Genetically Modified Organisms. The Pros and Cons of GMOs

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1 Genetically Modified Organisms The Pros and Cons of GMOs

2 Genetic Engineering Genetic recombination: Taking genes from one organism and inserting them into another. Transgenics: Organisms containing genes from other organisms

3 Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) An organism whose DNA has been modified by humans for a specific purpose. Generally these are organisms designed to: 1) Resist pests 2) Stay fresh longer 3) Survive different temperature regimes 4) To grow faster 5) To grow larger 6) Or have other desirable characteristics.

4 Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) An organism whose DNA has been modified by humans for a specific purpose. Glowing jellyfish gene inserted into mice

5 Flounder genes were inserted into tomatoes and strawberries to make them freeze resistant. An awkward side effect was that the strawberries turned blue.

6 Spider genes inserted into goats to make spider silk in goat milk A mouse with a human ear growing out of its back

7 Featherless Chickens Why have to deal with the costly plucking?

8 The Big Nine GMO Food Crops on the Market: Corn Soybeans Canola (aka rapeseed) Cotton Sugar Beets Alfalfa Hawaiian Papaya Zucchini Yellow Squash

9 GMO Farmed Salmon Genes have been inserted into farmed salmon to allow them to eat corn-based products. Hormones are used for rapid growth. Most grocery chains have refused to sell it because of public concerns. Salmon are designed to be carnivores, eating small fish and crustaceans. Normal (small) and GMO Atlantic Salmon (large) Corn is cheaper, so they have been altered to digest corn.

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12 Case Study: Golden Rice Rice is the most eaten plant on Earth. It is high in energy, but low in nutrients. Vitamin A deficiency is a major problem in many parts of the world, with up to ½ million children going blind each year. Scientists realized they can insert genes from daffodils and soil bacteria into rice for it to produce beta-carotene.

13 Golden Rice It is in the trial phase, but many are reluctant to start growing it because they are concerned these altered genetics could have unknown side-effects. Will this gene escape into wild grass species and negatively alter their genetic code?

14 Case Study: Bt A toxin produced by a bacterium that kills many insects. Normal peanut leaf insect damage The bacteria genes producing the toxin were inserted into several plant species to produce a self-grown pesticide. Yields of peanuts and soybeans, have improved, where used. Bt-containing peanut leaves

15 Case Study: Bt

16 Case Study: Bt This gene has been shown to be invading into wild plant genomes through cross-pollination. Some native beneficial insect populations have been declining in recent years. Bt is suspected as one cause. Many pest insect species are now developing Bt-resistance. Normal peanut leaf insect damage Bt-containing peanut leaves

17 Will Monarch Butterflies Go Extinct?

18 Monarchs live on milkweed Milkweed is killed by Roundup in fields where Roundupresistant corn and soybeans are grown. Bt-corn contains a chemical designed to kill moths. Unfortunately, it kills monarchs too!

19 Beneficial vs. Pest Insects Pest insects are species that feed on or otherwise damage economically valuable crops. Beneficial insects are predators of pest insects (like lady bugs) or are important pollinators (like bees). Beneficial Insects Pest Insects

20 Cases of GMO Gone Wrong Bovine Growth Hormone (BHG): Used to make cows grow faster and produce more milk. Also found to increase rates of mammary cancer. A brazil nut gene was inserted into soy beans only to cause severe nut allergies in people consuming these soybean products.

21 GMO Around the World The European Union bans the use of GMOs in many of its food products. The European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, China, India, and other countries require GMO labeling. Food lobbies have prevented any labeling of GMO s in the United States, so YOU do NOT have a right to know.

22 Many Companies See An Opportunity to Promote Their Product to a Skeptical Public

23 Biological Patent When a corporation creates a GMO, they can patent that product and prevent the use of that organism by anyone else, even if completely unintentional. Monsanto regularly uses lawsuits to put non-gmo farmers out of business (when GMO seed blows in or is dropped in by birds) or to force those farmers to buy their GMO seeds.

24 Are GMOs dangerous? At this stage, it is too early to tell if there are any negative health effects associated with GMOs. The FDA has declared them safe, but we often do not fully learn of the impacts of technology until years later.

25 What about patenting human genes? A biotech company tried to patent human genes for the purpose of preventing anyone else from developing tests to search for genetically-caused diseases like breast cancer. Myriad genetics was charging over $3000 for the BRCA test because no other company was allowed to develop and conduct the tests.

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