10 bizarre examples of genetically

modified organisms
Glow-in-the-dark animals
In 2007, South Korean scientists altered a cat’s DNA to make it glow in the dark and then took that DNA
and cloned other cats from it — creating a set of fluffy, fluorescent felines. Here’s how they did it: The
researchers took skin cells from Turkish Angora female cats and used a virus to insert genetic instructions
for making red fluorescent protein. Then they put the gene-altered nuclei into the eggs for cloning, and
the cloned embryos were implanted back into the donor cats — making the cats the surrogate mothers
for their own clones.

Earlier research in Taiwan created three pigs that glowed fluorescent green. That’s Wu Shinn-chih,
assistant professor for the Institute and Department of Animal Science and Technology of National
Taiwan University (NTU), with one of the pigs in the photo.

Enviropig
The Enviropig, or “Frankenswine,” as critics call it, is a pig that’s been genetically altered to better digest
and process phosphorus. Pig manure is high in phytate, a form of phosphorus, so when farmers use the
manure as fertilizer, the chemical enters the watershed and causes algae blooms that deplete oxygen in
the water and kill marine life.

So scientists added an E. coli bacteria and mouse DNA to a pig embryo. This modification decreases a
pig’s phosphorous output by as much as 70 percent — making the pig more environmentally friendly.

Pollution-fighting plants
Scientists at the University of Washington are engineering poplar trees that can clean up contamination
sites by absorbing groundwater pollutants through their roots. The plants then break the pollutants
down into harmless byproducts that are incorporated into their roots, stems and leaves or released into
the air.

In laboratory tests, the transgenic plants are able to remove as much as 91 percent of trichloroethylene
— the most common groundwater contaminant at U.S. Superfund sites — out of a liquid solution.
Regular poplar plants removed just 3 percent of the contaminant.

Venomous cabbage
Scientists have taken the gene that programs poison in scorpion tails and looked for ways to combine it with
cabbage. Why would they want to create venomous cabbage? To limit pesticide use while still preventing
caterpillars from damaging cabbage crops. These genetically modified cabbages would produce scorpion poison
that kills caterpillars when they bite leaves — but the toxin is modified so it isn’t harmful to humans.

Web-spinning goats
Strong, flexible spider silk is one of the most valuable materials in nature, and it could be used to make an array of
products — from artificial ligaments to parachute cords — if we could just produce it on a commercial scale. In
2000, Nexia Biotechnologies announced it had the answer: a goat that produced spiders’ web protein in its milk.

Researchers inserted a spiders’ dragline silk gene into the goats’ DNA in such a way that the goats would make the
silk protein only in their milk. This “silk milk” could then be used to manufacture a web-like material called Biosteel.

Fast-growing salmon

Fast-growing salmon
Aqua Bounty’s genetically modified salmon grows twice as fast as the conventional variety — the photo shows two
same-age salmon with the genetically altered one in the rear. The company says the fish has the same flavor,
texture, color and odor as a regular salmon; however, the debate continues over whether the fish is safe to
eat.Genetically engineered Atlantic salmon has an added growth hormone from a Chinook salmon that allows the
fish to produce growth hormone year-round. Scientists were able to keep the hormone active by using a gene from
an eel-like fish called an ocean pout, which acts as an “on switch” for the hormone.The FDA approved the sale of
the salmon in the U.S. in 2015, marking the first time a genetically modified animal was approved for sale in the
U.S.

Flavr Savr tomato

The Flavr Savr tomato was the first commercially grown genetically engineered food to be granted a license for
human consumption. By adding an antisense gene, the California-based company Calgene hoped to slow the
ripening process of the tomato to prevent softening and rotting, while allowing the tomato to retain its natural
flavor and color.

The FDA approved the Flavr Savr in 1994; however, the tomatoes were so delicate that they were difficult to
transport, and they were off the market by 1997. On top of production and shipping problems, the tomatoes were
also reported to have a very bland taste: “The Flavr Savr tomatoes didn’t taste that good because of the variety
from which they were developed. There was very little flavor to save,” said Christ Watkins, a horticulture professor
at Cornell University.

Banana vaccines
People may soon be getting vaccinated for diseases like hepatitis B and cholera by simply taking a bite of banana.
Researchers have successfully engineered bananas, potatoes, lettuce, carrots and tobacco to produce vaccines, but
they say bananas are the ideal production and delivery vehicle.

When an altered form of a virus is injected into a banana sapling, the virus’ genetic material quickly becomes a
permanent part of the plant’s cells. As the plant grows, its cells produce the virus proteins — but not the infectious
part of the virus. When people eat a bite of a genetically engineered banana, which is full of virus proteins, their
immune systems build up antibodies to fight the disease — just like a traditional vaccine.

Less-flatulent cows
Cows produce significant amounts of methane as a result of their digestion process — it’s produced by a bacterium
that’s a byproduct of cows’ high-cellulosic diets that include grass and hay. Methane is a major contributor —
second only to carbon dioxide — to the greenhouse effect, so scientists have been working to genetically engineer a
cow that produces less methane.

Agriculture research scientists at the University of Alberta have identified the bacterium responsible for producing
methane and designed a line of cattle that creates 25 percent less methane than the average cow.

Genetically modified trees

Trees are being genetically altered to grow faster, yield better wood and even detect biological attacks. Proponents
of genetically engineered trees say biotechnology can help reverse deforestation while satisfying demand for wood
and paper products. For example, Australian eucalyptus trees have been altered to withstand freezing
temperatures, and loblolly pines have been created with less lignin, the substance that gives trees their rigidity.
However, critics argue that not enough is known about designer trees’ effect on their natural surroundings — they
could spread their genes to natural trees or increase wildfire risk, among other drawbacks. Still, the USDA gave
approval in May 2010 for ArborGen, a biotechnology company, to begin field trials for 260,000 trees in seven
southern states.

SUBMITTED BY: GAYSEL MAE O. BRIONES

GRADE & SECTION: 11 ABM-LEVITICUS

SUBMITTED TO: TEACHER BECCA CASIO

SUBJECT: EARTH AND LIFE SCIENCE