GENETICALLY MODIFIED

ORGANISMS

What are GM’s?Organism one that has been

altered through recombinant DNA technology

Involves either the combining of DNA from different genomes or the insertion of foreign DNA into a genome

The most common genetically modified (GM) organisms are crop plants

Microbes are the first organisms to be genetically modified

Other terms that mean the same thing:

Genetically engineered

Transgenic

Recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology

What is not a GMO?Does not include

◦ Mutants.◦ Fusion of animal cells unless the

product can form an animal.◦ Plants formed x protoplast fusion.◦ Plants formed by embryo rescue or

invitro fertilisation or zygote implantation.

◦ Organisms formed by natural DNA transfer.

How does this differ from Mendel and his peas?

GM vs. Selective breadingSelective breading Slow Imprecise Modification of genes that naturally occur in the

organism Occur between plant/animal of same species(dog dog)

GM Very fast Precise Can introduce genes into an organism that would not

occur naturally It can occur between different types of species

(Human bacteria)

How transgenic organisms work…Three Main Methods…DNA Microinjection

◦ A foreign gene is directly injected into a fertilized egg that is put into a female animal that acts as a surrogate mother for the egg.

Retrovirus-Mediated Gene Transfer◦ A retrovirus is a virus that attaches to an organism’s DNA

and changes it to include a new characteristic. Scientists expose ordinary cells to a retrovirus when they are trying to create transgenic animals.

Embryonic Stem Cell-Mediated Gene Transfer◦ Stem cells are blank cells that can turn into any type of

cell. Scientists modify these cells, and then add them to an embryo, which is a fertilized egg that develops and grows until it hatches or is born.

DNA MICROINJECTION

Most commonly used method

Only 5% or less of the treated eggs become transgenic progeny

Need to check mouse pups for DNA , RNA and protein ( by some specific assay method)

Expression will vary in transgenic offspring: due to position effect and copy number

Figure 1.1

Figure 1.2

Less than 5% of the microinjected fertilized eggs become transgenic progeny

Figure 21.1

Retroviral vectors can be used to create transgenic animals

RETROVIRUS-MEDIATED GENE TRANSFER

Figure 1.4

Genetically engineered embryonic stem (ES) cells can be used to create transgenic animals

This method allow for gene targeting via homologous recombination.

EMBRYONIC STEM CELL-MEDIATED GENE TRANSFER

GENETICALLY ENGINEER OF THE ES CELLS

Figure 1.5a

GENETICALLY ENGINEER OF THE ES CELLS

Figure 1.6b

THE TWO MOST COMMON TYPES OF GMO’S

I. FOODS

Crops are modified to develop resistance to herbicides and increase their nutrient content, for example corn and soybeans . Fruits are modified to make them ripen later. This help them available fresh in marketplace

during a longer time or for fruits that ripen after being picked, make it easier to transport

them.

THE TWO MOST COMMON TYPES OF GMO’SII. MEDICINES

These can be produced cheaper and easier some are: insulin, thyroid hormones and the Hepatitis B vaccine GM Bacteria’s have been particularly

important in producing large amounts of pure human

proteins for use in medicine like clotting factors for hemophilia and human growth hormones to

treat dwarfism

OTHER TYPES OF GMO’S ARE

III. MAMMALS

Research human diseases (To develop animal models for many diseases.)

Produce industrial or consumer products (pharmaceutical products or tissue

implantation) Enrich the animals’ interactions with humans (Hypo-allergic pets) Enhance production or food quality traits (faster growth fish, pigs that digest food more efficiently) Improve animal health(disease resistance)

OTHER TYPES OF GMO’S AREIV. INSECTS

The effects of genetic changes on development (malaria resistant mosquitoes)

V. AQUATIC LIFE

Evolution of immunity and developmental processes,

rapid growth ( MADAKA -fish to detect pollutions in waterways)

TRANSGENIC MONKEY

Its so similar to human hence it used in clinical trail used for studying :

