CA upholds GM eggplant field trials ban SC stops field testing of Bt talong, GMOs

CA ruling: Bt talong (eggplant) field trials violate the people’s constitutional right to a The Supreme Court cites the precautionary principle in upholding the decision of the
'balanced and healthful ecology' appellate court, which stopped field trials for the genetically modified eggplant
Published 3:21 PM, September 26, 2013 Published 7:30 PM, December 08, 2015

MANILA, Philippines – The Court of Appeals on Thursday, September 26, affirmed its
earlier ruling banning field trials of genetically-modified eggplant on Philippine soil.
Environmentalists against Bt eggplant Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) eggplant, or "super talong (eggplant)," is genetically-engineered
1 2
PHOTO BY VEEJAY VILLAFRANCA, GREENPEACE,04/27/2012 08:40 AM to produce its own insecticide to protect it from crop-damaging pests.
MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court on Tuesday, December 8, permanently stopped
the field testing for Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) talong (eggplant), upholding the decision of
the Court of Appeals (CA) which stopped the field trials for the genetically modified
eggplant.
3

SC reverses earlier ruling on Bt talong,

GMOs Published 9:23 AM, July 27, 2016
'These cases, which stemmed from respondents' petition for Writ of Kalikasan,
were mooted by the expiration of the Biosafety Permits... and the termination of
Bt talong field trials subject of the permits'

Fate of Bt protein in
FSB, non-target
organisms, and humans

Figure 3. Non-Bt eggplant Figure 4. Bt Eggplant

MANILA, Philippines – The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday, July 26, reversed itsDecember
2015 ruling which temporarily stopped the field testing, propagation, commercialization,
and importation of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
In a unanimous decision, the SC granted 9 motions for reconsideration filed byBt (Bacillus
thuringiensis) talong (eggplant) proponents who earlier asked the High Court to set aside
its December 2015 ruling on the ground of mootness.
4 5
Photo: UPLB IPB Bt Eggplant Project, 2014
Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a common soil bacterium that contains
a gene which produces a protein harmful to Fruit and Shoot Borer (FSB).
Scientists have incorporated this gene to eggplant to confer insect
resistance.
Bt eggplant (Figure 4) expresses Bt gene, enabling it to produce the same
protein that makes it resistant to FSB.
6

What is a Genetically Modified

(GM) Food?

• Foods that contain an added gene

sequence
• Foods that have a deleted gene sequence
• Animal products from animals fed GM
feed
• Products produced by GM organisms

7 8 9
 Why are foods genetically How is genetic modification
modified? Common GM Foods possible?
Vegetables The components of DNA
are the same in all
Tomatoes organisms.
Genetic engineering offers a rapid and
precise method of altering organisms as Potatoes
compared to traditional methods that Rice
Sequences that code for
are slow and inaccurate. Cheese proteins can be moved
from one organism to
Meat another.

10 11 12

How can DNA be moved from one organism How can DNA be moved from one organism How can DNA be moved from one organism
to another? to another? to another?
A vector can carry DNA.
The vector can be a
►Find an organism with the desired trait
pellet from a gene gun.
►Allow the genetically altered cell
►Isolate the gene sequence that codes for Viruses and bacteria
to grow into a plant also can be utilized to
the desired trait
transfer genes.
►Insert the gene sequence into the genome ►Allow the plant to propagate
of the plant cell

13 14 15

Possible Benefits Possible Benefits Possible Benefits

of GM Foods of GM Foods of GM Foods
Easing of world hunger Reduced use of Improved crop quality
Development of crops that
can be grown in marginal pesticides and Development of frost resistant
soil crops
herbicides
Reduced strain on Development of disease
nonrenewable resources ►Development of pest
resistant crops
Development of drought resistant crops
resistant crops Development of flood resistant
Development of salt- ►Reduced herbicide crops
tolerant crops use is better for the
Development of crops that environment and Improved nutritional quality
make more efficient use of Development of foods designed to
nitrogen and other nutrients reduces costs for
meet specific nutritional goals
farmers
16 17 18
 Who makes sure GM foods are Possible Risks Possible Risks
safe? of GM Foods for GM Foods
Government agencies Insects might develop Certain gene
regulate GM foods resistance to products may be
GM foods in the United pesticide-producing allergens, thus
States are required to be GM crops causing harm to
labeled only if the Herbicide-tolerant human health
nutritional value is crops may cross- There may be
changed or a new
pollinate weeds, unintended harm to
allergen is introduced.
resulting in wildlife and beneficial Photo courtesy of T. W. Davies, Cal. Acad. of Sciences.

"superweeds" insects
19 20 21

Desirable Agronomic Traits Traditional Breeding

Genetically Modified Plants (traditional or modern)

• Increased yields, more nutritious, quality, etc.,

Biotechnology: underlying science
Potential Risks vs.(Potential) Benefits
22
• More resistant to pestilence, weeds, water and
nutrient deprivations,
~25,000 genes ~45,000 genes
• Ability to withstand marginal growth conditions,
– and thrive in new environmental ranges, • technology is not essential,
• Profit. • limited by species boundaries,
• all genes/traits are mixed.
23 24

Transgenic Plants How are GMOs generated?

