Gene$cally Modified Organisms Image: www.ars.usda.gov
What is a GMO? "gene$cally modified organism (GMO)" an organism in which the gene$c material, usually DNA, has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally, as does selec$ve breeding or ma$ng.
GMOs: Gene$cally Modified Organism Any organism that has had its gene$c material changed or manipulated in some way. Image: www.life.uiuc.edu This is the ancestor of what crop? Image: www.aggie- hor$culture.tamu.edu
Which foods contain GM product? US Approval for GM food crops Corn Soy Papaya Canola Potato Chicory Rice Squash Sugarbeet Tomatoes Database of GM crops: www.agbios.com
Types of gene$c modifica$on in plants Selec$ve breeding - Desired traits - Usually many genera$ons GraLing of 2 Different Plants Gene$c engineering Image: farrer.csu.edu.au
Trait targets of tradi$onal plant breeding Increase size of fruit or grain Increase yield per acre Changes in height of plants Increase the number of crops in a year (rice) Drought or cold tolerance Appearance for ornamentals Image: www.news.cornell.edu Image: hsp://faculty.etsu.edu/mcdowelt Image: www.dlc.fi Image: www.jacksonandperkins.com Tradi$onal breeding is limited to closely related species
Traits for gene$cally engineered organisms Increase nutrient content (example: Golden Rice) Delay ripening of fruits for beser shipping (example: Flavr- savr tomato) Resistance to naturally occurring pests (example: Bt coson or corn) Resistance to otherwise harmful herbicides (example: RoundUp Ready soybeans) Plants that can clean up toxic waste sites (phytoremedia$on) If there is a gene out there, it can be used, regardless of the source. Image: www.scidev.net
Bt: an example of gene$c modifica$on A bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis makes a protein with a crystal structure The protein, when eaten by lepidoptera (caterpillars), s$cks to the gut wall of the insect This causes starva$on, the dissolving of the internal organs and death The purified protein has been used by organic farmers for years as a spray Images: www.deh.gov.au
RoundUp Ready: another example RoundUp is the most widely used broad- spectrum herbicide RoundUp Ready plants have a gene from bacteria that gives them resistance to the weed killer RoundUp
Gene$cally modified foods: Corn Bt to protect from European corn borer RoundUp Ready (or other herbicide tolerance), to allow spraying of herbicides Image:msucares.edu Corn and corn deriva$ves are found in almost all packaged foods (corn syrup, corn starch, etc.) In 2008, 80% of U.S. corn planted was gene$cally engineered
Gene$cally modified foods: Soy Herbicide tolerance is the only modifica$on of soy (so far) Soy and deriva$ves are found in most packaged foods Important as animal feed In 2008, 92% of soy planted in the U.S. was engineered Image: cropwatch.unl.edu
Gene$cally modified foods: Canola Herbicide tolerant varie$es Canola is touted as one of the healthiest oils In 2004, 70% of Canadian canola was engineered Image: canola- council.org
Gene$cally modified foods: CoSon Both Bt and herbicide tolerant varie$es Image: ipm.ncsu.edu Clothing, cosonseed oil is present in many food items In 2008, 86% of U.S. coson planted was engineered
GMOs in the Market At least 70% of processed foods contain gene$cally modified ingredients. The four crops that have been extensively used are: Corn CoSon Soy Canola
hsp://www.ers.usda.gov/data/ biotechcrops/
Other gene$cally modified foods Papayas Radicchio Potatoes Flax Tomatoes Rice Image: www.seedexseed.c om Sugarbeets Melon Plum Squash Wheat Len$ls Image: www.ebfarm.com
U.S. regula$on of GMOs: who s responsible? USDA (APHIS) Monitors experimental plots Assesses environmental impact of widespread release Sets guidelines for Organically cer$fied foods FDA (Food and Drug Associa$on) GRAS- generally regarded as safe labeling of foods EPA (Environmental Protec$on Agency) Monitors pes$cide levels in Bt plants Regulates the use of herbicides on plants
U.S. regula$on of GMOs: who s responsible? Companies are requested (not required) to conduct their own tests before marke$ng a product. Generally they work closely with the FDA to assess: Safety of new product Nutri$onal value (toxicity) An$bio$c markers Animal feed issues Allergenicity Source: www.geo- pie.cornell.edu
Organic = GMO- free?? According to the Na$onal Organic Program (part of USDA), foods cannot be USDA cer$fied organic if they are gene$cally modified: gene dele$on or doubling introducing a foreign gene sets accepted tolerance limits (caused by contamina$on) Image: www.ams.usda.gov * Na$onal Organic Program Overview
Poten$al environmental benefits of GMO s Less herbicide and pes$cide spraying Less contamina$on of groundwater No- $ll farming reduces erosion Reduced fuel consump$on on farms Increased efficiency and beser uses of land- area dedicated to agriculture (yield per acre) Image: www.tradelinkinc.com Ability to grow crops in previously inaccessible or ruined areas
A few poten$al environmental risks of gene$c engineering Crea$on of invasive weedy species resistant to herbicides ( superweeds ) An$bio$c resistant bacteria, herbicide tolerant plants, pes$cide tolerant insects Nega$vely affec$ng organisms in unforeseen ways Image: www.cbc.ca Contamina$on of organic farms
More Poten$al Problems Crea$on of super pests Loss of biodiversity Opponents argue Biotechnology companies control agriculture, pushing out smaller, tradi$onal farms Control of our food supply and prices Health concerns both foreseen and unforeseen
Poten$al health benefits of GMO s Edible vaccines Improved nutrient content Image: facstaff.uwa.edu More food world- wide
Poten$al health risks of gene$c engineering Allergic reac$ons to introduced proteins An$bio$c resistant bacteria Altered cellular pathways may produce unforeseen toxins Image: www.allergygear.com
THE END. OR IS IT ONLY THE BEGINNING???
Very Reliable Reliable Less Reliable Very Difficult / Not Possible Fresh corn Veggie sausages Veggie burgers Oil Fresh papaya Tortilla chips Fried corn snacks Salad dressing Corn bread mix Flavored tortilla chips Popcorn Cereal (eg cornflakes) Corn meal Puffed corn snacks Fries Wheat flour Soy flour Which foods yield viable plant DNA? Meatballs and burgers containing soy protein Soy-based protein drinks/powders Potato chips
Why use CaMV 35S and NOS? CaMV 35S Sequence for the promoter of 35S transcript of the Cauliflower mosaic virus. Used because it functions in every plant cell NOS- Sequence for nopaline synthase terminator from soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefacians Used because it evolved to be recognized in most plants
Extract DNA from food
Analysis of Results 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 GMO posi$ve 1: non-gmo food with plant primers 2: non-gmo food with GMO primers 3. Test food with plant primers 4: Test food with GMO primers 5: GMO positive template with plant primers 6: GMO positive template with GMO primers 7: PCR MW Ruler GMO nega$ve 1 2 3 4 5 6 7