GENETIC MODIFICATION

Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification or genetic manipulation, is the direct
manipulation of an organism's genes using biotechnology. It is a set of technologies used to
change the genetic makeup of cells, including the transfer of genes within and across species
boundaries to produce improved or novel organisms. New DNA is obtained by either isolating or
copying the genetic material of interest using recombinant DNA methods or by artificially
synthesizing the DNA. DNA is either added or subtracted to produce one or more new traits that
were not found in that organism before.
This may mean changing one base pair deleting a whole region of DNA, or introducing an
additional copy of a gene. It may also mean extracting DNA from another organism’s genome
and combining it with the DNA of that individual. Genetic engineering can be applied to any
organism, from a virus to a sheep. For example, genetic engineering can be used to produce
plants that have a higher nutritional value or can tolerate exposure to herbicide.
Process of inserting new genetic information into existing cells in order to modify a specific
organism for the purpose of changing its characteristics. Broadly speaking, genetic modification
is nothing new. People have been modifying the genes of plants, animals and microbes for
thousands of years—even before they knew what a ‘gene’ was. Genetic modification dates back
to ancient times, when humans influenced genetics by selectively breeding organisms. When
repeated over several generations, this process leads to dramatic changes in the species. Dogs
were likely the first animals to be purposefully genetically modified, with the beginnings of that
effort dating back about 32,000 years, according to Rangel.
Early plant and animal breeders would choose individual organisms with desirable traits and use
methods such as selective breeding to achieve the result they wanted: bigger and sweeter fruit,
perhaps, or dogs that were loyal and easy to train. Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic
modification, is the process of altering the DNA in an organism’s genome.
The genetic engineering process
1. A small piece of circular DNA called a plasmid is extracted from bacteria or yeast cell
2. A small section is cut from the circular plasmid by restriction enzymes, molecular
scissors
3. The gene for human insulin is inserted into the gap in plasmid. This is known as modified
plasmid
4. The modified plasmid is introduced into a new bacteria or yeast
5. This cell divides rapidly and start making new insulin
6. To create large amount of cells, genetically modified bacteria or yeast are grown in large
fermentation vessels in which they have all the nutrients they need. The more the cells
divide the more insulin is produced.
7. When fermentation is released, the mixture is filtered to release the insulin
8. The insulin is then purified and packaged into bottles and insulin pens for distribution to
patients with diabetes.
Following are some advantages of genetic modification.
Genetic modification can help to create resistance to common forms of organism death. Pest
resistance can be included into the genetic profiles of plants so they can mature as a crop without
any further additives. Animals can have their genetic profiles modified to reduce the risks of
common health concerns that may affect the breed or species. This creates the potential for an
extended lifespan for each organism.
With genetic engineering, new products can be created by adding or combining different profiles
together. One example of this is to take a specific product, such as a potato, and alter its profile
so that it can produce more nutrients per kcal than without the genetic engineering. This makes it
possible for more people to get what they need nutritionally, even if their food access is limited,
and this could potentially reduce global food insecurity.
Plant genetic engineering methods were developed over 30 years ago, and since then, genetically
modified (GM) crops have become commercially available and widely adopted. In 2009, GM
crops were being grown on 10 percent of the Earth’s arable land. In these plants, one or more
genes coding for desirable traits have been inserted. The genes may come from the same or
another plant species, or from totally unrelated organisms. The traits targeted through genetic
engineering are often the same as those pursued by conventional breeding. However, because
genetic engineering allows for direct gene transfer across species boundaries, some traits that
were previously difficult or impossible to breed can now be developed with relative ease.
The earliest known genetically modified plant is wheat. This valuable crop is thought to have
originated in the Middle East and northern Africa in the area known as the Fertile Crescent.
Ancient farmers selectively bred wheat grasses beginning around 9000 B.C. to create
domesticated varieties with larger grains and hardier seeds. By 8000 B.C., the cultivation of
domesticated wheat had spread across Europe and Asia. The continued selective breeding of
wheat resulted in the thousands of varieties that are grown today.
Genetic engineering can also change the traits of plants or animals so that they produce greater
yields per plant. More fruits can be produced per tree, which creates a greater food supply and
more profits for a farmer. It also creates the potential for using modified organisms in multiple
ways because there is a greater yield available. Modified corn, for example, can be used for
specific purposes, such as animal feed, ethanol, or larger cobs for human consumption.
Following are some disadvantages of gene modification.
Genetic engineering is guaranteed to make a change. Many of those changes are positive,
creating more and healthier foods. Some of those changes, however, can be negative and
unexpected. Making a plant become more tolerant to drought might also make that plant become
less tolerant to direct sunlight. Animals may be modified to produce more milk, but have a
shortened lifespan at the same time so farmers suffer a greater livestock.
When animals grow, and mature quickly, the nutritional value of that product can be reduced.
This can be seen in poultry products today with the white striping that is found in meat products.
That striping is a fat deposit that was created, often in the breast meat, because of the rapid
growth of the bird. In chickens, Good Housekeeping reports that this can increase the fat content
of the meat consumed by over 220%. At the same time, the amount of protein that is received is
also reduced.
Genetic engineering can create a natural resistance against certain pathogens for plants and
animals, but the natural evolutionary process is geared toward creating pathways. Bacteria and
viruses evolve a resistance to the resistance that is created by the genetic engineering efforts.
This causes the pathogens to become stronger and more resistant than they normally would be,
potentially creating future health concerns that are unforeseen.

