GENETICALLY MODIFIED

ORGANISM

ILO: Discuss the ethics and implications of

the different issues in STS and their possible
impacts
Share your thoughts…

With the growing human population, how can

we feed the world?
 What are the common
characteristics among these
pictures? What are their uses?
 What is a GMO?

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a

living organism particularly animal, plant, or microbe
whose DNA has been transformed or changed
through genetic engineering techniques
(nationalgeographic.org 2019).
 Genetic Engineering Process on a Plant

Below is a diagram of how bacterial

gene is introduced through genetic
engineering to plant cells and tissues
to develop and breed a genetically
modified plant.

Watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D
IM38NlkWEo
GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries
BT (Bacillus thuringiensis) corn – Pest
Resistance

An example is Bt Corn. The DNA (genome) of the

Bt Corn has been modified with the gene of
Bacillus Thuringiensis, a soil bacterium that
produces proteins which is toxic
to corn borers (worms)
GM papaya or rainbow papaya- Virus Resistance

An example is GM papaya or
rainbow papaya. The papaya
ringspot virus (PRSV) is known to
be detrimental to papaya plants.
The protein of PRSV was
introduced to the papaya plant
through plant issue which turned
out to be resistant to the virus
itself. The effect was like the
vaccines humans against measles
or influenza virus.
Roundup Ready soybean-
Herbicide Tolerance

An example is Roundup Ready

soybean. Glyphosate, an
herbicide for weeds, was
introduced to soybeans making
it tolerant to the herbicide itself.
Farmers then can spray the
herbicide killing the weeds but
not the soybeans.
 Golden rice- Fortification

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.
Arctic apple- Cosmetic Preservation

An example is Arctic Apple. The

apple variety was genetically
modified to suppress the
browning of apple due to
superficial damage.
AquAdvantage salmon- Increase Growth Rate

An example is AquAdvantage
salmon. A gene from an ocean
pout, an eel-like fish was
introduced to Pacific Chinook
salmon, making the salmon
grow faster than its normal rate.
Blue rose- Flower Production

Examples are Blue Roses. The so-called

“blue” roses, which are, in reality, lilac or
purple, contained cyaniding 3,5-
diglucoside, together with the large
amounts of flavonols. The introduction of
the flavonoid 31,51-hydroxylase gene into
pelargonidin- or cyaniding-producing rose
cultivars diverts the anthocyanin
biosynthetic pathway toward the
production of delphinidin glucosides and
the flower color to blue (Elomaa & Holton,
1994)
Poplar trees- 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 popular trees, the lignin
structure is modified, making
lignin easier to breakdown
(Veniza, 2014).
Periwinkle-
Pharmaceutical productions

Examples are periwinkle plants.

Bacterial genes were added to
the periwinkle plant to enhance
the production of vinblastine, an
alkaloid usually added to drugs
for cancer treatments like
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
(Rungupgan, 2010)
Shrub tobacco- Bioremediation

An example is shrub tobacco.

Nicotiana glauca, or shrub
tobacco genetically modified
with phytochelatin TaPCS11, is
used for bioremediation. It
shows high level accumulation
of zinc, lead, cadmium, nickel,
and boron and produces high
biomass.
 Humulin- Medical field

One classic example is Humulin, the genetically engineered

insulin used by Type 1 diabetes patients who are insulin-
dependent. In the past, insulin is extracted from the
pancreases of pigs and cows that have caused allergic
reactions to some diabetes using it. In 1978, researchers from
the City of Hope National Medical Center and Genentech
Biotechnology Company were able to produce human insulin.
The gene for insulin was inserted to bacterial DNA that was
able to produce almost exactly the same human insulin. This
was a breakthrough in the mass production of human insulin.
This was a breakthrough in the mass production of human
insulin. In 1996, modified human insulin was approved, called
the Humalog.
Can you give some…

• Benefits of GMOs?
• Potential Risks of GMOs?
 Benefits of GMOs

• Higher efficiency in farming- with the use of pesticide

resistant/herbicide-tolerate GMO crops, there will be less use
for herbicides/pesticides, and lower cost for labor and
cultivation.
• Increase in harvest- GMO crops resistant to pests and
diseases means increase in potential growth and harvest.
• Control in fertility- controlling the purity of the hybrid seeds
(GMO seeds)ensures higher yields.
 Benefits of GMOs

• Increase in food processing- altered characteristics of GMO

crops help ease food processing.
• 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.
Potential Risks of GMOs

1. Since genetic engineering is still a young branch of science,

there are inadequate studies on the effects 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

3. Human consumption of GMOs might have the following effects:

• More allergic reactions- GMO food may trigger more allergic
reactions, more so create new ones, as side effect of the gene
alteration.
• Gene mutation- GMO food may develop abnormalities and mutation,
more than the desired product of the gene alteration.
• Antibiotics 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.
• Nutritional value- GMO food may have change in their nutritional
value.
Potential Environmental Risks Caused by GMOs
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. Bacteria
and fungi are capable of using a genetic material from their
surroundings. There are no studies yet on the effects of the
absorbed modified gene to the other organisms.
2. Emergence of new forms of resistance and secondary pests 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 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 of
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 Human Health Risks cause by GMOs
• 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.
GMOs in Philippine Context
Joint Department Circular No. 1,
s. 2016 (DOST, DA, DENR, DILG)
• 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
• Paves the way to issuance of new permits for
planting and importing GM crops in the country
 Summary

There are advantages and disadvantages in using

genetic engineering in both fields of medicine and food and
agriculture, there are controversies that are still debatable up
to the present. The major concern of the opponents is the
long term effect of GMOs to humans while the proponents’
flagship is the success stories of the GMO recipients.
There is still a long way to go for GMOs to prove itself,
as humans seek answers to predicaments or as humans play
like GOD.
Reference

• Serafica, J. et al. (20180 Science, Technology, and Society,

Rex Printing Company, Inc., Quezon City, Philippines