From Cows to CanolaFrom Cows to CanolaAn Introduction toAn Introduction to
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
Traditional BreedingTraditional Breeding
Traditionally, plants and animals with favorable traits Traditionally, plants and animals with favorable traits have been bred to perpetuate these traits in offspring.have been bred to perpetuate these traits in offspring.
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The pug and beagle have been bred to produce the ‘puggle’, The pug and beagle have been bred to produce the ‘puggle’, a mixed breed with both pug and beagle traits.a mixed breed with both pug and beagle traits.
Traditional BreedingTraditional Breeding
This has been This has been particularly particularly important in important in
agriculture, where agriculture, where crops and animals crops and animals
are prized for are prized for having certain having certain
traits.traits.
Advances in Breeding MethodsAdvances in Breeding Methods
Over time, more Over time, more sophisticated breeding sophisticated breeding
practices emerged, practices emerged, such as mutation such as mutation
breeding.breeding.
This is a process in This is a process in which organisms are which organisms are
exposed to chemicals exposed to chemicals or radiation.or radiation.
This changes their This changes their DNA in an effort to DNA in an effort to
produce new desired produce new desired genetic traits.genetic traits.
Mutation breeding (gamma radiation) was used to develop these drought-resistant
soybeans.
Mutation BreedingMutation Breeding
MB has been applied for MB has been applied for decades to yield products such decades to yield products such as: as:
Rio Red grapefruitRio Red grapefruit
Golden Promise Barley Golden Promise Barley (used in fine beers) (used in fine beers)
Nearly 200 types of Nearly 200 types of bread wheat bread wheat
Beans, lettuce, rice, oatsBeans, lettuce, rice, oats
How is Genetic Engineering Different?How is Genetic Engineering Different?
Genetic engineering Genetic engineering is a laboratory is a laboratory
technique that allows technique that allows for greater precision for greater precision and a wider array of and a wider array of
possibilities.possibilities.
For example, For example, genes genes from one species from one species
can now be can now be inserted into inserted into
another.another.
Example 1: A Golden Example 1: A Golden OpportunityOpportunity
Daffodil and soil Daffodil and soil bacterium genes bacterium genes were introduced were introduced
into into white rice to white rice to
produce Golden produce Golden Rice.Rice.
White Rice vs. Golden Rice
A Golden OpportunityA Golden Opportunity
The golden color results The golden color results from elevated levels of from elevated levels of beta-carotene, which beta-carotene, which boost the nutritional boost the nutritional
value of the rice. value of the rice.
Golden Rice will be Golden Rice will be grown in places that grown in places that
lack adequate sources lack adequate sources of beta-carotene.of beta-carotene.
Example 2: Antioxidants, Example 2: Antioxidants, Anyone?Anyone?
Genes from the Genes from the snapdragon flower snapdragon flower
were were incorporated into incorporated into
tomatoes to create tomatoes to create this antioxidant-rich this antioxidant-rich
fruit.fruit.
Transferring genes Transferring genes isn’t the only way isn’t the only way
genetic engineering genetic engineering can be applied. It has can be applied. It has
other uses, too!other uses, too!
For example, genetic For example, genetic engineering allows us engineering allows us
to “shut off” genes to “shut off” genes within an organism so within an organism so
that the products that the products they normally they normally express are not express are not
produced.produced. Gene silencing techniques have been usedto lower the allergenicity of peanuts.
Meaningful SilenceMeaningful Silence
Genetic Engineering: Other Genetic Engineering: Other AdvantagesAdvantages
PlantsPlants
• Increased crop yieldsIncreased crop yields
• Pest resistancePest resistance
• Environmental tolerance Environmental tolerance (to drought, extreme (to drought, extreme temperatures, etc).temperatures, etc).
• Virus resistanceVirus resistance
Other organisms Other organisms (animals, fish, etc.):(animals, fish, etc.):
• Faster growth ratesFaster growth rates
• Ability to produce Ability to produce valuable valuable proteins in animal milk proteins in animal milk
• Ability to overcome Ability to overcome limitedlimited availability of certain availability of certain resources (eg, resources (eg, rChymosin)rChymosin)
Example 1: SunUp PapayaExample 1: SunUp Papaya
The papaya ringspot The papaya ringspot virus was on course virus was on course
to wipe out the to wipe out the Hawaiian papaya Hawaiian papaya
industry. industry.
This prompted the This prompted the development of the development of the
SunUp papaya, SunUp papaya, which is genetically which is genetically
modified to be modified to be resistant to this virus.resistant to this virus.
The SunUp papaya is believed to have The SunUp papaya is believed to have rescued Hawaii’s ravaged papaya rescued Hawaii’s ravaged papaya
industry.industry.
Example 2: Got Fibrinogen?Example 2: Got Fibrinogen?
Fibrinogen is a Fibrinogen is a protein that helps protein that helps
blood to clot. blood to clot.
GM cows that GM cows that secrete fibrinogen in secrete fibrinogen in their milk can make their milk can make this protein widely this protein widely
available to patients available to patients who need it.who need it.
Example 3: GM foods have been Example 3: GM foods have been a regular part of our diets for years.a regular part of our diets for years.
An estimated ~75% of An estimated ~75% of processed foods in the United processed foods in the United States contain genetically States contain genetically modified ingredients.modified ingredients.
Examples include canola Examples include canola oil and rChymosin, an oil and rChymosin, an ingredient found in many ingredient found in many commercially available commercially available cheeses. cheeses.