Whether GMO foods impact human health or not, there is much environmental concern as well,
including organic farms being exposed to genetically engineered pollution. It is possible that
genetically engineered crops are transferred to neighboring organic farms by the wind and pollen
from bees. There is an environmental concern with farmers using 5-10 times more herbicide
round up or roundup ready crops than with conventional crops such as soy and canola. The
heavier herbicide use may also pollute the ground water, lakes and rivers. The development of
herbicide-resistant super weeds could threaten many of the country’s crops and could cause a
dreadful outcome from heavy use of herbicide.

Monarch butterflies, an endangered species, is also at stake according to 1999 Cornell study.
Monarch caterpillars have been consuming milkweed leaves dusted with pollen from GMO corn:
about half of the caterpillars died within four days. The conventional meat and dairy products
that you would purchase in your local grocery store typically come from animals that consume
genetically modified feed. The cow’s milk isn’t safer either. In the US here are nearly 22% of
cows injected with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH), which means they are
genetically modified.

To avoid these harmful effects we must switch to the organic products, because organic crops
don’t contain genetically modified organisms, or pesticides and fertilizers. Organic and grass-fed
animals are also free of antibiotics and growth hormones. Local markets, farmer’s market,
natural health food stores and organic farms are good places where we can find organic food.
When purchasing organic products look for the labels “organics” or “100% organic” and “made
with organic ingredients”.

Be sure to avoid products with ingredients that may have been derived from GMOs. Remember,
the main genetically modified food crops include soybeans, canola, corn, cottonseed, sugar beets
etc. a non-organic product must indicate pure cane sugar, or the sugar from the product may have
come from sugar cane and genetically modified sugar beets. Dairy products may also be derived
from cows that were infused with genetically engineered bovine growth hormone.
To solvethe problem of GMOs in today’s society, it is important to have access to the proper
education to make informed choices. Your non-GMO choices will allow you to eat real food- as
natural as your mother and grandmother used to make for you.

One option is to continue testing until clear consequences are derived. The benefits of the
strategy are the fact that it allows us to see what problems could occur due to a certain genetic
modification over many generations.

The second option is to limit the sales of genetic modification to only those in medications. To
do this, we would need to admit our flaw in patenting life. Once we are able to do that, we will
be able to move forward. Moving forward will be beneficial not just to the human race but all
life in general on planet Earth. In admitting our mistake, we will allow nature to hold the upper
hand in evolution. Since nature has been doing genetic modification since the beginning of life
on earth, it will allow nature to hold the keys to evolution.

If we let nature do what it is best that, we can use genetic modification purely for medicinal
purpose. As we continue to test further and further, the cost will be reduced so that not only will
the rich be able to afford it, so the poor.