoes and soya had abnormal young sperm.
- Cow, goats buffalo, pigs & other livestock grazing on Bt-maize & certain biotech
corn showed complications including early delivery, abortions, infertility & many
more died.

Health Risks: Human

- Many companies do not accept the direct link between GMF consumption &
human health problems.
- E.g. Foodborne diseases such as soya allergies have increased over the years in
UK & USA.
- Many villagers & cotton handlers have developed skin allergies in India.

Environmental Risk

- Genes may escape & find their way into other members
of species or other species. Imagine the trouble if
herbicide resistant genes found their way into weeds.
- GM crops could compete or breed with wild species
threatening biodiversity.
- Monogenetic crops may not react sufficiently to
environmental stresses, posing danger of reenactment of Ireland’s potato famine.
- Unintended harm to other species.

GM Labeling

- A proper labeling represents the “GM” word along with additional information on
changed characteristics & the external source of the inserted genes.
- Why is it necessary to label GM food? It is not about health issue rather, it is
about consumer rights to make an informed choice on GM.

Economical Issue

- Risk of patent enforcement which may oblige farmers may to depend on giant
engineering companies such as Monsanto for strains when their crops are
pollinated.
- Patenting new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that small
farmers will not be able to afford seeds for GM crops, thus widening the gap
between the wealthy and poor.

GMO and Ethical Issues

- Genetic modification of organisms can have unpredictable results when such


organisms are introduced into the ecosystem.
- The modification/usage of living organisms for public services (as food and
medicine sources, for example) has also created problems with patents granted
for the same.
- There is growing public anger that certain companies are being granted patents
for products and technologies that make use of the genetic materials, plants and
other biological resources that have long been identified, developed and used by
farmers and indigenous people of a specific region/country.
- Biopiracy is the term used to refer to the use of bio-resources by multinational
companies and other organizations without proper authorization from the
countries and people concerned without compensatory payment.
- Most of the industrialized nations are rich financially but poor in biodiversity and
traditional knowledge. In contrast the developing and the underdeveloped world
is rich in biodiversity and traditional knowledge related to bio-resources.
- There has been growing realization of the injustice, inadequate compensation
and benefit sharing between developed and developing countries. Therefore,
some nations are developing laws to prevent such unauthorized exploitation of
their bio resources and traditional knowledge.
Performance

Quiz

References

Adrian Dubock (2014) The politics of Golden Rice, GM Crops & Food, 5:3, 210-222,
DOI: 10.4161/21645698.2014.967570

Kurzgesagt – In a nutshell (2017), Are GMOs good or bad? Genetic Engineering and
our food, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TmcXYp8xu4

Phillips, T. (2008) Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): Transgenic crops and


recombinant DNA technology. Nature Education 1(1):213

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