GENETICALLY

MODIFIED
ORGANISMS
 LEARNING OBJECTIVE

• Understand what is biotechnology

• Explain the process of genetic
engineering; and
• Discuss the ethics, implications, and
potential future impacts of GMO’s.
BIOTECHNOLO
GY
A science –driven industry
sector that uses living organisms
and their derivatives to produce
products and processes.
The following are its significance:

A. To develop new precision tools and diagnostics.

B. Speed up breeding gains and efficiency
C. Develop pes-and disease –resistant crops
D. Combat drought and problems of agriculture
E. Enhance the nutritional quality of food.
F. Increase crop varieties and choices.
G. Reduce inputs and production costs
H. Increase profits
 The Biodiversity International has
released a module titled “Law and Policy of
relevance to the management of plant
genetic resources.” This module provides the
following definition:

1. Biotechnology uses biological systems,

living organisms , or derivatives thereof, to
make or modify products or processes for a
specific use.
2. GenetIc Engineering is a technique that
allows genes and DNA to be transferred from
one source to another. It leads to the
production of Living Modified Organisms
(LMOs) or Genetically Modified Organisms
(GMOs).

3. Modern biotechnology gives scientists

molecular tools for obtaining a better
understanding of the structure and function of
genes in living organisms.
TIMELINE OF GENETIC
MODIFICATION
CIRCA 800 Traditional modification methods like selective breeding and
BCE cross-breeding.
1866 Gregor Mendel identified the basic process of genetics.
1922 First hybrid corn is produced
1940 Plant breeders learn to use radiation or chemicals to randomly
change an organisms DNA.
1953 Rosalind Franklin, scientist James Watson and Francis Crick
identify the structure of DNA
1973 Biochemist Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen develop genetic
engineering by inserting DNA from one bacteria to another.
TIMELINE OF GENETIC
MODIFICATION
1982 FDA in Us approves the first consumer GMO product develop
through genetic engineering: human insulin to treat diabetes.
1994 The first GMO created through genetic engineering –a GMO
tomato- becomes available for sale.
1990s First wave of GMO products: summer squash, soybeans, cotton,
corn, papayas, tomatoes, potatoes, and canola.
2003 WHO and FAO of the UN develop international guidelines and
standards to determine the safety of GMO foods.
2015 FDA approves an application for the first genetic modification in
an animal for use as food, a genetically engineered salmon.
2020 GMO pink pineapple is available to US consumers.
HOW GMOs ARE MADE?
3 METHODS OF GENETIC
ENGINEERING
PLASMID METHOD

• Uses small circular pieces of

a DNA molecule called
plasmids. This method is
mainly used for altering
microorganisms such as
bacteria
 3 METHODS OF GENETIC
ENGINEERING
VECTOR METHOD

• Uses techniques similar to the

plasmid method. This method
uses vectors, which are carrier
molecules that is normally
viruses.
3 METHODS OF GENETIC
ENGINEERING
BIOLISTIC METHOD

• Also called the gene gun

method.
• This method uses a gun
mainly used for the
engineering of the plants.
GMOs IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

PEST RESISTANCE – genetically

modified plants to resist certain pests.

• BT CORN, a.k.a. transgenic corn, is

corn that has been modified to
produce the insecticidal proteins that
occur naturally in BT. BT (bacillus
thuringiensis) is a bacterium produces
crustal-like proteins (cry protein) that
selectively kill a few specific insect
species.
GMOs IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES
VIRUS RESISTANCE – genetically
modified plants to resist certain
viruses.

• GM PAPAYA or rainbow papaya, in

the mid-1990s, the papaya farmers of
Hawaii were threatened with
devastation by a newly rampant,
disease, papaya ringspot virus (PRSV).
A genetic sequence from the virus
was inserted into the papaya genome.
GMOs IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES
HERBICIDE TOLERANCE- genetically
modified plants to tolerate Herbicides.

• ROUNDUP READY SOYBEANS (RR

SOYBEANS), are genetically engineered
soybeans that have had their DNA
altered to allow them to withstand the
herbicide glyphosate. A farmer can
spray the entire crop with
glyphosphate, killing only the weeds
and leaving the soybeans alive
GMOs IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

FORTIFICATION – genetically
modified plants fortified with
certain minerals.

• GOLDEN RICE. Beta-Carotene, a

precursor of Vitamin A, was
introduced through biosynthesis
genes to the rice, making the rice
grains fortified with Vitamin A.
GMOs IN FOOD AND AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES

COSMETIC PRESERVATION –
genetically modified plants to
resist natural discoloration.

• ARTIC APPLE. The apple variety

was genetically modified to
surpass the browning of the apple
due to superficial damage.
GMOs IN NON-FOOD CROPS AND MICROORGANISMS

PAPER PRODUCTION – modified

characteristics of trees for higher yield
of paper production.

• POPLAR TREES. Lignin is a complex

polymer in trees that is removed
from wood to make paper through
craft processes, through inserting
genes that code for ferulic acid in
young poplar tress, the lignin
structure is modified, making lignin
easier to breakdown.
GMOs IN NON-FOOD CROPS AND MICROORGANISMS

PHARMACEUTICAL PRODUCTIONS –
modified plants to produce pharmaceutical
products.

• PERIWINKLE PLANTS. Bacterial genes

were added to the periwinkle plant,
enabling it to attach halogens such as
chlorine or bromine to a class of
compounds called alkaloids that the plant
normally produces. Many alkaloids
halogens, which are often added to
antibiotics and other drugs, can make
medicines more effective or last longer in
the body.
 GMOs IN NON-FOOD CROPS AND MICROORGANISMS

BIOREMEDIATION – use of modified

plants that can assist in the
bioremediation of polluted sites

• SHRUB TUBACCO. Nicotania glauca,

or shrub tubacco genetically
modified with phytochelatin, is use
for bioremediation. It shows high
level of accumulation of zinc, lead,
chromium, nickel, and boron and
produces high biomass.
GMOs IN NON-FOOD CROPS AND MICROORGANISMS

GMOs IN THE MEDICAL FIELD –

genetic engineering is playing a
significant role from diagnosis to
treatment of human-dreaded
diseases. It helps in the production
of drugs, gene therapy, and
laboratory researches.

• HUMULIN, genetically modified

insulin used by type I diabetes
patients.
RISKS OF APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

A.RISK IN BIODIVERSITY

• Birds, insect, and other animals that are dependent

on certain crops for survival may find themselves
unable to eat the genetically engineered crops due
to the introduced gene or modification.

• RISKS IN GENE FLOW – there is potential risk of the

modified gene to be transferred from the GMO crop
to its wild relative or organism in the soil and
humans.
RISKS OF APPLICATION OF GENETIC
ENGINEERING

A.RISK IN BIODIVERSITY

• Emergence of new forms of

resistance and secondary pests and
weed plants
• Recombination of virus and bacteria
to produce new pathogens.
RISKS OF APPLICATION OF GENETIC ENGINEERING

B. RISK TO HUMANITY

• Allergic risks
• Toxicity
• Antibiotic Resistance
• Spread of mutated viruses
 CARTAGENA PROTOCOL ONQ
BIOSAFETY
• Is an international agreement which
aims to ensure the safe handling
transport, and us of LMOs.
• It takes a precautionary approach by
making sure that countries are provided
with the data necessary to make
informed decision before agreeing to the
import of such organisms into their
territory.
NEWS ARTICLE
~END~