Genetically Modified

Organisms:
Science, Health, & Politics
Lesson 3 – Chapter 3
 r
Jessamine Lumagbas Julia Robert Tiin e
p
o
rt
e
Miguelito Hotahot Marchan Rodriguez
rs
 Topic Outline
01 Genetically Modified Organisms

02 GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

03 GMOs in Non-Food Crops and Microorganisms

04 Benefits of GMOs

05 Potential Risks of GMOs

06 Biosafety on GMOs

07 GMOs in Philippine Context

 Introduction

What is Genetic Engineering?

❑ Genetic engineering is the process of using recombinant DNA

(rDNA) technology to alter the genetic makeup of an organism.
Traditionally, humans have manipulated genomes indirectly by
controlling breeding and selecting offspring with desired traits.
Genetic engineering involves the direct manipulation of one or
more genes. Most often, a gene from another species is added to
an organism's genome to give it a desired phenotype.
Genetically Modified
Organism
(GMO)
What is GMO?
A GMO, or genetically modified organism, is a plant, animal,
microorganism or other organism whose genetic makeup has
been modified in a laboratory using genetic engineering or
transgenic technology. This creates combinations of plant,
animal, bacterial and virus genes that do not occur in nature or
through traditional crossbreeding methods.
GMO’s in Food
and Agricultural
Industries
GMO’s in Food and Agricultural Industries
The Center for Eco genetics and Environmental
Health (CEEH, 2013) identified the following roles
of GMO’s in the food and agricultural industries:
 Following Roles:

1. Peer Resistance 2. Virus Resistance 3. Herbicide Tolerance

Genetically Modified plants to Genetically modified plants to Genetically modified plants to

resist certain pests resist certain viruses tolerate herbicide

4. Fortification 5. Cosmetic Preservation 6. Increase Growth Rate

Genetically modified plants Genetically modified plants Genetically modified organism

fortified with certain minerals resist natural discoloration that has higher yield in
growth than normal species.
GMOs in Non-Food
Crops and
Microorganism
Non-Food Crops
▪ also known as industrial crops - a crop grown to produce goods for
manufacturing.
▪ These crops are also grown for the purpose of sale rather than
consumption by humans and are used as a source of generating
profits.

Microorganism
• or microbes are microscopic organisms that exist as unicellular,
multicellular, or cell clusters. They are widespread in nature and
are beneficial to life, but some can cause serious harm.
• Types: bacteria, archaea, fungi, protozoa, algae, viruses.
 GMOs in Non-Food and some Microorganisms are
involved in the following:

1. Flower Production- GMOs in flower

production are seen in modified color and
extended vase life of flowers.

2. Paper Production- modified

characteristics of trees for higher yield of
paper production.

3. Pharmaceutical Productions- modified

plants to produce pharmaceutical products.
 (Continuation)

4. Bioremediation- use of modified plants

that can assist in the bioremediation of
polluted sites.

5. Enzyme and drug production- use of

modifies microorganisms that can produce
enzymes for food processing and medicines

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.
Benefits of GMOs
Studies show some of the potential benefits of GMOs:

Higher efficiency in farming

Increase in harvest

Control in fertility

Increase in food processing

Improvement of desirable characteristics

Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancement

Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides

 • Top 5 countries that operate GMO farmlands are:
United States, Brazil, Argentina, India, and Canada

• Some GMO agricultural crops that have been approved

and already in the market:
alfalfa, corn, papaya, soya bean, sugar beets, and squash

• In the animal industries, GMO animals are all in research

laboratory and not yet approved for public consumption.
Potential Risks of
GMOs
Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:
1. Since genetic engineering is still 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.
3. Human consumption of GMOs might have the following effects:
• More allergic reactions
• Gene mutation
• Antibiotic resistance
• Nutritional value
 Potential Environment Risks Caused By GMOs:
1. Risk in gene flow - there is 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)

2. Emergence of new forms of resistance and secondary pests and weed problems - GMO drops resistant
to certain pesticides may trigger new form of pest resistance while GMO herbicide-tolerant crops may
lead to the over use of the herbicides which may trigger new form of weed resistance.

