GENETICALLY
MODIFIED
ORGANISMS
(gmo)
What is Genetically Modified Organisms?
A Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is an animal,
plant or microbe whose DNA has been altered using
genetic engineering techniques. Genetic engineering is
primarily performed by simple mating or gene
recombination.
Genetic Engineering
The process of using plants or animals with desirable traits to reproduce
offspring with specific traits is known as selective breeding. Selective breeding
has been practiced since prehistoric times. Hybridization or the process of
crossing plants or animals with different variations of the same trait to create
an organism with the best trait has been around for many years as well.
However, these processes require a long period of time for results to be
observed, and usually it is successful only within a close family of species. In
the early 1970s, biologists experimented with manipulating and deliberatively
recombining the DNA molecules of different species. This technique, called
genetic engineering, allows a specific gene from one organism to be transferred
into the DNA of another organism. Improvements and technological
advances have allowed the discovery of solutions to social problem that
require manipulation of DNA.
Out of this technique, the science
of biotechnology was popularized.
It was coined in the 1970s when
the first genetically engineered
bacteria were designed. Since
then, biotechnology has often
been associated with genetic
engineering, specifically in the
development of transgenic
organisms for a particular
purpose. In 1973, Stanley Cohen and Herbert
Boyer developed a procedure for making
synthetic insulin using E. Coli bacterium.
Recombinant DNA Technology
Changes in the DNA of an organism can cause a change in
traits and its manipulation could lead to the formation of
genetically modified organisms. As the knowledge of DNA
advanced, more genetic modification techniques were
developed. Recombinant DNA technology is the technique of
combining two DNA sequences from different sources. One
goal of this technique is cloning a particular gene for analysis
or mass production of a medically useful protein product.
Bacteria, yeasts, and cultured plant and animal cells are
usually used for recombinant DNA experiments.
The first step in recombining the DNA from different species is to clone millions of
copies of a single desirable piece of DNA. Molecular cloning is done by cutting the
desired DNA fragment (gene) into a vector, usually either from a virus or a bacterial
plasmid. A vector in molecular cloning refers to a DNA molecule used as a vehicle to
carry a foreign genetic material to another cell. A small plasmid from E. coli is a
circular DNA containing about 1000 to 20000 base pairs that can replicate
independently inside a bacterial cell. Specialized enzymes are also used to cut DNA
molecules in specific regions to allow the insertion of the new DNA.
Process of
recombinant
DNA
technology.
Genetically Modified Plants
Advances in genetic engineering have been particularly
useful in medicine and agriculture. Scientists explored
ways of genetic modification and introduction of foreign
genes to give desirable characteristics of food crops.
Through genetic engineering, scientists have achieved
the production of plants that are resistant to pesticides
and drought, fruits and vegetables with improved taste,
texture, size, and color; and grains with improved protein
content.
6%
HOW DOES THE
9%
GMO WORKS ON
25%
PLANTS?
Genetic modification of
plants involves adding a
specific stretch of DNA into
the plant’s genome, giving it
a new or different
characteristics. This could
include changing the way the
plant grows, or making it
resistant to a particular
disease. The new DNA
becomes part of the GM
plant’s genome which seeds
produced by these plants will Genetic Modification Works on Plants
inherit the new DNA.
Pest-resistant Crops
A major effort seen in manipulating plant
genes for agriculture has been involved in
making crops resistant to insects and pests
without the use of harmful chemicals. Cotton
fibers, which are widely used in the garments
and textile industry. can hardly survive insect
attacks. At present, about 40% of chemical
pesticides are used to kill insects that devour
cotton plants. A soil bacterium, Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt), which produces crystal
proteins that is toxic to crop pests such as
horn worms was introduced to protect tomato
and cotton plants. By inserting the gene
responsible for producing Bt proteins, the Genetically modified cotton plants (left)
tomato plants began to manufacture Bt are unharmed while the conventional
proteins themselves. The proteins are toxic cotton variety (right) shows damage
to pests but not to humans. from pests.
Herbicide-resistant Crops
Aside from insects, agriculturists also
encounter problems controlling weeds or
unwanted plants that compete with crops for
space, water, and nutrients. However, using
herbicides such as glyphosate can have
adverse effects on the crops. Glyphosate kills
weeds, but it also stops the crops from
producing essential aromatic amino acids
needed for growth. Genetic engineers have
designed crop plants that will be unaffected
by glyphosate. They found a certain bacteria
that could make these aromatic amino acids
even in the presence of glyphosate. By
isolating glyphosate-resistant gene and A genetically modified crop has been
encoding the resistant enzyme from the introduced with a gene from a
bacteria, they have inserted and introduced it bacterium with resistance to
to the crops by means of DNA particle gun. herbicides.
Plants with More Nutritional Values
The most promising value of modifying crops
is in the production of genetically engineered
plants that will greatly benefit the consumers.
One notable project is the production of the
"golden rice" which addresses the nutritional
deficiencies associated with vitamin A. Iron
and vitamin A deficiencies have been
affecting third world countries for many years.
