Pamantasan ng Cabuyao

Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

PERFORANCE TASK IN BIOLOGY

Members:

Bulo, Sofia Mae

Cañeda, Yzel Marie

Mendoza, Shane

Quilla, Trizlie Danielle

Rabeza, Krisha Joy

12STEM-E-12 (BATCH 2)
 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

Potato

1. Define GMO

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines GMOs, also known as genetically modified

organisms, as living things (such as plants, animals, or microorganisms) whose genetic material (DNA)

has undergone an alteration that does not happen normally through mating and/or natural recombination.

GMOs are developed because they can increase agricultural protection by boosting plants' resistance to

diseases, viruses, and herbicides; this increased protection can result in higher crop yields, which lower

crop prices overall and lower the cost of food per unit; When there is a high weed pressure, GMO crops

often don't require as much pesticide to be applied; GMOs seeds can better tolerate the presence of

aluminum elements or the lack of fertilizers, higher salt concentrations, drought, or frost conditions;

GMO seeds can speed up the growing process and harvesting, allowing more crop rotation; Gene

selection ensures the resulting plants have the desired traits like enhanced nutrient composition, higher

food quality, disease resistance

 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

2.  Introduction about the selected GMO

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a globally important crop that yields nutritious tubers. It is

regarded as one of the most promising crops for overcoming global poverty and hunger. Yet, it is

subjected to a variety of biotic and abiotic stressors that can result in large output losses. As a result,

potato is a promising candidate for development through conventional breeding and biotechnology.

Because conventional breeding is time-consuming and difficult, genetic engineering offers the

opportunity to introduce/turn off genes of interest without changing the allelic combination that

characterizes successful commercial cultivars or to induce targeted sequence modifications through New

Breeding Techniques. Potato enhancement by genetic transformation may be accomplished in a variety of

ways.

Even though the majority of them insert genes of interest into the nuclear genome, the

introduction of plastid transformation methods extended the available options for potato breeding.

Although each technique has merits and problems, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most

often employed method. Particle bombardment, protoplast transfection with polyethylene glycol, and

microinjection are all effective alternatives. A speedy and effective regeneration technique, as well as a

selection mechanism, are crucial elements for a successful transformation, regardless of the DNA delivery

method used. Numerous essential aspects influence transformation efficiency, including vector type,

insert size, Agrobacterium strain, explant type, subculture medium composition, and selective agent,

among others.

technologies for functional assessments or biotechnological goals.

 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

3. Process of DNA Recombination involved in the GMO production

Even though the majority of them insert genes of interest into the nuclear genome, the

introduction of plastid transformation methods extended the available options for potato breeding.

Although each technique has merits and problems, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation is the most

often employed method. Particle bombardment, protoplast transfection with polyethylene glycol, and

microinjection are all effective alternatives. A speedy and effective regeneration technique, as well as a

selection mechanism, are crucial elements for a successful transformation, regardless of the DNA delivery

method used. Numerous essential aspects influence transformation efficiency, including vector type,

insert size, Agrobacterium strain, explant type, subculture medium composition, and selective agent,

among others.

technologies for functional assessments or biotechnological goals.

DNA must be transferred into a plant cell as the initial step in creating a GM plant. The necessary

DNA segment is applied to the surface of tiny metal particles, which are then bombarded into the plant

cells as one way to transfer DNA. Using a virus or bacteria is another method. Many bacteria and viruses

regularly insert their DNA into host cells as a necessary step in their life cycle. The most popular bacteria

for GM plants is known as Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The desired gene is introduced into the

bacterium, and the bacterial cells subsequently introduce the new DNA into the plant cells' genome. The

successfully incorporated plant cells are then cultivated to produce a new plant. The ability of individual

plant cells to produce complete plants makes this conceivable. Rarely, the transfer of DNA can take place
 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

without conscious human interaction. For instance, the genome of the sweet potato contains DNA

sequences that were imported from Agrobacterium bacteria thousands of years ago. 

