Genetically Modified

Organisms: Science, Health

and Politics
 What are GMOs?
• Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms with foreign genes
incorporated into their genome such that they exhibit different but
desirable properties that do not occur naturally by mating and/or
natural recombination.
• The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects,
animals or even humans.
• These genes are carefully studied and selected to achieve the goal
of improving a particular organism or make this organism a vehicle
for faster and efficient manufacturing and a delivery of a product.
• The modification can be transgenic, whereby the organism contains DNA
from another species, or cisgenic, whereby it contains DNA from a
member of the same species but doesn't occur naturally.
• The latter form is generally viewed as a safer practice, although there
are concerns for all types of genetic modification
• GMOs can include plants, animals and microorganisms
• GMOs have been approved by regulatory agencies for commercial
production and consumption, while others are currently undergoing
regulatory evaluation (Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health)
• Still other GMOs are in experimental stages and confined to
scientific laboratory research.
 The Making of GMOs, Steps in Cloning
• Cloning requires a source of DNA or a donor organism.
• The DNA is cut with restriction enzyme and is lighted to a
vector, usually a plasmid. previously cut with another
restriction enzyme compatible with the first enzyme used.
• After ligation, the chimeric molecules are transformed in
competent cells (usually Escherichia coli) and then screened for
the presence of genes of interest.
• Several organisms have been genetically modified since the
introduction of technologies and discovery of the DNA
(deoxyribonucleic acid) double helix structure.
• GM crops were first commercialized in 1996 and only from
countries that planted transgenic crops to about 11 million
hectares
•
 GM Crops
1. Corn
 It was first genetically modified with the insertion of toxin
gene from the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis.
 With the commercialization of Bt corn, an increase in corn
production was realized because of its resistance to the attack
of corn borer.
 2. Cotton
Almost half of cottons grown in the world have been
genetically modified to resist pests and pesticides.
 3. Jatropha
Jatropha seeds are similar to palm oil. It can be used as biofuel
and a high source of protein for livestock. However, planting
Jatropha, has caused destruction of the native plants.
 4. Rice
Golden rice is the genetically modified rice containing beta
carotene a precursor of vitamin A. The golden rice is still in the
research stage but once it becomes a developed variety and
commercializedd many Filipinos will benefit from it.
 5. Soy
More than 90% of soybeans grown in the United States are
genetically modified to be herbicide resistant.
 6. Sugar Beets
Sugar beets were engineered to grow faster and to be more
resistant to weeds.
 7. Cassava
Cassava is a starchy plant like potato that is consumed by
many people across the globe like Africa. The first GMO cassava
plant was engineered in 1955. Cassava was supposed to be virus
and pest resistant but farmers reported that in few years the
GMO cassava lose their anti-virus resistant quality.
 8. Papaya
also known as Carica papaya L., has been Caribbean coast of
Central America as the point of origin. It was first genetically
modified in Hawaii and introduced to the market in 1999. The
GM Papaya lines were developed to resist infection by papaya
ringspot virus (PRSV)
 9. Banana
Majority of bananas in the US are genetically modified.
 10. Eggplant
The first GM eggplant (Bt eggplant) in South and Southeast
Asia, the new pest-resistant eggplant, was developed by the
Maharashtra Hybrid Seeds Company (Mahyco) based in Jaina,
India.
 11. Tomatoes
Many tomatoes have been genetically modified in US but GM
tomatoes are banned in Europe.
Flavr Savr is the first commercially grown GM tomatoe granted
with a license for human consumption. Produced by Calgene, a
California company, it was first sold in 1994 after the US Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) completed its evaluation.
 12. Apple
Scientist are now able to deactivate the gene for polyphenol
oxidase (PPO), an enzyme which causes the browning of apples.
 13. Peas
GM peas were created by inserting kidney beans genes into
the peas DNA resulting to the production of protein with
pesticidal ability.
 14. Yellow crookneck squash or zucchini
GM zucchini are resistant to viruses.
 15. Alfalfa
GM Alfalfa was developed to produce a crop that will survive
exposure to glyphosate herbicide.
 Impacts of GMOs
1.