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IMAGE
ANALYSIS
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Genetically
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Modified
Organism
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WHAT IS GMO?
GMO 10

• Genetically modified organism (GMO) is the

term used for an organism created through
genetic engineering.
• The World Health Organization (WHO, 2014)
defines GMO as an “organism, either plant,
animal, or microorganism, in which the genetic
material (DNA) has been altered in a way that
does not occur naturally by mating or natural
recombination.”
• Below is the diagram of how bacterial gene is introduced through genetic
engineering to plant cells and tissues to develop and breed genetically
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modified plant.
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• The development of GMOs was

perceived to help in the advancement
of technology for the benefit of
humans in different industries like
agriculture and medicine
GMOs in FOOD and 13

AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES
The Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH, 2013) identified the following roles of
GMOs in the food and agricultural industries:

1. PEST RESISTANCE
- Genetically modified plants to resist certain
pests.
- An example is Bt Corn. The DNA (genome)
of the Bt Corn has been modifed with the gene
of Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium that
produces proteins which is toxic to corn
borers (worms).
GMOs in FOOD and 14

AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRIES
2. Virus Resistance
- Genetically modified plants to resist certain
viruses.

- An example is GM papaya or rainbow

papaya. The papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) is
known to be detrimental to papaya plants.
GMOs in FOOD and 15

AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRIES
2. Virus Resistance
- The protein of PRSV was introduced to the
papaya plant through plant tissue which
turned out to be resistant to the virus itself.
The effect was like the vaccines humans have
against measles or influenza virus.
GMOs in FOOD and 16

AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRIES
3. Herbicide Tolerance
- Genetically modified plants to tolerate
herbicide
- An example of Roundup Ready Soybean.
Glyphosate, an herbicide for weeds, was
introduced to soybeans makingit tolerant to the
herbicide itself. Farmers then can spray the
herbicide killing the weeds but not the soybeans
GMOs in FOOD and 17

AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRIES
4. Fortification
- Genetically modified plants fortified with
certain minerals

- An example is Golden Rice. Beta-carotene, a

precursor of vitamin A, was introduced
through biosynthesis genes to the rice, making
the rice grains fortified with vitamin A.
GMOs in FOOD and 18

AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRIES
5. Cosmetic Preservation
- Genetically modified plants resist natural
discoloration

- An example is Arctic Apple. The apple

variety was genetically modified to suppress
the browning of apple due to superficial
damage.
GMOs in FOOD and 19

AGRICULTURE
INDUSTRIES
6. Increase Growth Rate
- Genetically modified organism that has
higher yield in growth than normal species
- An example is AquaAdvantage Salmon. The
gene from an ocean pout, an eel-like fish was
introduced to Pacific Chinook salmon, making
the salmon grow faster than its normal rate.
GMOs in Non-FOOD Crops 20

and Microogranisms
1. Flower Production
- GMOs in flower production are seen in modified color and
extended vase life of flowers.

- Examples are Blue Roses. The so-called “blue” roses,

which are, in reality, lilac or purple, contained cyanidin 3, 5-
diglucoside, together with large amounts of flavonols.
GMOs in Non-FOOD Crops 21

and Microogranisms
2. Paper Production
- Modified characteristics of trees for higher yield of paper
production
- Examples are Poplar Trees. Lignin is a complex polymer in
trees that is removed from wood to make paper through
kraft process, through inserting genes that code for ferulic
acid in young poplar trees, the lignin structure is modified,
making lignin easier to breakdown.
GMOs in Non-FOOD Crops 22

and Microogranisms
3. Pharmaceutical Productions
- Modified plants to produce pharmaceutical products.
- Examples are Periwinkle plants. Bacterial genes were
added to periwinkle plant to enhance the production of
vinblastine, an alkaloid usually added to drugs for cancer
treatments like Hodgkin’s lymphoma (Runguphan, 2010)
GMOs in Non-FOOD Crops 23

