The science and debate over genetically modified food

GENETIC ENGINEERING

WHAT ARE GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS?

• TRANSGENIC ORGANISMS

• Involves the insertion of DNA from one organism into another OR modification of an organism’s DNA in order to achieve a desired trait.

+ A strawberry resistant to frost

=Arctic fish DNA strawberry

• Foods that contain an added gene sequence

• Foods that have a deleted gene sequence

• Animal products from animals fed GM feed

• Products produced by GM organisms

Common GM foods Vegetables Tomatoes Potatoes Rice Cheese Meat

WHAT ARE GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS?

Also called recombinant DNA technology, molecular cloning, and genetic engineering.1. Restriction enzymes are used to “cut” DNA

segments from one genome.2. DNA ligases are used to “paste” them into

another genome.Foreign DNA

MODIFYING GENES

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HOW ARE ANIMALS TARGETED?

• The microinjection method uses a fine needle to inject a solution of DNA into a developing embryo.

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HOW ARE PLANTS TARGETED?

• Agrobacterium that normally infects plants with disease is used to infect plants with genes of interests or…

• A particle gun is used to shoot small bits of metal coated with the gene into the plant.

Humanitarian:

Improved farming

Cheaper food

More food

Increased nutrition

Reducing world hunger and improving world health

Pest resistance

Herbicide resistance

Cold tolerance

Drought tolerance

Edible vaccines

Environmental: reduced use of herbicides and chemicals in farming.

POTENTIAL BENEFITS

THE GOOD• Society • Increased food security

for growing populations• Lower cost of food • Increase in the amount

of successful crops that yield more money

• Help stomp out famine

THE GOOD Increased Production

Development of crops that can be grown in marginal soil

Reduced strain on nonrenewable resourcesDevelopment of drought

resistant cropsDevelopment of salt-tolerant

crops Development of crops that

make more efficient use of nitrogen and other nutrients

THE GOOD

Reduced use of pesticides and herbicides►Development of pest

resistant crops ►Reduced herbicide use is

better for the environment and reduces costs for farmers

THE GOOD

Improved crop quality Development of frost resistant

crops Development of disease

resistant crops Development of flood resistant

crops

Improved nutritional quality Development of foods designed to

meet specific nutritional goals

THE GOOD

Enhanced taste and quality

Reduced maturation time

Higher yieldsHigher stress tolerance Longer shelf-lifeNew products and

growing techniques

THE BAD Health

Potential human health impactsAllergens and toxinsTransfer of antibiotic

resistance markersAdversely changing the

nutrient content of a cropUnknown long term effects

THE BAD Environment

Unintended transfer of transgenes through cross-pollination

Herbicide tolerance passed to other plantsCreation of

superweedsCross pollination of

GM weeds with similar wild species

THE BAD Environment

Loss of flora and fauna biodiversitylGM plants outcompete

natural plantsUnintended harm to wildlife,

beneficial insects and soil microbes

Insect resistance to pesticidesEXAMPLE: Herbicide

resistant GM Oilseed Rape crossed with similar plant species and gave them herbicide tolerance.

THE UGLY• Domination of world food

production by a few companies • Increasing dependence on

industrialized nations by developing countries

• Biopiracy, or foreign exploitation of natural resources

• Labeling Not mandatory in United States or Canada

• New advances may be skewed to the interests of rich countries.

• Creation of biological weapons.

HOW COMMON ARE GMO FOODS?

WHY DO IT?

• Rice is not high in essential nutrients

• Modifications• + daffodil genes and a

bacterium = beta-carotene content significantly increased

• + genes from a french bean = double the iron content.

WHY DO IT?

• Tomatoes- Introduce genes to increase shelf life.

• Potato - modified to produce a beetle killing toxin

• Yellow squash –In the USA two GM-squash (zucchini) species are approved for cultivation and as foodstuff. These have two or three envelop protein genes as protection against virus attack.

WHY DO IT?

• Canola – modified to resist one type of herbicide or pesticide

• Bt corn – corn that contains a chemical normally found in the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that is toxic to insects but not to humans

GM CANOLACANADIAN-AUSTRALIAN RELATIONS• Bayer Crop Science produces genetically modified canola

in Australia for the Canadian market.

• It is produced to resist the herbicide “Liberty” and can yield up to 20% higher than conventional canola.

ROUNDUP READY

• Genetically engineered to withstand the herbicide glyphosate, the active ingredient of Monsanto’s‘ herbicide Roundup.

• They are also known as "glyphosate tolerant crops." RR crops deregulated in the U.S. include: corn, soybeans, canola, cotton, sugarbeets, and alfalfa.

YOU CHOOSE