BENEFITS OF

GENETICALLY
MODIFIED
ORGANISMS
Lesson 5
Objectives
◦ Define (GMO) genetically Modified Organisms
◦ Classify the situation given as a benefit or risk of
using GMO
◦ Express one’s perception in the use of GMO
Genetic Engineering
As defined genetic engineering is the process of changing
the DNA in living organisms to create something new. It
involves the artificial manipulation, modification, and
recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules to
modify an organism or population.
Recombinant
DNA Technology
It has applications
in various areas like
medicine focusing on the
discoveries of medicine to
cure and improve human
health and nutrition
aimed to produce good
quality and high quantity
crops.
Genetically
Modified
Organisms (GMO)
It is an animal,
plant, or microbe whose
DNA has been altered
u s i n g g e n e t i c
engineering techniques.
EXAMPLE OF GMO
 GRAPPLE
It tastes likes grapes
but looks like an
apple.
Transgenic Cow

It contained
human protein per
liter of milk and
was found to be
more nutritionally
balanced.
Venomous
Cabbage
It is injected
with scorpion
venom aimed to
kill caterpillars.
Banana Vaccine

It can produce
virus proteins
against hepatitis
and cholera.
Escherichia Coli

The insulin
gene is injected
int o ba c t e r i a t o
produce the
hormone insulin.
Spider Goat

It has spider-
enhanced milk that
can produce silk
stronger than steel.
LUMINOUS
CAT
It produces a
fluorescent protein in its
fur.
 LIGER
A hybrid of tiger and lion.
 The aim of planting genetically modified
organisms and their commercial use is to help
improve farming methods efficiently and
productively. Some of the most common crops are
soybean, maize, cotton, canola, alfalfa, papaya,
eggplant, potato, apple, safflower, pineapple, and
sugarcane.
Genetically modified plants have created
resistance to harmful agents, enhanced product
yield, and shown increased adaptability for better
survival.
Recombinant technology has been widely used
in improving crop varieties.
 Genetically Modified Organisms are also
called Transgenic Organisms since genes are
transferred from one organism to another.
Recombinant DNA technology is playing a
vital role in improving health conditions by
developing new vaccines and pharmaceuticals.
The treatment strategies are also
improved by developing diagnostic kits,
monitoring devices, and new therapeutic
approaches.
Application of Recombinant DNA
Technology
◦ Synthesis of Human insulin and erythropoietin by genetically modified bacteria.
◦ Human growth which cures stunted growth.
◦ Tissues plasminogen activator which dissolves blood clots among patients who had
heart attacks.
◦ Transgenic pigs are used to produce human hemoglobin.
◦ Human clotting factors have also been produced in the milk of transgenic goats.
◦ Production of “pharm” animals to synthesize such as pharmaceutical products and
production of new types of experimental mutant mice for research purposes.
Production of human insulin in Bacteria
 The transfer of human genes to bacteria Escherichia coli aims to have
mass production of human insulin to cure diabetes mellitus. The insulin gene is
extracted from a human cell and spliced into a plasmid vector before being
inserted into the bacterial cell.
The transgenic bacteria are selected and cultured to be able to increase
their number carrying human insulin genes. The bacteria are harvested, purified,
and packed for human use.
Bioethics
Bioethics is the study of controversial ethics brought about by
advances in biology and medicine. Bioethics is multidisciplinary. It blends
philosophy, theology, history, and law with medicine, nursing, health policy,
and medical humanities.
It is concerned with all the ethical questions that arise in the
relationships between life sciences and the cited fields. Bioethics is
commonly understood that referring to the ethical implications and
application of health-related life science including biotechnology, such as
cloning, gene therapy, life extension, and human Genetic engineering. It
promotes critical reflection about ethical conflicts, which are caused by
progressing in life science and medicine.
BENEFIT AND RISK
OF GMO
-Crops like potatoes, tomatoes, soybean, and
rice are currently being genetically engineered
to obtain new strains.

Benefits
-Genetic engineering in food can be used to
produce totally the same or identical
substances such as proteins and other food
nutrients.

Benefits
-Positive genetic engineering deals with
enhancing the positive traits in an individual
like increasing longevity or human capacity
while negative genetic engineering deals with
the suppression of negative traits in human
being like certain genetic diseases.
Benefits
Genetic engineering in food involves the
alteration of genes in crops.

Risk
While increasing the immunity to diseases in
plants, the resistance genes may get
transferred to the harmful pathogens.

Risk
Genetic engineering can hamper the diversity
in organisms.

Risk
The genetic modification of foods can be used
to increase their medicinal value, thus making
edible vaccines available.

Benefits