Transcript gmo biotech presentation 18 august 2016 safari

MODERN BIOTECHNOLOGY
AND GMOs
GMOs
• Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are
organisms that have been altered using
genetic engineering (modern
biotechnology)methods
• The key steps involved in genetic engineering
are identifying a trait of interest, isolating that
trait, inserting that trait into a desired
organism, and then propagating that
organism.
Chelsea Powell and Anna Maurer Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Chelsea Powell and Anna Maurer Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Summary of the FDA’s Inventory on Genetically Engineered Foods as of June 30th, 2015.
Chelsea Powell and Anna Maurer Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
USDA Approved Genetically Modified Crops
(green) currently Produced in US (gray) Not currently produced
USDA Animal and Health Inspection Service
GMO?
white-button mushroom that doesn’t turn brown as quickly,
Kristen V. Brown; http://fusion.net/story/294575/crispr-mushrooms-usda-gmo/
GMO?
• Typically, genetic modification relied on
techniques that splice genes from one species
into another
• CRISPR the gene-altering/editing technique to
create a white-button mushroom that doesn’t
turn brown as quickly
• Crispr allows scientists to cut and paste gene
sequences more easily than ever, means
scientists can more easily alter crops without
adding genes from another species.
Kristen V. Brown; http://fusion.net/story/294575/crispr-mushrooms-usda-gmo/
GMO?
• To prevent those white button mushrooms from
browning scientists just had to knock out the bit
of DNA responsible for making them turn brown
when you cut them
• Since the new crop does not contain any
introduced genetic material, should it be subject
to it isn’t even subject to the GMO regulations?
• However, could there be some off-target effects
(unintended consequences)?
Kristen V. Brown; http://fusion.net/story/294575/crispr-mushrooms-usda-gmo/
GM crops in Africa
• GM crops in Africa remain limited
• In 2014, the AfDB and the International Food
Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) published a
report titled GM Agricultural Technologies for
Africa: A State of Affairs.
• only Burkina Faso, Egypt, South Africa, and Sudan
are currently growing some GM crops (cotton and
maize).
• Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, and
Uganda—are piloting a variety of GM crops
(banana, cassava, cowpeas, etc.).
GM crops in Africa
• The 2014 AfDB-IFPRI report highlights conditions
necessary to increase Africa’s adoption of GM
crops:
 increased funding for research and development
to enhance biotechnology capacity
 Strengthen capacity of regulatory systems in
order to inform decision makers.
 More outreach and better communication to
ensure that Africans are well informed about the
risks and benefits of GM crops.