Lesson 8: What are Genetically Modified Organisms

Group 8
Members:
1.​ DIMACALING, Nor Hamza D.
2.​ MACAOMBANG, Mohammad Haminie M.
3.​ MONTAY, Mohammad Malbary M.

Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

➢​ Identify issues on genetically modified organisms (GMOs);

➢​ Discuss different implications and impact of GMOs; and
➢​ Understand the historical context of GMOs.

Introduction
In 2001, Rosalie Ellasus, a former overseas Filipino worker in Singapore turned
farmer, attended the Integrated Pest Management – Farmers Field School and was
introduced to Bt Corn, a genetically modified corn that is resistant to the destructive Asian
corn borer. Ms. Ellasus volunteered for demo-testing in her field. Bt Corn yielded 7.2 tons
per acre as compared to a regular yield of 4.2 tons per hectare. No insecticide spraying
was needed. This is one of the success stories of genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
(Ongkiko,2016).

It was in 1951 that the term genetic engineering was coined by Jack Williamson, author
of the science fiction novel Dragon’s Island (Stableford 2004). This was years before actual
research findings on the DNA’s role in heredity and its structure, the double-helix of
Watson and Crick, were published. Through continuous search for development, genetic
engineering no longer stayed in science fiction novels. It became a reality in science
laboratories. The genetic process of genetic engineering is the deliberate manipulation of
the organism’s genes, where it may involve transfer of genes from other organisms.

An antibiotic-resistant E, coli bacteria was created in 1973. To date, there is ongoing

research on GMOs such as using genetically modified male mosquitoes as pest control
over female mosquito carriers of Zika virus. However, despite the many possibilities of
creating solutions for problems and opening doors for innovations, genetic engineering
faced much opposition. Opponents raise ethical, social and environmental issues related
to genetic engineering and its GMOs.

What are Genetically modified organism (GMO)?

Genetically modified organism (GMO) is the term used for an organism created
through genetic engineering. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2014) defines GMO as
an “organism, either plant, animal or microorganism, in which the genetic material (DNA)
has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural
recombination.” The development of GMOs was perceived to help in the advancement of
technology for the benefit of humans in different industries like agriculture and medicine.

GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

The Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (CEEH, 2013) identified the following
roles of GMOs in the food and agricultural industries:

1. Pest resistance - genetically modified plants to resist certain pests.

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 are toxic
to corn borers (worms).

2. Virus resistance – genetically modified plants to resist certain viruses.

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 tissue which
turned out to be resistant to the virus itself. The effect was like the vaccines humans have
against measles or influenza virus.

3. Herbicide tolerance – genetically modified plants to tolerate herbicide.

An example is Roundup Ready soybean Glyphosate, an herbicide for weeds, which
was introduced to soybeans making it tolerant to the herbicide itself. Farmers then can
spray the herbicide killing the weeds but not the soybeans.

4. Fortification – genetically modified plants fortified with certain minerals.

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
vitamins A.

5. Cosmetic preservation – genetically modified plants resist natural discoloration.

An example is Arctic Apple. The apple variety was genetically modified to suppress
the browning of apples due to superficial damage.
6. Increase growth rate – a genetically modified organism that has higher yield in growth
than normal species.
An example is AquaAdvantage 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.

GMOs in Non-Food Crops and Microorganisms

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in non-food crops and some microorganisms involve
the following:

1. Flower production – GMOs in flower production are seen in modified color and
extended vase life of flowers.
Examples are Blue Roses. The so-called “blue” roses, which are, in reality, lilac or
purple, contained cyanidin 3,5- diglucoside, together with large amounts of flavonols. The
introduction of the flavonoid 31,51-hydroxylase gene into pelargonidin- or cyanidin-
producing rose cultivars diverts the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway lowered the
production of delphinidin glucoside and the flower color to blue (Elomaa & Holton, 1994).

2. Paper production – modified characteristics of trees for higher yield of paper

production.
Examples are poplar trees. Lignin is a complex polymer in trees that is removed
from wood to make paper through a kraft process, through inserting genes that code for
ferulic acid in young poplar trees, the lignin structure is modified, making lignin easier to
break down (Venezia, 2014).

3. Pharmaceutical production – modified plants to produce pharmaceutical products.

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 (Runguphan, 2010).

4. Bioremediation – use of modified plants that can assist in the bioremediation of

polluted sites.
An example is shrub tobacco. Nicotiana glauca, or shrub tobacco genetically
modified with phytochelatin TaPCSII,is used for bioremediation. It shows high level
accumulation of zinc, lead, cadmium, nickel, and boron and produces high biomass.

5. Enzyme and drug production – use of modified microorganisms that can produce
enzymes for food processing and medicines.
 One example of this is Cgtase. Cyclomaltodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase , an
enzyme used for food flavor enhancer, is produced in higher quantities by bacterium
Bacillus which was genetically modified with the gene of a thermophilic anaerobe.
Thermoanaerobacter, carrying CGTase ( Pedersen & Jordan, 1995).
Another example is artemisinin. Artemisinin acid is a compound used for
antimalarial drugs extracted from sweet wormwood plants. Through genetic engineering,
it can be synthetically produced by yeast and bacteria with sweet wormwood plant genes
(Zimmer, 2006).

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 drug,
gene therapy, and laboratory research.
One classic example is Humulin, the genetically engineered insulin used by Type I
diabetes patients who are insulin dependent. In the past, insulin was extracted from the
pancreases of pigs and cows that have caused allergic reactions to some diabetics 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. In 1996, modified human insulin was approved, called the
Humalog.

Benefits of GMOs
Studies show some of the potential benefits of GMOs
●​ Higher efficiency in farming – with the use of pesticide – resistant herbicide-
tolerant 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 increases
in potential growth and harvest.
●​ Control in fertility – controlling the purity of the hybrid seeds (GMO seed) ensures
higher yields.
●​ 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.
●​ Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancement – GMO crops like maize fortified
with lysine and Golden Rice fortified with vitamin A and iron. There are now edible
vaccines for viral and diarrheal disease.
●​ Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides.
Potential Risks of GMOs
Despite the promising claims of GMOs, the opponents of GMOs claim otherwise.
For example, there are studies that show a link in the adaptation of
pesticide-resistant GMO crops to the significant growth of super weeds that became
pesticide- resistant, too. This caused additional problems to more than 12 million acres of
farms in the United States.

Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:

1. Since genetic engineering is still a young branch of science; there are inadequate studies
on the effects of GMOs on 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 – GMO food may trigger more allergic reactions, more so
create new ones, as a side effect of the gene alteration.
●​ Gene mutation – GMO food may develop abnormalities and mutation, more than
the desired product of the gene alteration.
●​ Antibiotic 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 disease.
●​ Nutritional value – GMO food may have changed in their nutritional value.

Conclusion
Genetic engineering is an emerging field of science. Its 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 approved by experts and government authorities for human use and
consumption while others are kept in institutional research laboratories subject to more
experiments.
There are advantages and disadvantages in using 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 on
humans while the proponents’ flagship is the success stories of the GMO recipients.