Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMO)
and Gene Therapy

Science, Technology
and Society
MODULE 3 SECTION 3

This section discusses the moral and

ethical issues concerning GMOs and their
impacts on society.

It also sheds light on the various forms and

applications of gene therapy.

Duration (Week)- 8th week

➢ One week (minimum of three
hours/week)

Prepared by:
LOTHY F. CASIM, LPT, R.N. Ph.D
LEANNE JAY S. MANCERAS, MSc.
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science and Mathematics
University of Southern Mindanao

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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and Gene Therapy

This section discusses about biotechnology particularly on genetically modified organisms

(GMO’s), their impacts on society and the moral and ethical issues concerning GMOs. It
also sheds light on the various forms and applications of gene therapy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this section, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the uses and effects of GMOs and gene therapy on society, particularly in the
context of health and economy; and
2. Discuss the moral and bioethical issues concerning genetic engineering.

What is Biotechnology?

Biotechnology is technology based on biology. It harnesses cellular and biomolecular

processes to develop technologies and products that help improve our lives and the health of
our planet. Below are some of the many advantages/applications of biotechnology in medicine,
health, agriculture and industry:

• Reducing rates of infectious disease and saving millions of children's lives;

• Changing the odds of serious, life-threatening conditions affecting millions of lives
around the world;
• Tailoring treatments to individuals to minimize health risks and side effects;
• Creating more precise tools for disease detection; and
• Combating serious illnesses and everyday threats confronting the developing world.
• Streamlining the steps in chemical manufacturing processes by 80% or more;
• Improving manufacturing process efficiency to save 50% or more on operating costs;
• Using biofuels to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 52% or more;
• Decreasing water usage and waste generation; and
• Tapping into the full potential of traditional biomass waste products.
• Generating higher crop yields with fewer inputs;
• Using biotech crops that need fewer applications of pesticides and reducing use of and
reliance on petrochemicals;
• Developing crops with enhanced nutrition profiles that solve vitamin and nutrient
deficiencies; and
• Producing foods free of allergens and toxins such as mycotoxin.

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 There doesn’t seem to be any other way of creating the next
green revolution without GMOs.
E.O. Wilson

Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are

products of artificial manipulation and
alteration of a species’ genetic material in a
laboratory using genetic engineering. Plant,
animal, bacteria, and virus genes may be
combined or may be crossbred to produce
another kind of species that do not naturally
occur in the environment.
Figure 1. GMOs are said to be better for the environment.
Photo credit: Massive Science

One of the most controversial issues in science and technology is the introduction of genetically
modified seeds in the agriculture sector that resulted in increased crop yield. New technologies
are used to artificially develop traits in plants, such as resistance to browning and pests. With
the aim to improve harvest and the agriculture sector as a whole, humans seem to be
disinterested in preserving genetic diversity the natural way.

Increased crop yield, pest resistance, and other benefits of GMOs are indeed advantageous,
yet there are also disadvantages that need to be studied comprehensively. In addition, the
growing concern with how GMOs may affect consumers’ health and the environment needs to
be addressed.

Biotechnology Timeline: When did it start?

Genetic engineering, usually associated with recombinant DNA technology, is founded on the
work of many scientists over the years.

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Figure 2. The insertion of recombinant DNA so that the foreign
DNA will replicate naturally, as pioneered by Herbert
Boyer and Stanley Cohen. Photo credit: Science History
Institute.
Figure 3. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill utilized a microorganism that
can consume oil.
Figure 4. Humulin, an insulin derived from E. coli. Photo credit:
National Museum of American History.
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In 1953, the discovery of DNA by James
Watson and Francis Crick opened the gates
for the countless possibilities of genetic
engineering. In 1973, Herbert Boyer and
Stanley Cohen were the first scientists to
genetically modify an organism by
combining genes from two different E.coli.
In 1982, the US Supreme Court ruled to
allow the patenting of GMOs. This ruling
allowed the Exxon oil Company to start
using a microorganism that can consume
oil.
In 1982, the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) approved the first GMO-Humulin, a
type of insulin produced using genetically
engineered E. coli bacterium to be available
in the market.
Humulin is developed by Genentech, the
first American biotechnology company, and
was licensed to Eli Lilly. This became the
first marketable product created through
recombinant DNA technology.
 In 1993, FDA approved bovine somatropin
(bST), a metabolic protein hormone used to
increase milk production in dairy cows for
commercial use.

