GENETICAL

LY
MODIFIED
ORGANISM
S
SCIENCE, HEALTH, AND
POLITICS ​
 AT THE END OF THIS
LESSON, YOU ARE
EXPECTED;
• DEFINE GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS;
• ENUMERATE EXAMPLES OF COMMERCIALLY
AVAILABLE GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS OR
PRODUCTS MADE FROM GENETICALLY MODIFIED
MATERIALS;
• DISCUSS THE ECONOMIC HEALTH IMPACT OF
GMOS
• DESIGN AN OUTPUT THAT SHOWS THE FUTURE
OF GMOS IN THE SOCIETY

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INTRODUCTION

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WHAT IS GMO?

A genetically modified organism

(GMO) is a living organism particurlary
animal, plant, or microbe whose DNA
has been transformed or changed
through genetic engineering techniques
(nationalgeographics.org2019)
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Genetically Modified Organism
• The term used for an organism created through
genetic engineering. –

”an organism, either plant, animal, or

microorganism, in which the genetic material
(DNA) has been altered in a way that does not
occur naturally by mating or natural
recombination.” (World Health Organization,
2014)
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Genetically Modified Organism “Genetic
Engineering” is the term coined by Jack
Willliamson in 1951, author of the science
fiction novel ‘Dragon’s Island’.

The general process of genetic engineering is

the deliberate manipulation of the organism’s
genes, where it may involve transfer of genes
from other organism.
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What GMO crops are in the United States?
Only a few types of GMO crops are grown in the United
States, but some of these GMOs make up a large percentage
of the crop grown (e.g., soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola,
and cotton).
In 2020, GMO soybeans made up 94% of all soybeans
planted, GMO cotton made up 96% of all cotton planted, and
92% of corn planted was GMO corn.
In 2013, GMO canola made up 95% of canola planted while
GMO sugar beets made up 99.9% of all sugar beets
harvested.
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Most GMO plants are used to make
ingredients that are then used in
other food products. For example,
cornstarch can be made with GMO
corn and sugar can be made with
GMO sugar beets.

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Corn is the most commonly grown crop in the United States, and
most of it is GMO. Most GMO corn is created to resist insect
pests or tolerate herbicides. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn
is a GMO corn that produces proteins that are toxic to certain
insect pests but not to humans, pets, livestock, or other animals.
These are the same types of proteins that organic farmers use to
control insect pests, and they do not harm beneficial insects,
such as ladybugs. GMO Bt corn reduces the need for spraying
insecticides while still preventing insect damage. While a lot of
GMO corn goes into processed foods and drinks, most of it is
used to feed livestock, like cows, and poultry, like chickens.

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Soybean:
Most soy grown in the United States is GMO soy. Most GMO soy
is used for food for animals, predominantly poultry and livestock,
and making soybean oil. It is also used as ingredients (lecithin,
emulsifiers, and proteins) in processed foods.
Cotton:
GMO cotton was created to be resistant to bollworms and helped
revive the Alabama cotton industry. GMO cotton not only
provides a reliable source of cotton for the textile industry, it is
also used to make cottonseed oil, which is used in packaged
foods and in many restaurants for frying. GMO cottonseed meal
and hulls are also used in food for animals.
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Why are GMOs created?
• To improve crop yields: GMOs can be engineered to be resistant
to pests, diseases, or harsh environmental conditions, leading to
higher crop production.
• To enhance nutritional value: GMOs can be modified to produce
more vitamins, minerals, or essential amino acids.
• To create new or improved products: GMOs can be used to
produce pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, or biofuels.
Are GMOs safe? There is ongoing debate about the safety
of GMOs. While many studies have shown them to be safe for
consumption, there are also concerns about potential long-term
health effects and environmental impacts.

