1. rDNA Technology & Food Uses
Sana Javed
UG 3- Section A

2. Recombinant DNA (rDNA) Technology
Cutting a known DNA sequence from one organism & introducing it into another
Recipient genotype ( & hence the phenotype) alteration

4. Food Safety DNA insertion- uncontrolled event
Alterations in DNA may interfere with the regulation and expression of certain genes
Toxins
Allergens
Nutritional change
Such faulty insertions are unique to each insertional event, and thus it is practically impossible to search for every possible effect that a gene insertion might have.
Mamalian host metabolism can be altered by taking in insect resistant plants that target GI tract enzymes
Safeguards against this potential risk include avoiding transferring genes from the most commonly allergenic foods, including fish,
shellfish, eggs, milk, soy, wheat, peanuts, and tree nuts. Use of genetic material from these sources would require
extensive testing to prove the absence of allergenicity
Change in nutritional content
they could alter the cellular metabolism of the food-producing organism in unintended and unanticipated ways, and in turn, these alterations in metabolism could cause allergens or toxins to be produced in the food. Another possibility is that, as a result of these alterations in metabolism, the food-producing organism might fail to make some important vitamin or nutrient.
Level of allergen or toxin production is also imp
BT toxins

5. Environmental Concerns
Escaping & spreading the engineered gene in the natural gene flow process
Insect resistant crops- Non-specific
threatening the wild type crop species for competition.
disturb the ecosystem, posing a serious concern for the integrity of biodiversity.

6. Ethical and Social Issues
Prohibited animal-derived genes in plant foods
Ecosystem disruption

7. Safety Assessment
Conducted under ground rules given by WHO, FAO & OECD
Safety testing:
Toxicological testing
Allergenicity studies
Nutritional analysis
Environment: field allocation preventing horizontal gene transfer
Ethical concerns: labeling foods contai-ning animal-derived genes
( Food and Agricultural Organization) (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development)
follows the basic concepts of risk assessment, risk management and risk communication.
Any health hazards, if suspected under any circumstances in the finished product are labeled so that the consumer is aware of any potential risks of allergies and anaphylaxis, and of the nutritional charecteristics if they vary from the unengineered product.
Labeling until longterm safety is established

8. Application of Recombinant DNA Technology in Agriculture
Adeena Shafique

9. INTRODUCTION
Application of recombinant DNA technology has primarily helped in producing three major types of transgenic plant having improved performances. These are: (1) Development of stress tolerant plants (2) Development of plants having improved yield (3) Transgenic plants as a source of biopharmaceuticals

10. Development of stress tolerant plant
Plant resistant to environmental stress
Herbicide Resistant plant
Insect resistant plant
Disease resistance plant

11. Plants resistant to Environmental stress
Abiotic stresses: Drought, Heat, Cold, Too salty or acidic soils
Genetically modified Tomato and Canola tolerate very high salt levels.
Maize and papaya resistant to aluminum.

12. Herbicide Resistant Plants
Herbicide-RoundupTM contains glyphosate.
Glyphosate kills many plants.
It binds to the plant enzyme EPSP synthase.
rDNA technology modified EPSP gene.
Soybean resistant to glyphosate.
rDNA technology

13. Insect resistant plants
Farmers can use insecticides but these are harmful for human health.
Bt genes from Bacillus thuringiensis are used.
Transgenic crops (e.g. cotton, rice, maize, potato, brinjal, cauliflower, cabbage etc.) with Bt genes have been developed and such transgenic varieties proved effective in controlling the insect pests.

14. Disease resistant plants
Plants are susceptible to viral, bacterial, fungal diseases.
Genes encoding viral coat protein expressed in plants. Protects the plant from subsequent infection.
TMV coat protein gene expressed in tobacco plant protected it from TMV infection.

15. Development of plants having increased quality of plant products
Golden Rice

16. Increase in quality of plant products
Golden rice containing beta carotene to overcome vitamin A deficiency in regions where rice is the staple food
Canola containing high levels of oleic acids
Tomatoes which do not rot in room temperature
Other vegetables and fruits with delayed ripening as well as modified flavor characteristics

17. Transgenic plant as a source of bio pharmaceuticals
Edible vaccines- A reality in the future?!
Expression of antigenic proteins in crops like banana and tomato.
Great advantages- avoiding storage problems, easy delivery system, low cost.