GENETICALLY

MODIFIED
ORGANISM(GMO)
 OBJECTIVES:
• Identify the uses and effects of GMOs and gene
therapy on society, primarily in the context of
health and economy
• Discuss the moral and bioethical questions
concerning genetic engineering
 Identify if the products are GMO or Organic

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10
 1 organic 2 organic 3 GMO 4 GMO 5 organic

6 GMO 7 organic 8 organic 9 GMO 10 organic

 GMO
•Products of artificial manipulation and
alteration of a species’ genetic material in
a laboratory using genetic engineering
 GENETIC ENGINEERING
• Genetic engineering is the process
of using technology to change
the genetic makeup of an
organism - be it an animal, plant
or a bacterium.
• Usually associated with
recombinant DNA
 1953 JAMES WATSON AND FRANCIS CRICK
• Discovery of DNA
• Opened the gates for
the countless
possibilities of genetic
engineering
 1973 HERBERT BOYER AND STANLEY COHEN

• Were the first scientist to

genetically modify an
organism by combining
genes from two different
E.coli
 1982
• US supreme court ruled to
allow the patenting of GMOs
• Allowed the Exxon Oil
company to start using a
microorganism that can
consume oil (Alcanivorax
borkumensis)
 1982 FDA
• FDA(food and drug
administration) approved the
first GMO- Humulin
Humulin- type of insulin
produced using genetically
engineered E.coli bacteria to
be available in the market
 1993 FDA
• FDA approved bovine
somatotrophin (bST) – a
metabolic protein hormone
used to increase milk
production in dairy cows for
commercial use
 1994 FDA

• FDA approved the Flavr Savr

tomato for sale on grocery
stores
• Tomato – has a delayed
ripening effect that gives a
longer shelf life
 1995 EPA(ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY)

• Bt Potatoes and Corn, Roundup

Ready Soybeans were approved
safe
 1996
• Weeds resistant to
glyphosate(herbicide for GMO crops)
were detected in Australia
• Super weeds are 7 to 11 times more
resistant to glyphosate than the
standard susceptible population
 1996

•DOLLY – the first

cloned animal was
born
 1997

• European Union ruled in favor

of mandatory labeling on all
GMO food products including
animal feed
 1998

• GM papaya in Hawaii was

found to be resistant to the
ring spot virus and produce
the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin
(insecticide not harmful to
humans)
 1999 ONWARDS

•Over 100 million

acres worldwide are
planted with
genetically
engineered seeds
 2000
• Golden rice was developed in the
Philippines to address Vitamin A
deficiency
• Golden rice is a variety (Oryza sativa)
genetically modified to biosynthesize
beta-carotene in the edible part of rice
• Introduction was opposed by
environmental and globalization
advocates because it was thought to
compromise food, nutrition, and financial
security
 2003
• Bt toxin-resistant caterpillar-
cum-moth, Helicoverpa zea, was
found feasting on GMO Bt-
cotton crops in the Southern
United States
 2006
• Yorkshire pigs were
genetically modified to
produce offspring that
produce the enzyme
phytase in their saliva
to digest plant
phosphorus
 2011 RESEARCH IN EASTERN QUEBEC

• Bt toxins found in the

blood of pregnant
women and showed that
the toxin could be
passed on to their GM: Ninety-three per cent of samples from
pregnant women and 80 per cent from umbilical
babies cords tested positive for traces of toxins. Picture
posed by model
 2012
• French Farmer Paul
Francois sued Monsanto
for chemical poisoning
that he claimed was
caused by the pesticide
Lasso(part of Roundup
Ready line of products)
 2013
• Corn and poplar were
genetically modified
and used to produce
biofuel, which is
regarded as an
efficient substitute for
petroleum products
 2014

•Patent on the Roundup Ready line of

genetically modified organism ended
• After a patent expires, the invention becomes public
knowledge to which other companies, farmers, and other
interested parties have free access.
• At that time, the GMO can be mass-reproduced and the
underlying genetic design can be utilized by anyone to
develop improved versions of the GMO.
• This eventual free access is one way in which GMOs
developed by private companies could bring about public
benefit
 PROS
Crop protection is the main rationale behind this
type of genetic modification.
•Increase crop yield
•Pest resistance
•Resistant to diseases
•Increase nutritional value or enhance flavor
 CONS
•Growing concern with how GMO may affect
consumers’ health and the environment needs to
be addressed
•Majority of the mutations attempted on a species
have the probability to fail miserably, and the
individual plant/animal would not survive