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Benefits of GMOs
• Higher efficiency in farming
• Increase in harvest
• Control in Fertility
• Increase in food processing
• Improvement of desirable characteristics
• Nutritional and pharmaceutical
enhancement
• Reduce the use of fertilizers and
pesticides 13
Advantages and Disadvantages of GMOs

Advantages:
•Higher Yields: GMOs can produce higher crop yields, which
can help feed the growing global population.
•Pest and Disease Resistance: Some GMOs are engineered to
be more resistant to pests and diseases, reducing the need for
pesticides.
•Improved Nutritional Content: GMOs can be engineered to
have higher nutritional value, such as increased vitamins or
minerals.
•Reduced Herbicide Use: Certain GMOs are resistant to
herbicides, which can decrease the use of chemicals in
agriculture.
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Advantages and Disadvantages of GMOs

Disadvantages:
•Potential Allergies: GMOs may introduce new allergens, especially if they
contain genes from allergenic organisms.
•Environmental Impact: GMOs could have negative environmental
consequences, such as cross-pollination with wild relatives or altering
ecosystems.
•Corporate Control: GMOs are often controlled by large corporations, which
can lead to dependency on these companies and reduced crop diversity.
•Ethical Concerns: The use of GMOs raises ethical questions, such as
tampering with nature and potential corporate dominance.
In summary, GMOs present both benefits and drawbacks. Their use should be
carefully considered, weighing the potential advantages against the potential
risks.

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GMOs and Health
According to FDA , consumption of
GMO food is safe and does not cause of
harm to our health similar with non-gmo
food.
- Genetically modified plants are
produced to improve nutritional quality of
naturally growing plants.
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In addition, the genetic material (DNA) in the
GMO crop or product that an animal consumes
is not transferred to the animal. The animal that
eats GMO crop or GMO-derived product does
not transform into GMOs. Then as well, foods
that originate from animals that eat GMO food
including eggs, dairy products, and meat
possess similar quality, nutritional content, and
safety like foods derived from animals that
consume natural foods or non-GMO food.
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GMOs and Pesticide Use
- Some of the GMO plant-incorporated
protectants or PIPs enabling then to resist
insects, thereby reducing the need for and
use of many spray pesticides.
- Guided by the Insect Resistance Management
Program, EPA (Environmental Protection
Agency) collaborates with scientists to help
establish GMOs that will resist insects
effectively in a period of time.
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GMOs and Pesticide Use

- Other genetically-modified plants are

developed to tolerate certain weed killers.
This may cause farmers to use various
options for weed control.

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GMO Animals in the Market
- Most of the genetically modified
animals that are produced are being
utilized for experiments or laboratory
research. These animals serve as
“models” which allow scientist to study
the role of specific genes and how those
genes affect human health or cause
disease.
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- If not used as models and specimens for
laboratory research, genetically
modified animals are made for human
consumption.
- Salmon, for example has been
genetically engineered to mature faster
and the U.S Food and Drug
Administration has stated that this fish
is safe to eat..
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- AquaAdvantage salmon is one
of the few animals allowed by
the FDA to be made available
in the market especially in the
united state.

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Nonfood GMOs
- GMO are not always food or they are not always
edible. The technique used in creating GMOs is also
used in developing medicines. For instance, human
insulin(Eli Lilly & Co;s Humulin) which is a medicine
made to treat diabetes was manufactured using
genetic engineering. Medicines prepared through
genetic engineering follow a rigorous process for FDA
approval. They should proven safe and effective
before they are allowed to be used by humans.

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Impacts of GMOs in the Environment
- Since one of the uses why GMOs are
developed is for herbicide tolerance, the use
of toxic herbicides increased fifteenfold from
the time they were first introduced (Kustin,
M.E 2015).
- In 2015, the world health organization
determined that the herbicide glyphosate,
the key ingredient in roundup is carcinogenic
in humans.
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END…..

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Application and Assessment
A. Individual Work
1. Is the use of genetically modified
products beneficial to feed our world or are they
a disaster waiting to happen?
2. Are you going to eat/consume GMOs or
GMO –derived products?

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State your evidence below:

State your evidence below:

State your justification of the evidence below:

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B. Group work
Debate. List the arguments of
the other teams and develop your
counter argument to them to
record your response in the
rebuttal column.
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PRO-Genetically ANTI-Genetically
Modified Organism Modified Organisms

Argument# 1 Rebuttal

Rebuttal Argument #2

Argument #2 Rebuttal

Rebuttal Argument #2

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PRO-Genetically ANTI-Genetically
Modified foods Modified foods

Argument# 1 Rebuttal

Rebuttal Argument #2

Argument #2 Rebuttal

Rebuttal Argument #2

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C. Try to envision the future of GMOs.
If you were a certified scientist who
can actually produce GMOs, design a
GMO with desirable characteristics
that could be of great help to the
society sketch your GMO inside the
box below and describe it.
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