Figure 5. Process of producing bST Photo credits: The

Boundless Thicket

In 1994, FDA approved the Flavr Savr

(pronounced as “flavor saver”) tomato. The
first commercially grown genetically
engineered food to be granted a license for
human consumption. This kind of tomato
has a delayed-ripening effect that gives a
longer shelf-life compared with natural
tomatoes.

Figure 6. The transgenic Flavr Savr Tomato (https://i.ytimg.

com/vi/5T0JGXQIN60/hqdefault.jpg).

In 1995, Bt potatoes and corn, and roundup

ready soybeans were approved safe by the
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Figure 7. Bt corn. Photo credit: USA News now

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 In 1996, weeds resistant to glyphosate, the
herbicide used for many GMO crops, were
detected in Australia. Research shows that
the super weeds are 7 to 11 times more
resistant to glyphosate than the standard
susceptible population.

In the same year, Dolly, the first cloned

animal, was born and died on 2004.

https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/biotechnology/animalbiotechnology
-an-introduction-to-animal-biotechnology/29369
Figure 8. The Glyphosate weed killer and Dolly, the transgenic
sheep. Photo credit: Time Magazine

In 1997, the European Union ruled in favor

of mandatory labeling on all GMO food
products, including animal feed.

Figure 9. Mandatory GMO Labelling Photo credit: Modern

farmer

In 1998, a genetically modified papaya in

Hawaii was found to be resistant to the ring
spot virus and produced the Bacillus
thuringiensis toxin, an insecticide that is
not harmful to humans.

Figure 10. GMO Papaya in Hawaii with Ring Virus Photo

credit: SAI Food.

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Figure 11. GMO seeds. Photo credit: Summit County
Farm
Figure 12. Genetically modified Golden Rice variety
Photo credits: Made for Minds
Figure 63. " Enviro pig”- a phytase transgenic pig.
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Starting 1999, over 100 million acres
worldwide are planted with genetically
engineered seeds.
In 2000, golden rice was developed in the
Philippines to address vitamin A deficiency,
which is a public health issue in Asian
countries where rice is a staple food crop.
Golden rice is a variety (Oryza sativa)
genetically modified to bio-synthesize beta-
carotene, a precursor of vitamin A.
Additional 3-beta carotene-synthesized
genes differentiate the golden rice from its
parental strain. The introduction of golden
rice was opposed by environmental and
anti-globalization advocates because this
GMO was thought to compromise food
production, nutrition, and financial security.
In 2006, Yorkshire pigs were genetically
modified to produce offspring that produce
the enzyme phytase (phytase transgenic
pig) in their saliva. Phytase is
an enzyme that increases availability of
phosphorus in pig diets. It lowers the
amount of supplemental phosphorus
required since it improves dietary
phosphorus utilization, and thus, there will
be less phosphorus excreted in the manure.
Without phytase, undigested phytate
phosphorus becomes the single most
important manure pollutant of pork
production.
 In 2012, French farmer Paul Francois sued
Monsanto for chemical poisoning that he
claimed was caused by the pesticide
Lasso, which was part of the Roundup
Ready line of products. He won the case.

Figure 14. Monsanto sued for chemical poisoning Photo

credit: Health Care Administration

As early as 2013, corn and poplars were

genetically modified and used to produce
biofuel, which is regarded as an efficient
substitute for petroleum products.

Figure 15. Corn to Biofuel. Photo credit: iploveslife

In 2014, the patent on the Roundup Ready

line of genetically engineered seeds ended.

Figure 16. The Last Roundup. Photo credit: National

Observer

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Numerous GMOs are produced all over the world. Those mentioned here involve mutation.
Science agrees that the majority of mutations attempted on a species have the probability to
fail miserably, and the individual plant/animal would not survive (Mayr, 2007).

To date, the production and consumption of GMOs are being argued upon due to their safety
alongside the right of humans to modify naturally occurring organisms. New organisms created
using genetic engineering can pose ecological issues because the long-term effects of genetic
engineering to the environment is uncertain. GMOs may cause imbalance in the ecology of a
region just as what exotic species do. An accident in genetically engineering a virus or bacteria,
for example, could result in super bacteria that display antimicrobial resistance, which may
cause a serious epidemic when released.

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GENE THERAPY

Gene therapy is the method of inserting

genes or nucleic acid into cells as drug to
treat genetic diseases. In 1972, Theodore
Friedman and Richard Roblin proposed that
people with genetic disorder can be treated
by replacing defective DNA with good DNA.

In 1985, Dr. W. French Anderson and Dr.