and Microogranisms
4. Bioremediation
- Use of modified plants that can assist in the bioremediation
of polluted sites.
- Example is Shrub Tobacco. Nicotiana glauca, or shrub
tobacco genetically modified with phytochelatin TaPSI1, is
used for bioremediation. It shows high level accumulation
of zinc, lead, cadmium, nickel, and boron and produces high
biomass.
GMOs in Non-FOOD Crops 24

and Microogranisms
5. Enzyme and Drug Production
- Use of modified microorganisms that can produce enzymes for food
processing and medicines.
- Example is CGTase. Cyclomaltodextrin glycosyltransferase
(CGTase), an enzyme used for food flavor enhancer, is produced in
higher quantity by bacterium Bacillus which was genetically
modified with the gene of a thermophilic anaerobe,
Thermoabaerobacter, carrying CGTase (Pedersen & Jorgensen, 1995)
GMOs in Non-FOOD Crops 25

and Microogranisms
6. GMOs in the medical field
- Genetic engineering is playing a significant role from
diagnosis to treatment of human-dreaded diseases. It helps in
the production of drugs, gene therapy, and laboratory
researches.
- Example is Humulin, the genetically engineered insulin used
for Type 1 diabetes patients who are insulin dependent.
BENEFITS OF GMOs 26

1. Higher Efficiency in farming

- with the use of pesticide-resistant/ herbicide-tolerant GMO
crops, there will be less use for herbicides/pesticides, and
lower cost for labor and cultivation.

2. Increase in harvest
- GMO crops resistant to pests and diseases means increase
in potential growth and harvest.
BENEFITS OF GMOs 27

3. Control in fertility
- controlling the purity of the hybrid seeds (GMO seeds)
ensures higher yields.

4. Increase in food processing

- altered characteristics of GMO crops help ease food
processing
BENEFITS OF GMOs 28

5. Improvement of desirable
characteristics
- GMOs offer longer shelf life, enhanced color and taste,
enhanced production or reduction of enzymes, and other
modified characteristics of plants, animals, and
microorganisms.
BENEFITS OF GMOs 29

6. Nutritional and pharmaceutical

enhancement
- GMO groups like maize fortified with lysine and Golden
Rice fortified with vitamin A and iron. There are now edible
vaccines for viral and diarrheal diseases.

7. Reduce the use of fertilizer and

pesticides
POTENTIAL RISKS OF GMOs
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Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:

1. Since genetic engineering is still a young branch of

science, there are inadequate studies on the effects of
GMOs to humans and the environment.

2. Genetic engineering promotes mutation in organisms

which the long-term effect is still unknown.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF GMOs
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Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:

3. Human consumption of GMO's might have the

following effects:
• More allergic reactions – GMO food may trigger
more allergic reactions, more so create new ones, as
side effects of the gene alteration
• Gene mutation – GMO food develop abnormalities
and mutation, more than the desired product of the
gene alteration.
POTENTIAL RISKS OF GMOs
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Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:

3. Human consumption of GMO's might have the

following effects:
• Antibiotic resistance – GMO food contains antibiotic-
resistant genes; this may cause disease-causing bacteria
likely to be more antibiotic-resistant too, increasing the
possibility of widespread of the disease
POTENTIAL RISKS OF GMOs
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Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:

3. Human consumption of GMO's might have the

following effects:
• Nutritional value – GMO food may have changed in
their nutritional value.
POTENTIAL 34

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
CAUSED BY GMOs
Karki (2006) Summarized and perceived potential environment risk caused by the
GMO’s. The identified major risk are the following:

1. Risk in gene flow

• There is a potential risk of the modified gene to be
transferred from the GMO crop to its wild relative or
organism in the soil and human intestine (when ingested).

