MAMARADLO, ILDEFONFONSO G.

PALMA, ELDRIAN JAY B.

PASCUA, JEROME R.
Gr. 8 – GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS (GMO’s)

Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are products of artificial manipulation and
alteration of a species’ genetic material in a laboratory using genetic engineering. Plant, animal,
bacteria, and virus genes may be combined or may be crossbred to produce another kind of
species that do not naturally occur in the environment.

One of the most controversial issues in science and technology is the introduction of
genetically modified seeds in the agriculture sector that resulted in increased crop yield. New
technologies are used to artificially develop traits in plants, such as resistance to browning and
pests.

Increased crop yield, pest resistance, and other benefits of GMO’s are indeed
advantageous, yet there are also disadvantages that need to be studied comprehensively. In
addition, the growing concern with how GMO’s may affect consumers’ health and the
environment needs to be address.

Genetic engineering
Usually, associated with recombinant DNA technology, is founded on the work of many
scientists over the years. In 1953, the discovery of DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick
opened the gates for the countless possibilities of genetic engineering.

In 1982, the US Supreme Court ruled to allow the patenting of GMOs. This ruling
allowed the Exxon Oil company to start using microorganism that can oil.

In 1982, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved first GMO – Humulin, a type
of insulin produced using a engineered E. coli bacteria to be available in the market.

Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is the method of inserting genes or nucleic acid into cells as a drug to treat
genetic disease. In 1972, Theodore Friedman and Richard Roblin proposed that people with
genetic disorders can be treated by replacing defective DNA with good DNA.

In 1985, Dr. W. French Anderson and Dr. Michael Blasse worked together to show that
cells of patients with Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency can be corrected in tissue culture.
In 1990, the first approved gene therapy clinical research took place at the National Institute of
Health (NIH) under Dr. Anderson.

The first commercial gene therapy product Gendicine was approved in China in 2003 for
the treatment of certain cancers. Due to some clinical successes since 2006, gene therapy
gained greater attention from researchers.

Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering

 Various concerns on genetic engineering arise, making gene therapy and GMOs very
controversial innovation in science and technology. Others support that it is unethical for
people to have a hand in genetically altering and engineering organism.

Genetic engineering also poses problems. Hence, there is a need to study the ecological
processes applied to agricultural production systems. Agroecology is a field of study that
presents novel management approaches on farming systems that may help address concerns
regarding the effect of GMOs on biodiversity and the health of the consumers.