Transcript GMO - Sintich Science

The National Feed
the World
Organization
A GMO CORP.
Kandice Cantrell
GMO Background
What is a Genetically Modified Organism?
plants or animals that have been genetically
engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants
and animals. These experimental combinations of genes
from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional
crossbreeding.
How do you create a genetically modified organism?
A genetically modified organism is an organism whose
genetic material has been altered using techniques in
genetics generally known as recombinant DNA technology.
Recombinant DNA technology is the ability to combine DNA
molecules from different sources into the one molecule.
Cont'd
Recombinant DNA is placed in rice in hopes of
creating new concepts for combating pests and
diseases, prevention of vitamin deficiencies, and
developing allergen free rice.
This may also be used in other organisms for pest
resistance, herbicide tolerance, disease resistance,
and drought tolerance.
My company focuses on
genetically modified rice
Rice makes up the main food source for almost half of
the world's population.
Golden Rice has been created with the aim of producing
significant amounts of β-carotene to account for
Vitamin A deficiency.
genetically modifying the rice species is done through
the addition of two genes, phytoene synthase and
phytoene desaturase, the β-carotene accumulates in
the edible endosperm
Who did it first?
(1999) The first breakthrough in the development of Golden
Rice was the result of a collaboration between Peter Beyer and
Ingo Potrykus.
These efforts led to the development of the first generation of
Golden Rice (GR1). This version did not carry enough Vitamin
A to make up for the current deficiencies.
(2005) Thus the second generation was created by addition of
two genes, phytoene synthase and phytoene desaturase the
addition of these genes caused a much higher production of
the β-carotene giving the rice a deep golden color and the ability
to fight vitamin A deficiencies.
This process has been confirmed by crossing the trait into a
number of varieties by breeding.
The image clearly shows the progress made since
the proof-of-concept stage of Golden Rice. The new
generation, contains β-carotene levels that will
provide adequate amounts of provitamin A in
children's diets in SE Asia.
Current Uses
A typical diet containing GR2 has a great potential
to help alleviate vitamin A deficiency-induced
diseases. Such as blindness and death.
Many other types of rice are genetically modified
for pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, disease
resistance, and drought tolerance.
Pros
Smallholder farmers in developing countries will be
able to get Golden Rice without additional charges
and they are free to save the seeds for replanting.
Save on costs for vitamin A injections, and spread
the vitamin to all people instead of just the children.
Cons
Some say that Vitamin Deficiencies are not as important as
vegetable production.
Like with any other genetically modified organisms there are
scientific draw backs such as mutations that can lead to
health issues with the consumption of golden rice.
Vitamin A is fat soluble, so you will need fat in your diet to be
able to intake the vitamin A, unfortunately for Golden Rice,
adequate protein and fat are not readily available in
developing nations where the grain is targeted at.
Ethics
Golden Rice has yet to be tested on people and the
environment causing concerns for the health and
ethical social worlds.
Activist groups such as Greenpace do not believe
that malnutrition will be solved by Golden rice.
Is it fair to use developing nations as guinea pigs in
this experiment?
Saving lives
Small children are most susceptible to micronutrient deficiencies. Initially a VAD
affects their eyesight, but at the same time it impairs their immune system, and
children fall prey to common infectious diseases. Vitamin A and zinc alone could
save more than a third of the 12 million children who die annually because of
malnutrition worldwide.
In 2012 the World Health Organization reported that about 250 million preschool
children are affected by VAD, and that providing those children with vitamin A
could prevent about a third of all under-five deaths, which amounts to up to 2.7
million children that could be saved from dying unnecessarily.
However the traditional method to provide it is very expensive and only the
children are provided with the vitamin A shots not the adults.
Rice containing provitamin A could substantially reduce the problems described
above. This can only be achieved using genetic engineering because there is no
provitamin A in the rice seeds, even though it is present in the leaves.
Sources
http://www.gmocompass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/crops/24.genetically_modified
_rice.html
http://janetdrscottjanet.hubpages.com/hub/GM-Food-Golden-Rice
http://www.goldenrice.org/Content2-How/how1_sci.php
http://www.ajstein.de/cv/golden_rice.htm
http://www.grain.org/article/entries/10-grains-of-delusion-goldenrice-seen-from-the-ground
http://www.goldenrice.org/Content3-Why/why1_vad.php