GENETIC ENGINEERING

AND ITS IMPACT ON

THE ENVIRONMENT.
Dianne Chavez
Period 7
Introduction

Genetic engineering has revolutionized our ability to modify living organism, from
agricultural crops to bacteria. Its impact on the environment is profound and
multifaceted, ranging from creating disease-resistant crops to removing contaminants.
Exploring this interesting field is entered a world of possibilities for conservation and
environmental sustainability.
Here we will learn what genetic engineering is and its impact on the environment.
 What is the Genetic Engineering?

The genetic engineering is a process that uses

laboratory-based technologies to alter the DNA
makeup of an organism, the direct human
manipulation of an organism’s genome using modern
DNA technology.
Some questions
related to the topic

1.What benefits does genetic

engineering provide us?
- Trapping assassins, resisting pests or
reversing diseases such as cancer are
some of the goals of modern genetic
manipulation techniques.
Continue

2.What contributions does

genetic engineering make to
science?
- Genetics is involved from the
identification of the disease, the
development of diagnostic
methodologies,
preventive techniques and vaccine
design, to the design and
evaluation of medications and
therapies for COVID-19.
Continue

3. How does it affect food?

-Genetically modified (GM) crops:
Genetically modified crops have
been developed to resist pests,
diseases and adverse agricultural
productivity and reduce the need for
chemical pesticides and herbicides.
Continue

- Improved nutritional quality: GM crops

with improved nutritional characteristics,
such as essential vitamins or minerals,
have been developed to address
nutritional insufficiency in some
populations.
Continue

- Processed foods:
Genetic engineering has also
been used I the production of
processed foods to improve their
flavor, texture, shelf life, and
other desirable attributes.
Continue

- Allergies and health concerns:

There is debate about whether
genetically modified foods can
have adverse effects on human
health, such as allergies or other
health problems. However, most
scientific studies have found that
Gm foods approved for
consumption are safe.
 4.How it affects us?

Continue -Ethical concerns: Genetic modification of organisms, especially humans,

raises ethical questions about the manipulation of human life and dignity.
There are concerns about the possibility of creating socioeconomic
inequalities and genetic discrimination.

This Photo by Unknown author is licensed under CC BY.

What is the impact of
genetic engineering on the
environment?

Genetic engineering can have

various impacts on the environment,
some of which may be positive while
others may be concerning.
Example:
Continue

• Agriculture and Genetically

Modified (GM) Crops: Genetic
engineering has been used to
develop genetically modified
crops to resist pests, diseases and
adverse weather conditions. This
can reduce the need for
pesticides and herbicides,
which could decrease
environmental pollution
and protect biodiversity by
reducing the destruction
of natural habitats for agriculture.
Continue

• Gene Transfer to Wild Species: There is concern

that genes introduced into GM crops could be
transferred to related wild species, which could
have unforeseen consequences on ecosystems.
For example, herbicide resistance in wild plants
could increase, which could change the dynamics
of the plant and animal community in a given
area.
Continue

• Impact on Insects and Other Non-

Target Organisms: GM crops that
produce their own insecticides
can affect non-target insects,
including beneficial pollinators
such as bees. This could have
repercussions on pollination and
the food chain.
Continue

• Antibiotic Resistance: In genetic

engineering, antibiotic resistance
genes have been used as
selection markers. There is
concern that these genes could be
transferred to bacteria in the
environment, which could
increase antibiotic resistance in
bacteria and negatively affect
human and animal health
Continue

• Genetic Contamination: There is a

risk that GM crops could cross
with wild or conventionally
cultivated varieties, which could
lead to genetic contamination and
loss of genetic diversity.
Continue

• Potential Environmental Benefits:

Genetic engineering is also being used to
develop microorganisms that can
decompose environmental pollutants or
assist in the restoration of degraded
ecosystems.
What could we do to
eliminate the harm caused
by genetic engineering?

- Regulation: Establish strict regulations to

ensure that genetic engineering is used
ethically and responsibly, with an emphasis on
safety and risk minimization.
Continue

- Risk assessment:
Conduct comprehensive
assessments of potential
environmental, health, and
ethical risks associated with each
genetic engineering application
prior to implementation.
Continue

- Transparent research: Promote

transparency in the research and
development of genetic
technologies to ensure disclosure
of potential risks and benefits.
Continue

- Continuous monitoring:
Establish long-term monitoring
systems to track the
environmental and health
effects of genetically modifies
organisms and associated
technologies.
Continue

- Public participation: Involve

society in debate and decision-
making about the use of genetic
engineering, ensuring that a
variety of perspectives and
concerns are taken into account.
Continue

- Safety research: Promote

continued research on the safety
and possible adverse effects of
genetic engineering, as well as the
development of risk containment
and mitigation techniques.
Continue

- Ethic and responsibility: Foster a

culture of ethics and
responsibility in the scientific
community and industry, with a
focus on the responsible use of
genetic technology for the
benefit of society and the
environment.
 Conclusions
Genetic engineering is a process that alters the DNA of organisms
through laboratory technologies, with applications ranging
from agriculture to medicine. Its benefits include disease
resistance, improvements in the nutritional quality of crops,
and significant scientific advances, such as in the diagnosis and
treatment of diseases. However, concerns persist about safety
and allergies in genetically modified foods. In addition, genetic
engineering can have mixed environmental impacts, from
reduction of agricultural chemicals to gene transfer to wild
species and antibiotic resistance. To mitigate risks and
maximize benefits, strict regulations, ongoing risk assessments,
safety and ethics research, transparency in research, and
public participation in decision-making are required.Genetic
engineering is a process that alters the DNA of organisms
through laboratory technologies, with applications ranging
from agriculture to medicine. Its benefits include disease
resistance, improvements in the nutritional quality of crops,
and significant scientific advances, such as in disease diagnosis
and treatment. However, concerns persist about safety and
allergies in genetically modified foods. In addition, genetic
engineering can have significant environmental impacts.