Chapter 3 Lesson 3.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

Objectives:
 Identify issues on genetically modified organisms (GMOs)
 Discuss different implications and impact of GMOs
Introduction:
Genetic engineering has been with the human society since selective breeding was introduced to
humankind and when animals were domesticated. Yet the process of genetic alterations is all but natural.
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an animal, plant,
or microbe whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is a living thing whose genes (DNA) have been altered
for a specific purpose.
Genetic engineering is the process of altering and cloning genes to produce a new trait in an
organism or to make a biological substance, such as a protein or hormone.
For thousands of years, humans have used breeding methods to modify organisms.
Corn, cattle, and even dogs have been selectively bred over generations to have certain
desired traits. Within the last few decades, however, modern advances in biotechnology have
allowed scientists to directly modify the DNA of microorganisms, crops, and animals.
Conventional methods of modifying plants and animals—selective
breeding and crossbreeding—can take a long time. Moreover, selective
breeding and crossbreeding often produce mixed results, with unwanted traits appearing
alongside desired characteristics. The specific targeted modification
of DNA using biotechnology has allowed scientists to avoid this problem and improve
the genetic makeup of an organism without unwanted characteristics tagging along.
Most animals that are GMOs are produced for use in laboratory research. These animals are
used as “models” to study the function of specific genes and, typically, how the genes relate to
health and disease. Some GMO animals, however, are produced for human consumption.
Salmon, for example, has been genetically engineered to mature faster, and the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration has stated that these fish are safe to eat.
GMOs are perhaps most visible in the produce section. The first genetically engineered plants
to be produced for human consumption were introduced in the mid-1990s. Today,
approximately 90 percent of the corn, soybeans, and sugar beets on the market are
GMOs. Genetically engineered crops produce higher yields, have a longer shelf life, are
resistant to diseases and pests, and even taste better. These benefits are a plus for both
farmers and consumers. For example, higher yields and longer shelf life may lead to lower
prices for consumers, and pest-resistant crops means that farmers don’t need to buy and use as
many pesticides to grow quality crops. GMO crops can thus be kinder to the environment than
conventionally grown crops.
Genetically modified foods do cause controversy, however. Genetic engineering typically
changes an organism in a way that would not occur naturally. It is even common for scientists to
insert genes into an organism from an entirely different organism. This raises the possible risk of
unexpected allergic reactions to some GMO foods. Other concerns include the possibility of the
genetically engineered foreign DNA spreading to non-GMO plants and animals. So far, none of
the GMOs approved for consumption have caused any of these problems, and GMO food
sources are subject to regulations and rigorous safety assessments.
In the future, GMOs are likely to continue playing an important role in biomedical research.
GMO foods may provide better nutrition and perhaps even be engineered to contain medicinal
compounds to enhance human health. If GMOs can be shown to be both safe and healthful,
consumer resistance to these products will most likely diminish.

Vocabulary Words
 Biotechnology (Noun) is the use of a living organism for industrial or medical use.
 Crossbreeding (Verb) is mating two different organisms together to form a hybrid
species.

 DNA (Noun) (deoxyribonucleic acid) is molecule in every living organism that contains
specific genetic information on that organism.
 Gene (Noun) is a part of DNA that is the basic unit of heredity.
 Genetic engineering (Noun) is the process of altering and cloning genes to produce a
new trait in an organism or to make a biological substance, such as a protein or
hormone.
  Microbe (Noun)is tiny organism, usually a bacterium.
 Organism (Noun) is living or once-living thing.
 Pesticide (Noun) is natural or manufactured substance used to kill organisms that
threaten agriculture or are undesirable. Pesticides can be fungicides (which kill harmful
fungi), insecticides (which kill harmful insects), herbicides (which kill harmful plants), or
rodenticides (which kill harmful rodents.)
 Selective breeding (Noun) is breeding to produce desired characteristics in animal or
plant offspring.
 Trait (Noun)is characteristic or aspect.

Fig.8. Genetic engineering process on a plant

GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries

Roles of GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries:

1. Pest resistance – GM plants to resist certain pests.
Example: Bt Corn. The DNA of the Bt corn has been modified with the gene of
Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium that produces proteins which is toxic to corn
borers (worms).

2. Virus resistance –GM plants to resist certain viruses

Example is the GM papaya or rainbow papaya. The PRSV is known to be
detrimental to papaya plants. The protein of PRSV was introduced to the papaya
plant through plant tissue which turned out to be resistant to the virus itself. The
effect was like the vaccines humans have against measles or influenza virus.
3. Herbicide tolerance –GM plants to tolerate herbicide
Example: The Roundup ready soybean. Glyphosate, an herbicide for weeds was
introduced to soybeans making it tolerant to the herbicide itself.
4. Fortification – GM plants fortified with certain minerals
An example is the Golden Rice. Beta-carotene, a precursor of Vit A was introduced
through biosynthesis genes to the rice making the rice grains modified with Vit A.
5. Cosmetic preservation – GM plants resist natural discoloration
Example is the Arctic apple. It was GM modified to suppress the browning of apple
due to superficial damage.
6. Increased growth rate –GM organism that has higher yield in growth than normal
species.
Example is the AquAdvantage salmon. A gene from an ocean pout, an eel-like fish
was introduced to Pacific Chinook salmon, making the salmon grow faster than its
normal rate.

GMOs in Non-Food Crops and Microorganisms

GMOs and non-food crops and some microorganisms involve the following.
1. Flower production – Example are Blue Roses
 2. Paper production – Example are poplar trees
3. Pharmaceutical productions -- Ex. are periwinkle plants
4. Bioremediation – Example is shrub tobacco
5. Enzyme and drug production – Example is CGTase Cyclomaltodextrin
glycosyltransferase. Another example is the Artemesin.
6. GMOs in the medical field—Example is Humulin, the genetically engineered
insulin used by Type 1 diabetic patients who are insulin dependent.
Another example is the modified human insulin called Humalog.

Benefits of GMOs
Studies show some of the potential benefits of GMOs:
 Higher efficiency in farming
 Increase in harvest
 Control in fertility
 Increase in food processing
 Improvement of desirable characteristics
 Nutritional and pharmaceutical enhancements
 Reduce the use of fertilizer and pesticides
In the animal industries, there are ongoing researches like studies on
Pacific salmon that grows twice faster than the native salmon and chicken
resistant to H5N1 bird flu viruses. However these GMO animals are all in
research laboratory and not yet approved for public consumption.

Potential Risks of GMOs

Opponents of GMOs have the following major concerns:
1. Since genetic engineering is still a young branch of science, there are inadequate
studies on the effects of GMOs to humans and the environment.
2. Genetic engineering promotes mutation in organisms which the longterm effect is still
unknown.
3. Human consumption of GMOs might have the following effects.
 More allergic reactions
 Gene mutation
 Antibiotic resistance
 Nutritional value

Potential Human Health Risks Caused by GMOs

 Consumption of GMOs may have adverse effects since it is not naturally
produced.
 Consumption of GMOs may alter the balance of existing microorganisms in the
human digestive system.
 Production of toxins may be detrimental to human health
 Production of human health may have adverse effects on humans.