2021-03-24

Unit II
Biotechnology and
Genetically Modified Foods

Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering, GMO?

Biotechnology: the material application of
biological science to create products derived from
organisms

Genetic engineering, also called genetic

modification, is the direct manipulation of an
organism's genome using
biotechnology

Genetically modified organism: an organism or

microorganism whose genetic material has been
altered by means of genetic engineering.

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What is a GMO?

• It involves the insertion of DNA from one

organism into another OR modification of
an organism’s DNA in order to achieve a
desired trait.

Suntory "blue" rose

Genetic modification process

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What is a GMO?
1. Transgenic - a gene is moved from one non-
closely related species to another
2. Cisgenic/intragenic - a gene is moved within the
same species or a closely related species.
3. Subgenic - a gene is edited to amplify, delete,
insert, silence or repress the gene.

• RNA interference (RNAi) - is a biological process

in which RNA molecules inhibit gene expression -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vh3-NHdjnyQ

• CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short

Palindromic Repeats) -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pp17E4E-O8

What is a GMO?
Man has been manipulating DNA in plants and animals
for millennia

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What is a GMO?
Man has been manipulating DNA in plants and animals for millennia

What is a GMO?
Man has been manipulating DNA in plants and animals for millennia

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Crop Traits in GMO?

1. Herbicide tolerance - crop can withstand herbicide
applications
2. Insect tolerance - plant produces toxin to kill pest
3. Improved nutrition – plant produces a substance of
nutritive value or is changed to not produce an
antinutrient
4. Disease resistant – crop is resistant to certain disease
5. Stress Tolerance – crop is tolerant of stress, low
nutrient levels or excess nutrients
6. Increased Storage – crop can be stored longer to avoid
spoilage losses
7. Medicinal uses – crops that produce medicines or
vaccines
8. Industrial uses – crops to make more efficient
industries

What are GM Foods?

• Crops created for human/animal consumption using the
molecular biology technique to get desired traits such as:

Product Trait Advantage

Tomato Delay ripening, Easy to ship, less
increase size damage

Peas Sweetness Taste

Potato High starch Less oil when cooking
Corn Pest resistant Less damage by
insects, virus…
Strawberries Cold resistant Withstands freezing
and thawing
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What are GM Foods?

 Rennet is a complex of enzymes produced in stomachs of

ruminant mammals which is used in the production of
most cheeses.
 Chymosin, its key component, is a protease enzyme that
curdles the casein in milk, helping young mammals digest
their mothers' milk.

Global GM foods/seeds
manufacturers

https://1000logos.net

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How does this differ from Mendel and his peas?

GM vs Selective Breeding

Selective breeding
• Slow
• Imprecise
• Modification of genes that naturally occur in
the organism

GM
• Very fast
• Precise
• Can introduce genes into an organisms that
would not naturally occur!

Genetic engineering vs agricultural breeding

• Artificial selection has influenced the genetic

makeup of livestock and crops for thousands of
years.
• Proponents of GM crops say GM foods are safe.
• Critics of GM foods say:
– Traditional breeding uses genes from the same
species.
– Selective breeding deals with whole organisms, not
just genes.
– In traditional breeding, genes come together on their
own.

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Agricultural breeding

Traditional breeding changes organisms through

selection, while genetic engineering is more like the
process of mutation.

GMO in Medicine
• Insulin (e.g., SemBioSys Genetics
Inc- saflower)
• Clotting factors
• Atryn (anticoagulant).
• Banana vaccines
• Cancer fighting eggs

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GMO in Pesticides

• Kills caterpillars but

not poisonous to
humans

http://www.nature.com/cr/journal/v12/n2/full/7290120a.html

Some genetically modified foods

Bt crops

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Some genetically modified foods

Soybean
Roundup ready crops

Some genetically modified foods

Ice minus strawberries

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Some genetically modified foods

Starlink corn

Some genetically modified foods

AquAdvantage salmon

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Common GM Foods

Products
• Corn
• Canola
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Soybeans
• Flax
• Cottonseed oil
• Sugarbeets

Common GM Foods

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Advantages of GMO Foods

• Increased pest and disease resistance
• Grow food in harsh climate
• Increased food supply (more food/acre)
• More nutritional value
• Make drugs

Ring spot virus

Disadvantages of GMO Foods

• Introducing allergens and toxins to food

• Accidental cross pollination
• Antibiotic resistance
• Creation of "super" weeds and other
environmental risks

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Inquiry

1. Provide three potential benefits and

drawbacks of GMOs.

2. What is a transgene?

3. Which organism is most often used in GM?

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