º HIVº Huntington’s disease DISADVANTAGES

Expensive Difficult Breeding problem

TOPICAL MICROBICIDES FOR BLOCKING HIV-1 TRANSMISSION

Lactobacilli or E. Coli altered to secrete or express proteins with anti–hiv-1 activity

Colonization of the vagina or rectum with recombinant bacteria

Secret fusion inhibitory peptides or proteins

Lactobacilli that maintains a low vaginal ph

Lowers the risk of hiv-1 infection

GENETICALLY MODIFIED PIGS

MEDICINEº Production of pharmaceuticals (human

hemoglobin in blood of pigs for treating Trauma patients)

º Organs for Xenotransplantation into humansº development of models for human diseases

AGRICULTUREº resistance to diseaseº Altering the carcass compositionº Improving pig’s resistance to heat stressº Protecting environment

PIGS GIVEN SPINACH GENES

World's first to genetically engineered mammals to contain DNA from plants

Produce pork that is healthier normal pigs

Produces less fat than normal ,less fat intake

“It is confirmed for the first time in the world that a plant

gene is functioning properly in a living mammal, not in a

cultured cell,” said professor by akira

PIGS GIVEN SPINACH GENES-EXPERIMENT

Inserting the spinach gene into a fertilised pig egg

Implanted in a female pig's womb

FAD2 gene converted about a fifth saturated fatty acids into linoleic acids

ADVANTAGES OF PIG‘SPhysiology and size

Raised in pathogen free condition

Less chance to transmit infectious disease to humans

Have fewer ethical issues as donor

Short generation interval(114 days)

Genome is quite similar to humans (3x times than mouse)

GOAT THAT PRODUCE SPIDER SILKTwo key genes that allow a spider to weave

their silk inserted into their genetic code.

That produce milk that contain spider silk proteins

Proteins are then harvested through the goat's milk

Goats are separated into two groups, each contains one of the two proteins

Proteins must be extracted and combined

GOAT THAT PRODUCE SPIDER SILK

Stronger than steel and more flexible

Used to replace damaged tendons and ligaments , suture damaged eyes, or even nerves

Make stronger and safer parachutes for soldiers , bulletproof vests

SILK FROM MILK

Goats are milked

Milk is frozen and the cream is separated

Thawed milk is pushed into a micro filter that blocks the larger fat molecules and lets the smaller proteins through

A smaller filter then further isolates the silk proteins

When dried looks like a white powder

The challenge : how they take a powder and spin it into a fibre,

like a spider does?

The two proteins are combined into a solution

Transformed into microfibers using wet-spinning fibre production methodologies

"Biosteel biopolymer" had been transformed into nanofibres and nanomeshes using electro spinning technique

WAYS GMO TOXICITY AFFECTS ANIMALS, PLANTS AND SOIL

Cancer

Damage native species

Pollute the environment

Deplete soil minerals, destroy beneficial bacteria

'Super weeds,' 'superbugs.'

Cause infertility, stillbirths, miscarriages

LAB ANIMALS TESTED WITH GM FOODS

Stunted growth

Impaired immune systems

Bleeding stomachs

Impaired blood cell development

Misshapen cell structures in the liver, pancreas, and testicles

Altered gene expression and cell metabolism

Their offspring have a lower chance of survival

Higher blood sugar

Enlarged livers, pancreases

Inflamed kidneys

Less developed brains and testicles

Intestines reduced digestive enzymes

The animal’s life spans are shortened

Inflamed lung tissue

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF GMO’S

Already 37 people have died from side effects

1,500 partially paralyzed

5,000 were temporarily handicapped by chemicals used in harvesting

Glyophosate "caused malformations in frog and chicken embryos "

Malformations of the head

Increased death rates and higher offspring mortality

CURRENT RESEARCH

Mosquito-borne diseases remain one of the greatest global threats to human health

With recombinant and novel combinations of DNA passing into the environment

Effects of gm plants on soil processes such as decomposition

Lactococcus lactis secreting interleukin 10 provides a therapeutic approach for inflammatory bowel disease

CONCLUSION

Transgenic animals are now-a-days used for screening of many drugs

Using of transgenic animals reduce number of experimental animals during testing

We will need them in the future

QUERIES…..????