1. Genetically Modified Organisms
By: Alex Bondar

2. Genetically Modified Organisms
GMO- A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using techniques in genetics generally known as recombinant DNA technology.

3. History Prehistoric times to 1900 1900 1953
Some naturalists and farmers begin to recognize "hybrids," plants produced through natural breeding between related varieties of plants.
1900
European plant scientists begin using Gregor Mendel's genetic theory to manipulate and improve plant species.
1953
James Watson and Francis Crick publish their discovery of the three-dimensional double helix structure of DNA

4. History
1973
Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen combine their research to create the first successful recombinant DNA organism.
1980
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that genetically altered life forms can be patented.
1987
The first field tests of genetically engineered crops (tobacco and tomato) are conducted in the United States.

5. History
1992
The FDA declares that genetically engineered foods are "not inherently dangerous" and do not require special regulation.
1994
The European Union's first genetically engineered crop, tobacco, is approved in France.
2000
International Biosafety Protocol is approved by 130 countries at the Convention on Biological Diversity

6. GMO Today Mostly in agricultural sector
Popular in North America and South America
Only Bt Maize in Europe but popularity of GM products is growing
China recently started growing GM rice

7. GMO Today Genetically Conferred Trait Examples Herbicide tolerance
Insect resistance
Altered fatty acid composition
Virus resistance
Vitamin enrichment
Faster mutation
Soybean
Corn
Canola
Plum
Rice
Coho Salmon

8. Technology Used
Bacterial Carriers: Using viruses or bacteria to "infect" animal or plant cells with the new DNA.
Biolistics: Coating DNA onto tiny metal pellets, and firing it with a special gun into the cells.
Microinjection: Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs with a very fine needle.
Electoporation: Using electric shocks to create holes in the membrane covering sperm, and then forcing the new DNA into the sperm through these holes.

9. Bacterial Carriers
The bacterium is prepared in a special solution to make its cell walls more porous.
The selected gene is inserted into a bacterium extra chromosomal DNA molecule (called a plasmid) and dropped into the solution.
The solution is heated, which allows the plasmid to enter the bacterium and express the new gene.
The genetically altered bacterium (or recombinant) is allowed to recover (is ‘rested’) and grow and, depending on the plasmid, make extra copies of the new gene.
The bacterium is then allowed to infect the target plant cells so it can deliver the plasmid and the new gene into the cells to be transformed.

10. Biolistics
The selected DNA is attached to microscopic particles of gold or the metal tungsten.
Like firing a gun, these DNA-laden particles are shot into the target cells using a burst of gas under pressure.

11. Microinjection
The selected DNA is injected into a fertilized ovum (female egg cell) through an extremely slender device called a glass capillary tube.
The genetically modified egg is then transplanted into the prepared uterus of a receptive female and allowed to grow to term.
This method ensures that almost every cell in the developing organism’s body contains the new DNA but not all the offspring will carry the transgene (is deemed a ‘transgenic’ animal).

12. Electoporation
The prepared target cells are immersed in a special solution with the selected DNA. A short but intense electric shock is then passed through the solution.
The result is small pores/tears in the cell walls, which allow the new genetic material access to the nuclei.
Then, the cells are placed into another solution and encouraged to repair their breached walls, locking the ‘donor’ DNA inside the cell.
The selected DNA is incorporated into the host chromosomes to provide the host with a new gene.

13. Advantages & Disadvantages
Genetically Modified Organism’s (GMO’s) are plants or crops that are modified in a laboratory to increase certain traits. There are natural methods of increasing these traits, however, genetic modification makes it that it can be done quickly and precisely. Science supports GMO’s because of the several benefits that it offers to mankind.

14. Advantages of GMO’s Some benefits of GMO’s Include Pest Resistance
Tolerance to Herbicide
Resistance to Disease and Cold
Drought Resistance
Enhanced Nutritional Content

15. Pest Resistance
Each growing season a large amount of a crop is lost due to pests. This results in a financial loss for the farmer, and less of the product for the consumer. To fix this farmers use pesticides, but these are expensive and not good for the consumer of the product. By genetically modifying crops we can increase pest resistance without the use of chemicals.

16. Tolerance to Herbicide
By genetically modifying crops we can make them tolerant to one specific herbicide. Farmers use multiple kinds right now to kill different weeds and plants that end up growing with their crops and these are very expensive. By modifying the crops we can save the farmer money so they only have to buy one type of herbicide, and it will mean less chemicals on our food.

17. Resistance to Disease and Cold
Crops are constantly infected by fungal and bacterial diseases, and there is also unexpected frost and cold. These can result in destroyed seedlings, or even completely destroyed crops. Plants can be protected from these by being genetically modified.

18. Tolerance to Drought
Each year droughts can take out an entire crop, and there is nothing that can be done because farmers cannot predict the weather. By modifying plants we can make it that they are more tolerant to drought and more likely to survive the harsh conditions.

19. Enhanced Nutritional Content
This is considered the greatest advantage of genetically modifying crops. By enhancing the nutritional value of a crop, we can ensure that even in countries where lesser crops are available for consumption, the people can still obtain the required nutrition, which prevents malnourishment.

20. Disadvantages of GMO’s
Some disadvantages include:
Potential Human Health Impacts
Potential Environmental Impacts
Access and Intellectual Property

21. Potential Human Health Impacts
Allergens
Transfer of Antibiotic Resistance Markers
Unknown Effects

22. Potential Environmental Impacts
Unintended transfer of transgenes through cross-pollination
Unknown effects on other organisms

23. Access and Intellectual Property
Domination of world food production by a few companies
Increasing dependence on industrialized nations by developing countries
Foreign exploitation of natural resources

24. Controversies on Genetically Modified Organisms
Four main Controversies are:
1) Concerns including the possibility that GMO’s insect or herbicide resistant traits will spread to other, less desirable, plant varieties.
2) GMOs are also argued to pose unknown risks to human health, such as the transfer of allergens or carcinogens.

25. 3) GMO may cause antibiotic resistance.
4) GMO’s are unlabeled in the U.S.A.
The biggest issue is that genetically modified organisms have not been proven in any way to be safe, and most of the studies are actually leaning the other direction, which is why many of the world’s countries have banned these items whose DNA has been genetically engineered.
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26. Works Cited