3. Recombination of Virus and Bacteria to Produce New Pathogens - the modified gene can be
transferred and integrated in the viral or bacteria genes which may lead to viral or bacteria gene
modification or mutation.
 Other direct and indirect environmental risks caused by
GMOs (Molfino & Zucco, 2008);
1. Direct environmental risks are: 2. Indirect environment risks are:
• introducing of the GMOs in the natural environment may • Alternation of agricultural practices like managing
cause disruption of the natural communities through negative impacts of GMOs to the environment
competition or interference; such as evolution of insects, pest, and weeds that
•The possibility of unexpected behavior of the GMOs in the became resistant to GMO crops;
environment if it escapes its intended use and may post • May have impacts to biodiversity caused by the
threats or become pest; alteration In agricultural practices; and
•May cause harmful effects to ecosystem processes if GMOS • May have varied environmental impacts due to
interfere with the natural biochemical cycles; and GMOs interaction and release in the natural
•The persistence of GMO genes after its harvest which may environment
cause negative impacts to the consumer of GMO products.
 Potential Human Health Risks Caused By GMOs:
Some potential human health risks are identified (Akher, 2001), such as:
• Consumption of GMOs may have adverse effects since it is 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 human health; and
• Production of allergens may have adverse effects on humans.
 Other potential risks that raise major concern are:

• Human Genome Project (HGP) - Mapping of human genes to

provide framework for research and studies in the field of
medicine.
• Mutation of genetically engineered microorganisms –
Genetically modified bacteria and viruses may mutate to
become more resistant or virulent that may mutate to
dreadful disease for human beings.

• Cloning – The sexual reproduction of an organisms using parent

cell through genetic engineering.
 There are many things to be considered before a certain medical process using genetic
engineering be accepted.

WHO reported three major issues on GMOs that are in international public debates. These
are the potential risks of allergic reactions, gene transfer/flow, and outcrossing (WHO, 2014).

The primary issue on GMOs presented in public debate is its unnatural production or what is
termed to be a violation of nature. The creation of new organisms, like GMOs, posts moral issues on
defiance to natural laws. Another concern is the potential risks to the environment and human health,
to which so much is unknown yet.
Biosafety on GMOs
Initiatives for the protection of the general human population regarding the issues
on GMOs:

1. The Codex Alimentarius Commission (Codex) - The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO)
together with the World Health Organization (WHO) created the codex. Codex is an
intergovernmental body that develops the alimentarius. Know us the international food code
2. Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety - Established in 2003, Cartagena protocol is an international
environmental treaty that regulates the transboundary movements of Living Modified Organisms
(LMOs). The Cartagena protocols requires exporters to seek consent before its first shipment of
LMOs (WHO, 2014)
3. International Trade Agreement on labeling of GM food and food products - The agreement
requires exporters of GM foods and products to label their product and gives right to the
importing parties to reject or accept the GM products.
The World Health Government (WHO, 2014) claims that all GM products
that are available on the market had passed safety assessment by national
authorities.
GMOs in Philippine
Context
• 1990s -The concern on GMOs started the with the creation of the national committee on biosafety of the Philippines
(NCPB) through executive order no. 430 of 1990.
• 2002 - the Department of Agriculture released Administrative Order No. 8, the guidelines for the importation and
release into the environment of GM plants and plant products. The Philippines was marked to be first country in Asia
to approved commercial cultivation of GMOs when GM corn planting was approved.
• December 2002 to present - there are 70 GMO applications approved by the Department of Agriculture for the release
to the environment, 62 GMOs of which are approved for food feed and processing and the remaining of 8 were
approved for propagation (Aruelo, 2016).
• 2004 - Philippines was classified by International Service for acquisition of agri–biotech applications as one of the
fourteen biotech-mega countries which grow 50,000 hectares or more of GMO crops annually (James, 2004). In that
same year, Senator Juan flavier authored a bill on the mandatory labeling of food and food products with GMOs. The
senate did not pass the bill.
• 2006 - Philippines became part of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. In the same year, Executive No. 514 was issued
to address the biosafety requirements of the Cartagena Protocol and the establishment of the National Biosafety
Framework (NBF).
• 2010 - Organic Agriculture Act was issued, encouraging organic agriculture than GMO-related agriculture. Prior to this
act, there are several provinces like Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental which agreed to support organic
agriculture.
• 2012 - Representative Teddy Catino, together with other congressmen, filed a bill pushing for the mandatory labeling
of GM food and food products.
• December 2015 - the Supreme Court ordered to put an end to the field testing of GMO Bt eggplant and declared
Administrative Order No. 8, series of 2002 of the Department of Agriculture as null and void.
• March 7, 2016 - five government agencies namely, the Department of Science and Technology, Department of
Agriculture, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, and Department of the
Interior and Local Government, passed a Joint Department Circular No. 1, series of 2016 on rules and regulations for
the research and development, handling and use, transboundary movement, release in the environment, and
management of the genetically modified plant and plant products derived from the use of modern biotechnology.
SUMMARY
Genetic engineering is an emerging field of science. It`s quests
are to preserve and prolong life in more than four decades
since the first genetically modified bacteria was produced,
thousands of genetically modified organisms have been
created and propagated. Some are by experts and government
authorities for human use and consumption while others are
kept in institutional research laboratory subject for more
experiments.
THANK YOU ☺