Genetically Modified Organisms

 Difinition
Genetically modified or transgenic Organism is the most used to
define a seemingly normal crop plant or animal, which, through
genetic engineering techniques were transferred to them genes from
other species: plants, animals, bacteria, viruses or even genes human,
to give them certain new properties.
 General Notions
* GMOs are organisms whose genetic material has been modified in
a which does not exist in nature under natural conditions or natural
recombination. The genetically modified organism must be a unit
capable of self-replication or transmission of genetic material.
* Genetically modified organism refers to plants and animals that
contain genes transferred from other species, to obtain certain
characters, such as resistance to certain pesticides and herbicides.
To obtain a genetically modified organism (GMO), they are
required several stages: isolation and multiplication of the gene of
interest; its introduction, through vectors, in the host cell; selection of
the host cells that have integrated the transgena into their genome;
obtaining a new organism containing modified or recombinant DNA;
verification of the hereditary transmission of the newly transferred
character, to descendants.
 The existence of GMO
The characteristics pursued by these artificial transformations are
resistance to certain diseases and pests, tolerance to herbicides and
insertion of some properties of marketing. It is also desired to
cultivate plants where the conditions of environment do not allow it,
such as high temperatures, frost, drought, salinity or
soil acidity.
The latter, the most promoted, aim to save from famine third world
countries.
 Countries that recolt GMO crops
Romania is one of the 16 countries in the world where there are
modified cultures genetically. In the world, genetically modified
crops are practiced by about 6 millions of farmers in 16 countries:
USA, Argentina, Canada, China, Australia, Bulgaria, Colombia,
Germany, Honduras, India, Mexico, Romania, South Africa, Spain
and Uruguay.
 Pro/Cons GMO
Arguments pro:
*increase crop yield by using plants transgenic will allow to cover the
food needs of a growing populations without expanding agricultural
areas;
*improving the speed of photosynthesis;
*increasing tolerance/resistance to pathogen attacks harms;
*increasing tolerance to abiotic stressors;
*reducing environmental pollution by reducing pesticide quantities
applied in crops;
* the use of certain genetically modified plants may improve and
crop yields on unsuitable soils, mitigating tendency to "convert"
forests into farms,
* increase crop yield by using plants transgenic will allow to cover
the food needs of a growing populations without expanding
agricultural areas;
*reducing environmental pollution by reducing pesticide quantities
applied in crops;
*the use of certain genetically modified plants can also crop yields on
unsuitable soils, mitigating trend of" conversion " of forests into
farms.
Arguments cons:
* human illnesses, including allergic effects or toxicity;
* can cause cancer and degenerative diseases (foreign DNA
fragments which can not be fully digested by the digestive system,
pass into the circulatory system combining with its own DNA
generating consequences unforeseen);
*diseases of animals and plants, including toxicity effects
and where appropriate, allergic (premature birth, abortion, infertility,
death. In the U.S. Many farmers said thousands of pigs have become
sterile after being fed with genetically modified corn varieties
or they had false pregnancies or gave birth to bags of water)
* poisoning of mammals (studies have shown genetically modified
potatoes combined with Snowdrop DNA were poisoners for
mammals, destroying their vital organs, digestive system and immune
system);
* a possible modification of some pathogens that could facilitate
transmission of infectious diseases and / or the emergence of new
sources or pathogenic vectors (viruses can combine with genes of
other viruses, for example HIV, giving birth to superviruses);
*effects on biogeochemical circuits, especially for carbon and
nitrogen, by changing the soil's ability to breaks down organic matter;
*creating new pests: crop plant that has been modified by genetic
engineering to be tolerant of salts could escape from the crop field,
could invade the estuaries, choking natural vegetation of this habitat;