• For example, a decaying GMO plant could possibly

transfer the modified genes to the bacteria and fungi in the
soil.
POTENTIAL 35

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
CAUSED BY
2. Emergence of new GMOs
forms of
resistance and secondary pest and
weed problems
• GMO crops resistant to certain pesticides may trigger new
form of pest resistance while GMO herbicide-tolerant
crops may lead to the overuse of the herbicides which may
trigger new form of weed resistance.
POTENTIAL 36

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
CAUSED
3. RecombinationBY GMOs
of viruses and bacteria
to produce new pathogens
• The modified gene can be transferred and integrated in the
viral or bacterial genes which may lead to viral or bacterial
gene modification or mutation. this living modified virus and
bacteria may then cause new disease that may affect other
organisms including human beings.
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL
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RISKS CAUSED BY GMOs

Other direct and indirect environmental risk caused by GMO’s (Molfino & Zucco, 2008)

1. Direct environmental risk are

• Introduction of the GMOs in the natural environment may cause
disruption of the natural communities through competition or
interference;
• The possibility of unexpected behavior of the GMOs in the
environment if it escapes its intended use, it may pose threats or
become pest;
POTENTIAL 38

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
CAUSED BY GMOs
Other direct and indirect environmental risk caused by GMO’s (Molfino & Zucco, 2008)

1. Direct environmental risk are

• May cause harmful effects to ecosystem processes if GMOs interfere
with the natural biochemical cycles; and

• The persistence of gym origins after its harvest which may cause
negative impacts to the consumer of the GMO products.
POTENTIAL 39

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
CAUSED BY GMOs
Other direct and indirect environmental risk caused by GMO’s (Molfino & Zucco, 2008)

2. Indirect environmental risk are

• alteration of obligation rather practices like managing negative
impacts of the GMOs to the environment such as evolution of
insects, pest, and weeds that became resistant to GMO crops.
POTENTIAL 40

ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS
CAUSED BY GMOs
Other direct and indirect environmental risk caused by GMO’s (Molfino & Zucco, 2008)

2. Indirect environmental risk are

• may have impacts to biodiversity caused by the alteration in
agricultural practices; and

• May have varied environmental impacts due to GMOs interaction

and release in the natural environment.
POTENTIAL HUMAN HEALTH
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RISKS CAUSED BY GMOs

A major concern in the use and consumption of genius is its effect on human beings primarily on human
health. Some potential health risk are identified (Akhter, 2001), such as:

• Consumption of GMOs may have adverse effects since it has

not naturally or organically produced;
• Consumption of GMOs may alter the balance of existing
microorganisms in the human digestive system;
• Production of toxins may be detrimental to the human health;
and
• Production of allergens may have adverse effects on humans.
POTENTIAL HUMAN HEALTH
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RISKS CAUSED BY GMOs

Other potential use that raise major concern are:

• HUMAN GENOME PROJECT – Mapping of

human genes to provide framework for research and studies in
the field of medicine. It was feared that the ability to produce
human genetic information would create biases and give much
power to people holding the information and to the
disadvantage of those who do not have the genetic
information.
POTENTIAL HUMAN HEALTH
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RISKS CAUSED BY GMOs

Other potential use that raise major concern are:

• MUTATION OF GENETICALLY
ENGINEERED MICROORGANISMS–
genetically modified bacteria and viruses may mutate to
become more resistant or virulent that may cause more
dreadful diseases for human beings
POTENTIAL HUMAN HEALTH
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RISKS CAUSED BY GMOs

Other potential use that raise major concern are:

• CLONING – the asexual reproduction of

an organism using parent cell through genetic
engineering. On February 24, 1997, the first
mammal, Dolly, a sheep from Scotland, was
born through cloning. With its celebrated
success came the fear of human cloning. It
emerged the ethical issue of man “playing God”
BIOSAFETY ON GMOs 45
There are initiatives for the protection of the general human population regarding the issues and concerns
about GMOs. International organizations develop principles and treaties that somehow ensure biosafety
on GMOs. Some of these initiatives are as follows :

• The Codex Alimentarius Commission

(CODEX)
 Codex is an intergovernmental body that develops the
Codex Alimentarius known as the international food code.
 Codex is responsible for the development of standards odds
of practices guidelines and recommendation on food safety.
BIOSAFETY ON GMOs 46

• Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

 Established in 2003, Cartagena Protocol is an international environmental treaty that
regulates the transboundary movement of Living Modified Organisms (LMOs). The
Cartagena Protocol requires exporters to seek consent from the importers before its
first shipment of LMOs (WHO, 2014)