Michael Blasse worked together to show that Figure 7 Gene Therapy. Photo credit: docwirenews
cells of patients with Adenosine deaminase
(ADA) Deficiency can be corrected in tissue culture. In 1990, the first approved gene therapy
clinical research took place at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under the team of Dr.
Anderson. It was conducted on a four-year-old girl who had ADA deficiency. In 1993, the first
somatic treatment that produced a permanent genetic change was performed.

The first commercial gene therapy product Medicine was approved in China in 2003 for the
treatment of certain cancers. Due to some clinical successes since 2006, gene therapy gained
greater attention from researchers but was still considered as an experimental technique.

In 2016, the Committee for Medicinal

Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the
European Medicines Agency (EMA)
endorsed the gene therapy treatment called
Strimvelis that was approved by the
European Commission in June 2018.

Some studies transplanted genes to speed

up the destruction of cancer cells. Gene or
cell therapies have emerged as realistic
Figure 8 Strimvelis set-up. Photo credit: Nature prospects for treatment of cancer, and
involve the delivery of genetic information of
tumor to facilitate the production of therapeutic proteins. This area of gene therapy procedure
is adopted (Gene Revolution: Issues and Impacts, n.d., Wirth et al., 2013).

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Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering
Various concerns on genetic engineering arise, making gene therapy and GMOs very
controversial innovations in Science and technology.

1. RISK ASSESSMENT ADDRESSES THE FOLLOWING:

• Biosafety to environment
– Effect on non-target organisms
– Possible development of weedy relatives
– Possible development of resistant pests
– Persistence in the environment

• Food/Feed Safety
– Possible introduction of allergens and anti-nutritional factors

2. RISKS THAT TRANSCEND THE TECHNOLOGY

• Intellectual property rights
• Ethical issues (playing God)
• Socio-political
- A small minority objects to all modern science
-Traditional agriculture and the rural way of life will be replaced by modern, corporate
agriculture
-Multinational corporations will control the production of GM crops and the world
economy
-Anti-biotech group preaches virtues of organic farming
-Attacks Green Revolution and GM technology as anti-organic farming.

ENABLING LAWS

• 1990 National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines created by Executive Order

(EO) 430 contained use (laboratory, screen house, glasshouse)
• 2002 Administrative Order (AO) No. 8 Rules and Regulations for the Importation and
Release into the Environment of Plants and Plant Products Derived from the Use of
Modern Biotechnology
o field release and commercialization
o Use for food, feed, processing
o RA 3720 Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act
o 2006 EO 514 National Biosafety Framework, March 17, 2006; implemented 2009

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International Instruments in Regulating GMOs

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

• Ensure safe movement of living GMOs across national borders
• Set guidelines for assessing human and environmental safety

CODEX Alimentarius
• Guidelines for assessment of safety of foods derived through modern biotechnology

Others support that it is unethical for humans to have a hand in genetically altering and
engineering organisms. There are instances when genetic engineering have caused severe
repercussions to public health. Until today, cloning is still unacceptable to many for it violates
the belief that only a higher being should be responsible for the existence of organisms on
earth. There are also ethical and moral issues on stem cell therapy as it makes use of the stem
cells sourced from human embryos and thus destroys them. These concerns regarding genetic
engineering and gene therapy are rooted in the question of whether or not humans are playing
rods in the alteration of genes of organisms.

Genetic engineering also poses problems in agriculture. Hence, there is a need to study the
ecological processes applied to agricultural production systems. Agroecology is a field of study
that presents novel management concerns regarding the effect of GMOs on biodiversity and
the health of the consumers. Further researches as well as clinical experiments to outline
functional mechanisms, predictive approaches, patient-related studies, and upcoming
challenges should be done to address existing problems in the development of and to acquire
future perspectives in gene therapy.

CLASS ACTIVITY # 1:

On the box provided, draw a possible GMO. In conceptualizing a GMO, think of the features
or characteristics that you imagine it possesses and its potential impacts on society. Answer
the questions below.

1. What is your GMO, its modified characteristics and features?

2. In what ways do you think this GMO can positively impact society?
3. What ethical issues or concerns may arise as a result of this GMO?

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CLASS ACTIVITY # 2:

Choose one transgenic or genetically modified organism and answer the following:

1. Identify the gene inserted to the host cell to create a transgenic organism.
2. What are the desirable characteristics of your selected GMO.
3. Describe the process done to create the transgenic organism you selected.
4. List both the pros and cons of the transgenic product.

End

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