Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically Modified OrganismsPGSBI 4U

A GMO is any living things that has had its genome manipulated by humans, usually by inserting a gene from another speciesGMOs are very important for the food and medicine industries.Biotechnology is the science of genetic modification.Also known as genetically engineered, recombinant or transgenic organisms.In 2008, 13.3 million farmers in 25 countries were growing GMO crops on 1.25 million square kilometersWhat are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)?

Humans have been manipulating the genomes of organisms for thousands of yearsHumans have been using the process of selective breeding to choose the best plants and animals, and to gradually change the genomes of those speciesOnly the strongest, tastiest and most desirable individuals are allowed to breed and their genes are passed on to their offspringThese organisms not considered to be GMOsSelective Breeding

Wolves to Dogs:

Teosinte to Corn:Examples:

Brassica oleracea or wild cabbage has been bred into cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kohlrabi and kaleMore Examples:

The insertion of foreign genes into organismsBacteria: Plasmids are used as a vector to transfer foreign genesA restriction enzyme is used to excise a specific gene which will anneal to a plasmid cut with the same enzymeBacteriophages are also commonly used to transfer DNADirect Genetic Modification

Some plants can be genetically modified by infecting them with a bacterium called Agrobacterium tunefaciensThe desired gene is inserted into the Ti plasmid in the bacteriumWhen a plant is infected it incorporates some the plasmid DNA into its chromosome, so any of the plants offspring will carry those genesAn alternative method is the Gene gunDNA attached to small gold or tungsten particles is fired at a piece of plant tissueDGM Plants

Microinjectionthe use of a micropipette to insert DNA into a cellUses needles 0.5-5m in diameterThe foreign gene is inserted into the pronucleus of a fertilized egg cellThe genes of animals can also be modified using viruses because viruses naturally insert their DNA into animal cells

DGM Animals

Bacteria can be made to produce important human proteins by inserting the human genes that code for these proteins into the bacterial genomeExamples:Human insulin is now produced by E. coli bacteria for diabetics. In the past insulin from pigs or cattle was used and was much less effectiveHuman Growth Hormone (HGH) is also produced by recombinant bacteria. HGH was previously obtained from cadavers.Others: Blood clotting Factors and VaccinesHuman proteins can also be produced in the body fluids of transgenic animals then refinedRecombinant Medicine

Flavr Savr TomatoesThe first transgenic plants licensed to be eaten by humansGolden RiceRice modified to contain -caroteneAimed to combat vitamin A deficiency (VAD)VAD results in 2.5 million deaths of children under 5 and 250-500 thousand children going blind every year among other health problemsInsect and disease resistant cropsSoybeans, corn, canola, wheat, etc.Genetically Modified Food

GloFishZebrafish with a fluorescencegene taken from jellyfish are available as petsMalaria-resistant mosquitoesWhen introduced to the wild they would reproduce and spread the gene through the gene pool, decreasing the number of mosquitoes carrying malariaEnviropigOther uses

Environmental concernsGMOs can mate with wild plants and create hybridsGMOs and hybrids have a selective advantage and will outcompete wild plantsGMOs have unpredictable effects on other organisms (may be poisonous)Loss of biodiversityHuman safety concerns:Transgenic food may cause allergic reactionsPeople allergic to seafood may be allergic to plants with genes from fishNo labeling regulationsSocial concernsMarket dominance in the food industry by a few companiesArguments Against GMOs

Medicines from GMOs are cheaper and of better quality than previous sources, saving livesPlant GMOs with increased yield and insect/disease resistance provide more food with less land and reduce the need for poisonous pesticides and fertilizersFood can be modified for increased nutritionEcological concerns of escaped GMOs becoming weeds apply equally to other domesticated plants as well as the effects of monocultures of soil healthGMO foods are tested for potential dangers before they are licensed for human consumptionArguments for GMOs

Genetic engineering is an exciting field of science and new discoveries are made every dayThere may be some dangers but all human inventions have an element of riskGMOs have a huge potential to improve and save human lives

Conclusion

Knudsen, Guy R. "Impacts of agricultural GMOs on wildlands: a new frontier of biotech litigation." Natural Resources & Environment Summer 2011: 13+. Academic OneFile. Web. 3 Dec. 2011.Hoyle, Brian, and K. Lee Lerner. "Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 3rd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 1772-1774. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Dec. 2011.Watkins, Terry. "Transgenics." The Gale Encyclopedia of Science. Ed. K. Lee Lerner and Brenda Wilmoth Lerner. 3rd ed. Vol. 6. Detroit: Gale, 2004. 4071-4074. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 3 Dec. 2011.Di Giuseppe, M., Vavitsas, A., Ritter, B., Fraser, D., Arora, A., & Lisser, B. (2003). Biology 12. Toronto: Nelson.Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization. (2011). Biotechnology Online. Retrieved from http://www.biotechnologyonline.gov.au/Biotech Chronicles. Retrieved from http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/AB/BC/(2003). Gene Guns. Retrieved from http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/Molbio/MolStudents/spring2003/McDonald/Gene_gun.htmlPray,L.(2008)Recombinant DNA technology and transgenic animals.Nature Education.,1(1). Retrieved from http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/recombinant-dna-technology-and-transgenic-animals-34513(2010). Glofish. Retrieved from http://www.glofish.com/Gallagher, J. (April 20, 2011). GM mosquitoes offer malaria hope. BBC News. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-13128327(2011). DNA Microinjection Services. Retrieved from http://research.uci.edu/tmf/dnaMicro.htm(2011). Golden Rice is part of the solution, Biofortified rice as a contribution to the alleviation of life-threatening micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries. http://www.goldenrice.org/(November 5, 2008). What are Genetically Modified (GM) Foods?. Retrieved from http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml(2009). Cloning into a Plasmid. Retrieved from http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/plasmid.phpSources

Image SourcesSlide 4: http://visual.merriam-webster.com/animal-kingdom/carnivorous-mammals/dog-breeds_1.php, http://www.learner.org/courses/essential/life/images/show5.maize_teosinte.jpgSlide 5: http://www.tainongseeds.com/Kohlrabi.html, http://bioweb.uwlax.edu/bio203/s2009/dymond_dani/Classification%20Information.htm, http://www.hort.purdue.edu/ext/senior/vegetabl/cabbage1.htm, http://groovyvegetarian.com/2007/11/10/10-fun-facts-about-broccoli/, http://www.bigoven.com/glossary/Cauliflower, http://www.lesliebeck.com/ingredient_index.php?featured_food=77, http://www.thatsfit.ca/2010/01/27/kale-chips-recipe-healthy-crunchy-homemade-snack/Slide 6: http://www.accessexcellence.org/RC/VL/GG/plasmid.phpSlide 7: http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/Molbio/MolStudents/spring2003/McDonald/Gene_gun.htmlSlide 8: http://images.tutorvista.com/content/biotechnology/micro-injection-process.jpeg, http://research.uci.edu/tmf/dnaMicro.htmSlide 10: http://www.goldenrice.org/Slide 11: http://www.glofish.com/photos.asp