In fact, about 250 million children suffer from
vitamin A deficiency. To solve the problem,
genetic engineers isolated genes encoding
four enzymes for beta-carotene from a Golden rice has a yellow color
daffodil flower and added them to the rice. because it contains beta-carotene.
Thus, beta carotene, a precursor to vitamin A
has been synthesized.
Genetically modified foods are
crop plants created for human or
animal consumption using t latest
genetic engineering
methodologies. Among the GM
foods successfully produced
include the FlvrSavr tomato to
improve taste, the seedless
watermelon, tomatoes and
cantaloupes with modified ripening
characteristics, protein-enriched
potatoes, and corn with enriched
lysine and tryptophan, among
others. Today, there are over forty
plant varieties approved by the
United States Department of
Global status of commercial approved biotech crops to facilitate
Agriculture ready for
a more informed and transparent discussion to potential role of
commercialization. GM agricultural products.
GM Food Consumption and Potential Risks
Is eating genetically modified food products dangerous?
Despite the potential benefits derived from GM foods,
there are some who do not support their production and
consumption. GM foods are criticized for their potential
environmental hazard and probable consequences of
digesting them. However, there is no GM food currently
being produced in the United States that contains
allergens and there is no information proving that they are
different from conventional food. The concerns on the
consumption of GM crops can be summarized into three
issues:
1. They are potentially harmful to other organisms. In a lab experiment on Bt corn,
the pollen of the transgenic crop could be harmful to some insects. For example
it was found out that the larvae of Monarch butterflies are harmed by the Bt
protein and yet they are not pests. This might lead to issues with biodiversity
loss for some species.
2. They can elicit resistance. Similar to the existing effect of pesticides and
herbicides, agriculturists are also looking into the effect of Bt crops on pests
and weeds. The exposure of weeds to the GM crops could lead to the growth of
herbicide-resistant "superweeds," which would require traditional toxic pesticide.
3. They can affect the gene flow. The possibility of introduced genes to pass from
the GM crops to nearby wild relatives are also being considered. With the GM
crops grown alongside non-GM crops, the possibility of pollen transfer for
interbreeding and producing new hybrids is another concern.
Genetically Modified Animals
The technique of modifying plants by introducing foreign genes has
also been explored in animal cells. Genetic modification in animals
has allowed the production of fishes, cows, pigs, rabbits, and sheeps
with increased size and mass.
Transgenic Animals
Gene pharming uses transgenic animals to produce pharmaceuticals
products for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. The search for a
cure for cystic fibrosis, cancer, and blood diseases is being conducted
using treatment.
Clones
After the cloning of the first sheep in 1997, several animals have been cloned for
various purposes. Although animal cloning is possible, the success rate is low and
the clones have low viability.
Despite the low success rate, genetic engineers are using bioengineered
animals for various research projects to avoid experimenting on existing animals in
the wild. This is done in the context of reducing the impact of using animals for
experimentation. For example, a bioengineered mice can be experimented on to
show the effect of proteins such as sex-determining region Y-protein (SRY)
Another use of bioengineered animals is to study a gene's function as it relates to a
disease such as in the case of cystic fibrosis. A knockout mouse devoid of the
CFTR gene is mutated from cystic fibrosis patients. Using a bioengineered mouse
can eliminate the need to conduct tests directly on humans.
Another genetic engineering application explored is xenotrasplantation, or the
use of animal organs instead of human organs in transplant patients. By
genetically modifying pigs to generate human organs, the chances of tissue
incompatibility and rejection is eliminated.
6%
HOW DOES THE
9%
GMO WORKS ON
25%
ANIMALS?
Genetic modification of
an animal involves
altering its genetic
material by adding,
changing or removing
certain DNA sequences
in a way that does not
occur naturally. It aims
to modify specific
characteristics of an
animal or introduce a
new trait, such as
disease resistance or Genetic Modification Works on the Animals
enhanced growth.
WHAT ARE THE
BENEFITS OF GMOs?
The Benefits of GMOs
1. Food supplied become predictable;
this gives us the ability to reduce the presence of
food deserts around the world, providing a greater
population.
2. Herbicides and Pesticides are used less often
3. Nutritional content can be improved;
the nutritional content of the crops can be altered
thus people in the future could gain the same nutrient
from lower levels of food consumption.
4. It creates foods that are more appealing to eat;
colors can be changed or improved with genetically
modified foods so they become more pleasing to eat.
WHAT ARE THE RISKS
OF GMOs?
The Risks of GMOs
1. Allergic reaction;
allergic reaction happens when a certain protein or
allergen present in the GM crop enters the body and
stimulates an immune response.
2. Production of toxins that harmful to human;
toxins being produced when there is a damage in the
“Gene of Interest” during the intersection process.
3. Disruption of biodiversity;
the “better” traits produced from engineering genes can
result in the favoring of one organism;
the introduction of genetically modified organisms can
eventually disrupt the natural process of gene flow.
Thank
you!
