Transcript Genetically Modified Organisms!

Genetically Modified
Organisms!
Is Genetically Modified Food Safe
Enough to feed the World’s
Growing Population?
ISU
Nicketta Lagadoo
Dec. 8, 2009
Mr. Watts
SBI4U
What Is Genetic Modification?
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Genetic Modification of an organism, is
a process where by the genetic
material( DNA or RNA) of an organism
is transferred to another organism
using biotechnology to achieve a
desired effect
Scientists alter the genetic make up of
an organism to enhance a desired trait
for commercial advantage for
agricultural production
Traits are taken from other plants,
bacteria, viruses and animals
Traits that are desired include:
resistance to insects or pathogens,
increase nutritional content, herbicide
tolerance, longer shelf life in grocery
stores, ability to grow faster and
bigger, delayed ripening, or higher oil
content, etc.
History of GMOs:
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Genetic Modification is not one of
the 21st century, but has been
around since the begginning of
aguculture
Humans have been naturally
genetically modifying plants, to
create the best offspring using
selective breeding
The process included the mixing
of many genes together in order to
achieve a specific result
Since traditional breeding
techniques are time consuming,
and not accurate, genetic
modification allows scientists to
target the exact desired gene to
be inserted into an organism in a
short amount of time
In 1994 , the first commercially
grown, genetically modified food
was a tomato created by Flavr
Savr
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Crops that have been genetically
modified include:
canola
corn, including popcorn and sweet
corn but not blue corn
cotton
flax
papaya
potatoes
soybeans
squash (yellow crookneck)
sugar beet
tomatoes, including cherry tomatoes
How the Process Works:
The process of genetically modifying a
plant is as follows:
1.
A plant with the desired characteristic is
identified.
2.
The specific gene that produces the
characteristic is located and restriction
enzymes are used to cut the
plants DNA.
3.
A plasmid is joined to the gene to act as a
carrier inorder to insert the gene into the
cells of the plant.
4.
A promoter is included with the gene and the
plasmid, to help the gene function properly
when inserted into the plant.
5.
The gene package is then inserted back into
the bacterium, which reproduces to create
many copies of the gene package.
6.
The gene packages are transferred into the
plant that is being modified, using a “particle
gun” or a soil bacterium.
7.
The plant tissue that has taken up the genes
is grown into full-size genetically modified
plants.
Contd.
Modified Trait
Crop
Input Traits
Herbicide resistance
Sugar beet, Soybean, Corn, Canola, Cotton, Flax
Insect/herbicide resistance
Corn
Insect resistance
Tomato, Corn, Potato, Cotton
Virus resistance
Squash, Papaya
Male sterile
Corn
Output Traits
Modified oil
Soybean, Canola
Modified fruit ripening
Tomato
Provitamin A enriched
Rice
Iron fortification
Rice
Beta-carotene, lycopene enriched
Tomato
Detoxification of mycotoxins
Corn
Detoxification of cyanogens
Cassava
Caffeine-free
Coffee beans
Vitamin E enriched
Canola
Pros of GMOs:
“Golden Rice”:
Pros of GMOs:
• Enhance the taste and quality of foods
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Reduced maturation time
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Increase nutrients, yields, and stress
tolerance
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Improved resistance to disease, pests
and herbicides
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New products and growing techniques
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Conservation of soil, water and energy
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More efficient processing
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Increased food security for growing
populations
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Rice for many countries in the world is
a primary food source
Vitamin A from beta-carotene is made
from mammals and is not found in
polished white rice
White rice was missing many essential
vitamins and minerals, so people
whose diet is heavily based on rice
were malnourished
The most severe consequences of
malnutrition is blindness cause by the
vitamin A deficiency
Scientists genetically modified rice so
that it could be high in vitamin A
Turned rice, yellow in colour
Cons & Ethics of GMOs
Cons of GMOs:
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Human health impacts (allergens or
the transfer of antibiotic resistance
markers)
• The transfer of transgenes through
cross-pollination
• Loss of flora and fauna biodiversity
• Domination of world food production
by a few companies
• Increasing dependence on
industrialized nations by developing
countries
• Harmful pollutants as a result of cross
breeding plants and the formation of
“super weeds”
Ethics for GMOs:
• Violation of natural organism intrinsic
values
• Tampering with nature by mixing
genes among species
Labeling of GMOs in Canada:
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Canada is one of the largest producers of
genetically modified crops, up to 70% of
processed foods in the grocery stores
contain genetically modified ingredients
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When a manufacturer wants to sell or
advertise a new genetically modified
product in Canada, they must submit data
to Health Canada for a pre-market safety
assessment as required under the Division
28 of Part B of the Food and Drugs
Regulation.
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The information that is submitted is
assessed by the evaluators who are
experts in molecular biology, toxicology,
chemistry, nutritional sciences, and
microbiology.
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The criteria for assessing the new
product is as follows:
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How the modified product was developed
How the GM food compares to a nonmodified counter part food in terms of
composition and nutrition quality
The potential for production of new toxins
in the food
The potential for causing allergic reactions
The microbiological and chemical safety of
the food
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Organizations Pro or Anti-GMOs:
Pro GMOs:
Organizations that support the
creation of genetically modified
foods are:
AAEA (African American
Environmentalist
Association):
-founded in 1985
-a national, non-profit
environmental organization that
encourages participation in
environmental issues
-insist that GM foods are
beneficial to helping feed
hungry populations across the
world
-“Starvation is much more
dangerous to more people than
any threat presented by GM
foods”
Anti-GMOs:
Organizations that do not
support the creation of
genetically modified foods are:
The Royal Society of Canada:
- “it is scientifically unjustifiable
to presume that GM foods are
safe, and that the default
prediction for any GM foods is
the creation of unintended side
effects”
Greenpeace:
- Oppose the release of GMOs
into the environment
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advocates interim measures
like the labeling of GM foods,
and the segregation of GM
crops and seeds from
conventional and organic
seeds
References:
_________.(2006). Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved Oct. 17, 2009, from Science Reference Center database.
Eubanks, Mark W. (2003). Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved Nov. 8, 2009, from Science Center database.
Food Standards Agency. (2003). GM Basics. Retrieved Nov. 18, 2009, from
http://www.food.gov.uk/gmdebate/abountgm.
Hanrahan, Clare (edu.). (2008). Global Resources. New York: Green Haven Press.
Health Canada. (2009). The Safety of Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved Nov. 10, 2009, from http://www.hcsc.gc.ca/hl-vs/iyh-vsv/food-aliment/gm-tg-eng.php.
Human Genome Project Information.(2008). Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms. Retrieved Nov. 17, 2008, from
http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human-Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml
Pictures:
http://www.chamah.org/assets/images/man-receiving-food-pkgs.jpg
http://library.thinkquest.org/07aug/00775/dna.jpg
http://www.sott.net/image/image/16377/full/tomato.jpg
http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/image_full/international/photosvideos/ hotos/greenpeace activistsprotest-a-10.jpg
http://chargar.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/canned-food1.jpg
http://sustainabletable.org/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/corn1.jpg
http://www.goldenrice.org/
http://sitemaker.umich.edu/sec006group5/files/percent_gmos_worldwide_chart.gif
http://www.bio.davidson.edu/people/kabernd/seminar/2004/GMevents/NH/foodlabel.jpg
http://www.worldproutassembly.org/GM-foods.jpg