Concerns about GMOsConcerns about GMOs
‘‘Superweeds’Superweeds’
Unknown long-term Unknown long-term health effects health effects
Allergens transferredAllergens transferred to new foods to new foods
? ?? ? ? ? ?? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Cross-pollinationCross-pollination
Ecosystem Ecosystem disruptiondisruption
Inadequate Inadequate regulationregulation
Moral concerns Moral concerns (‘playing God’?) (‘playing God’?)
Example: 2S AlbuminExample: 2S Albumin
Pioneer Hi-Bred Pioneer Hi-Bred wanted to boost the wanted to boost the
nutritional value of its nutritional value of its soy-based animal feed. soy-based animal feed.
It developed GM It developed GM soybeans containing soybeans containing 2S albumin, a protein 2S albumin, a protein
from Brazil nuts. from Brazil nuts.
2S albumin is a 2S albumin is a human allergen, and human allergen, and
the allergen was the allergen was transferred transferred
into the beans. into the beans.
Although they were intended solely Although they were intended solely
for animal consumption, Pioneer’s for animal consumption, Pioneer’s soybeans were not released for use.soybeans were not released for use.
Careful monitoring and Careful monitoring and testing, regulations, and testing, regulations, and
other factors will all other factors will all play a role as genetic play a role as genetic engineering plays a engineering plays a
growing part ingrowing part inour daily lives.our daily lives.
The FutureThe Future
Genetic engineering has Genetic engineering has opened the door to opened the door to
countless possibilities in countless possibilities in food, health, and beyond. food, health, and beyond.
However, each new However, each new genetically modified genetically modified
organism brings organism brings certain unknowns.certain unknowns.
ReviewReview
Genetic engineering enables us Genetic engineering enables us to do something that isn’t done to do something that isn’t done
via traditional breeding or via traditional breeding or mutation breeding. What is it?mutation breeding. What is it?
This GM lettuce This GM lettuce carries the insulin carries the insulin gene. It relieves gene. It relieves
diabetes in mice and diabetes in mice and holds promise for holds promise for
future applications future applications for humans.for humans.
Answer: Transfer a Gene from One Species to Another
Describe two ways in Describe two ways in which the genetic which the genetic
makeup of an organism makeup of an organism can be changed via can be changed via genetic engineering.genetic engineering.
Review
1. A foreign gene can be added to an 1. A foreign gene can be added to an organism to create a new trait in that organism to create a new trait in that organism. organism.
2. An existing gene within the organism 2. An existing gene within the organism can be “shut off” so that the product it can be “shut off” so that the product it normally expresses is not produced. normally expresses is not produced.
Review
ReviewReview
What kinds of What kinds of advantages can genetic advantages can genetic
engineering impart?engineering impart?
ReviewReview
Increased crop yieldsIncreased crop yields
Pest resistancePest resistance
Faster growth ratesFaster growth rates
Environmental Environmental tolerance tolerance (to drought, extreme (to drought, extreme temperatures, etc).temperatures, etc).
Virus resistanceVirus resistance
The ability to produce The ability to produce important proteins in important proteins in animal milk animal milk
Enhanced nutritional Enhanced nutritional
value value Ability to overcome limited Ability to overcome limited availability availability of certain resources (eg, of certain resources (eg, rChymosin)rChymosin)
ReviewReview
What are some of the What are some of the concerns people have about concerns people have about
genetic engineering?genetic engineering?
ReviewReview
Development of Development of ‘superweeds’‘superweeds’
Unknown long-term Unknown long-term health effects health effects
Allergens transferredAllergens transferred to new foods to new foods
Cross-pollinationCross-pollination
Ecosystem Ecosystem disruptiondisruption
Inadequate Inadequate regulationregulation
Moral concernsMoral concerns (‘playing God’) (‘playing God’)
DiscussionDiscussion
1.1. What do you think about genetic engineering?What do you think about genetic engineering?
2.2. Do you view it as more helpful or harmful? Do you view it as more helpful or harmful? Why?Why?
3.3. Would you eat foods that you knew were Would you eat foods that you knew were genetically modified? Why or why not?genetically modified? Why or why not?
4.4. How do you think GM foods should be How do you think GM foods should be regulated? regulated?
Image Citations Image Citations (by slide number)(by slide number)
1. http://www.cartoonbank.com/2000/We-would-like-to-be-genetically-modiied-to-taste-like-Brussels-sprouts/invt/119426
2. http://panzercow.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/pug.jpg, http://www.krittercards.com/images/beagle1.jpg, http://petsworldri.com/yahoo_site_admin/
3. http://media-cdn.tripadvisor.com/media/photo-s/01/4f/cb/a6/colorful-vegetables-at.jpg, http://news-libraries.mit.edu/blog/date/2009/01/page/2/
4. http://www.pnri.dost.gov.ph/pnri.php?pnri=nrd 5. http://www.texascitrusexchange.com/rio_red_facts.htm, http://www2.science.unsw.edu.au/news/
newsArchive.html 6. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Genetic-engineering-wheat.jpg 7. http://www.jamesandthegiantcorn.com/2009/11/14/genetically-engineered-crops-rice/ 8. http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/unit/text.php?unit=7&secNum=7, http://www.goldenrice
.org/Content3-Why/why1_vad.html 9. http://webecoist.com/2009/09/01/10-more-intriguing-genetically-modified-fruits-veggies/ 10. http://runforlife3.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/peanut-peanut-butter-and-jelly/ 11. http://homegardeningzone.com 12. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/seed/seeds.asp 13. http://news-libraries.mit.edu/blog/date/2009/01/page/2/ 14. http://images.businessweek.com/ss/07/12/1206_biotech_brunch/source/5.htm,
http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/04/stinky-wine-shops-now-serving.html 16. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/biotech/safety.html 19. http://floridatrend.com/article.asp?
aID=89695759.8573667.651898.21069602.9810479.224&aID2=50137
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