...uses tools of molecular

genetics,
- i.e. applied bacteria
and virus genetics.

A gene gun is used for delivery of exogenous DNA to cells. This

method is known as 'biolistics'. Gene guns can be used effectively on
A gene gun or a biolistic particle most cells but are mainly used on plant cells. Step 1 The gene gun
delivery system, originally designed for apparatus is ready to fire. Step 2 Helium fills the chamber and
plant transformation, is a device for pressure builds against the rupture disk. Step 3 The pressure

insert into plant delivering exogenous DNA (transgenes)

• based on DNA technology,
• single genes/traits can be transferred,
• species boundaries are not limiting.
to cells. The payload is an elemental
eventually reaches the point where the rupture disk breaks, and the
resulting burst of helium propels the DNA/gold-coated macrocarrier
('Plastic Disk') into the stopping screen. Step 4 When the macrocarrier
particle of a heavy metal coated with hits the stopping screen, the DNA-coated gold particles are propelled
through the screen and into the target cells.
DNA (typically plasmid DNA).
…via biolistics - or - Agrobacterium tumefaceins
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 Ti-Plasmid Transfer-DNA Plant Cells
Nature
Ti: tumor inducing
Potential Risks Direct
(nontarget)
Plasmid: • Risk of invasion.
extrachromosomal DNA
evolved for genetic
Hormone Opines • Direct nontarget Effects • Risk to non-target species,
transfer.
genes genes
Agrobacterium – pollinators,
• Indirect nontarget Effects. – passers-by,
Lab
• New Viral Diseases. • soil ecosystems,
T-DNA
– decomposition rates,
• Variability and Unexpected Results. – carbon cycle,
Out: Ti genes, opine genes, – nitrogen cycle.
Any Gene
In: DNA of choice. Selectable Markers, etc
28 29 31

Indirect New Viral Diseases

(nontarget) Spider silk
• Spider’s silk is
5 times stronger than a thread
• kill weeds = kill species that • virus resistant plants promote of steel of the same thickness
live “on” or eat the weeds, virulent strains, 3 times stronger than Kevlar
– mutations, (carbon fibre)
• bioaccumulation, – recombination, • Spiders are carnivores and
• heteroencapsulation, cannot be raised
– nontarget species eat plants,
store toxins, • Transgenic animals can © P. Billiet
– virus move genes from one
– those species are eaten, organism to another,
produce the spider protein Aculepeira ceropegia
a European orbweb spider
amassing the toxin, – not presently a risk, but a
– on up the food chain. potential risk.

Bee on Red Clover.

32 33 © 2010 Paul Billiet ODWS 39

Spider silk Web-based

kid • Goat grows up, females produce spider silk
• The gene for spider silk protein in their milk
protein was isolated from
the golden orb weaver • Silk protein purified
(Nephila clavipes) • Extruded through nozzle to produce silken
• Not easy, it is a fibrous thread
protein so it has a very Spider goat © Sean O'Neill

repetitive gene sequence • Gene (plus regulator genes) inserted into goat mammary gland
• Not easy as the conditions are not quite the
cells same a spider’s spinneret
• Genetically transformed cells could be made to secrete spider • Transformed goats can be bred together
silk protein
perpetuating the trait
• Transformed goat cells fused to enucleated oocyte
© 2010 Paul Billiet ODWS
Nephila clavipes © C. Frank Starmer
40 • Genetically transformed goat embryos produced 41 © 2010 Paul Billiet ODWS 42
© 2010 Paul Billiet ODWS
 Applications Other Issues
• Economic hegemony of GMP seed producing
• Super strong surgery thread countries, companies,
• Artificial ligaments • Cultural shifts in farming due to the introduction of
GMOs,
• Light bullet proof body armour
• Potential allergies to genetically modified crops,
• Biodegradable fishing line
• The preservation of natural genetic crop-lines,
• The lack of an adequate risk assessment methodology
to quantify unintended ecological consequences.

© 2010 Paul Billiet ODWS 43 45

The Precautionary Principle 46

Group of 10 members.
By seat arrangement: 1-10, 11-20,…

Interactive sessions 1.
2.
Critique on any Bio 1 subject matter (controversial?)
Skit
3. Video
4. Debate:
ex: origins of life, GMO, Designer babies (pros and cons)
5. 10-15 minutes per session
6. Collegial grading 70-100
(example: GRP 1 grades GRPS 2 to n,
48 49 GRP 2 grades GRP 1 & GRPS 2 to n… ) 50

Collegial grading
Percentage Grade
90-100 1.00
85-89 1.25
80-84 1.50
75-79 1.75
70-74 2.00

44 5.00 no report/participation!

Total pre-final grade will be computed

based on the following:
Two long examinations: 80 %
Class participation: 20 % 51