Diagnostics
Instructions: List down what you currently know about gene therapy and GMOs, and think
about possible problems that may arise as a result of these innovations.
Description/Function
GMOs
 GMO stands for genetically modified
organism.
 Genetically modified (GM) organisms are
organisms that have had their genomes.
Changed in a way that does not happen
naturally. By changing an organism’s
genome we can change its characteristics.
 Any organism could be genetically
modified, but laws restrict the creation of
genetically modified humans, and the
production and distribution of other GMOs
is tightly regulated.
 Common examples of GMOs are GM crops
used in agriculture and GM model
organisms used in medical research.
 Some benefits of genetic engineering in
agriculture are increased crop yields,
reduced costs for food or drug production,
reduced need for pesticides, enhanced
nutrient composition and food quality,
resistance to pests and disease, greater
food security, and medical benefits to the
world's growing population.
Gene
Therapy
 Gene therapy is when DNA is introduced
into a patient to treat a genetic disease.
The new DNA usually contains a
functioning gene to correct the effects of a
disease-causing mutation.
 Gene therapy uses sections of DNA (usually
genes) to treat or prevent disease.
Problems
 Allergic reactions- GMO foods have
more potential to trigger allergic
reactions. This is because they may
contain genes from an allergen — a food
that prompts an allergic reaction.
 Genetic Contamination/Interbreeding
 Introduced GMOs may interbreed with
the wild-type or sexually compatible
relatives. The novel trait may disappear
in wild types unless it confers a selective
advantage to the recipient. However,
tolerance abilities of wild types may also
develop, thus altering the native species’
ecological relationship and behaviour.
 Adverse Effects on the Health of People
or the Environment. These include
enhanced pathogenicity, emergence of a
new disease, pest or weed, increased
disease burden if the recipient organism
is a pathogenic microorganism or virus,
increased weed or pest burden if the
recipient organism is a plant or
invertebrate, and adverse effects on
species, communities, or ecosystems.
 Genes that don't work appropriately can
cause ailment, by doing gene therapy it
can likewise cause some potential
dangers. Like Undesirable immune
system response. Your body's immune
system may see the recently presented
infections as interlopers and attack
them. This may cause aggravation and,
in serious cases, organ failure.
 The DNA is carefully selected to correct the
effect of a mutated gene that is causing
disease.
 The technique was first developed in 1972
but has, so far, had limited success in
treating human diseases.
 Gene therapy may be a promising
treatment option for some genetic
diseases, including muscular dystrophy and
cystic fibrosis.
 Delivering a gene to the wrong tissue
would be inefficient, and it could cause
health problems for the patient. For
example, improper targeting could
incorporate the therapeutic gene into a
patient's germline, or reproductive cells,
which ultimately produce sperm and
eggs. Should this happen, the patient
would pass the introduced gene to his or
her children. The consequences would
vary, depending on the gene.