The reagent must first be introduced into the cell in order to produce specific alterations. The

most popular techniques include protoplast transfection using polyethylene glycol or Agrobacterium, as

well as particle bombardment. The host plant expresses the T-DNA-containing reagent's components after

random genome integration. The integrated T-DNA can be eliminated following the confirmation of

targeted mutagenesis by self-pollination and subsequent genetic segregation. Nevertheless, the removal of

the T-DNA by genetic segregation is not ideal since self-pollination diminishes heterozygosity,

encourages inbreeding depression, and results in the loss of varietal traits in species with vegetative

reproduction, such as the potato. Therefore, innovative transformation methods that allow for the

administration of a reagent without allowing for its integration into the genome, such as ribonucleoprotein

or nanoparticle-mediated gene delivery platforms, are promising future technologies for research

involving potato gene-editing.

4. Benefits/Advantages

According to the New York Times, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently approved

farmers to begin commercially cultivating a number of distinct genetically modified potatoes. The Russet

Burbank, Ranger Russet, and Atlantic varieties of potatoes have been bred to produce less of a substance
 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

that, when cooked in oil, can become carcinogenic. The potatoes also resist bruising, which is a frequent

occurrence during harvest and transportation and can lower their value or even make them unsellable.

The White Russet potato is the only GM potato available right now, and it was created by potato

pioneer J.R. Simplot Corporation will possess two new characteristics. The first lessens bruising and

browning that may happen to the potato during packaging, storage, and transportation, as well as when it

is chopped in your kitchen. Although if the browning is only an aesthetic problem, it nonetheless results

in a large amount of food being thrown away needlessly each year. Also, any sliced potatoes that are

processed typically have chemicals added to them to stop them from browning in transit. The White

Russet will maintain its white color, hence the name, even when handled roughly or chopped while being

processed, resulting in reduced food waste and additives.

The second characteristic lowers the concentration of asparagine, a naturally occurring molecule.

Asparagine can become acrylamide, a likely carcinogen, when it is heated to a high temperature, such that

employed in fryers. The risk of developing unpleasant byproducts when frying potatoes can be eliminated

by lowering the amount of free asparagine in the potatoes.

5. Disadvantages

I just saw a study article that several of my former coworkers had published. Research

demonstrated that alpha-aminoadipate, also known as aminoadipic acid, levels are dramatically increased
 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

when the melanin (PPO) gene of potatoes is silenced. GM potatoes may have more alpha-aminoadipate

than the GM corn variety LY038, according to a very casual observation that regular potatoes already

contain roughly 90 mg alpha-aminoadipate per kg (via fooDB).

The LY038 corn saga can teach us a lot about the GMO potatoes I created's potential concerns to

food safety. Lysine, an amino acid, is present in high concentrations in LY038 corn, which was developed

to be a more nutrient-dense feed for cattle. High levels of alpha-aminoadipate, a recognized neurotoxic,

are present in LY038. During preparation and processing, alpha-aminoadipate can transform into

advanced glycoxidation endproducts (AGEs). A number of diet-related disorders, such as diabetes,

Alzheimer's, and cancer, are significantly linked to AGEs.

I also discovered that tyramine, an aberrant amino acid, accumulates in injured potato tissues.

These harmed tissues typically turn black so that processors can spot them and clip them off. The bruises,

on the other hand, do not turn color in GM potatoes and are not eliminated during processing. This

implies that tyramine exposure through eating injured tissues is possible. Most people can metabolize

tyramine, however those who take MAOI antidepressants are unable to do so. Tyramine will build up in

the blood and may result in hypertensive health problems.

The most challenging problem is that PPO-silencing also causes a variety of tuber diseases to go

unnoticed. As a result, customers may eat potatoes that appear to be healthy but actually harbor bacterial

or fungal diseases. These bacteria frequently release allergies and poisons.

 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

6. Recommendations

Because it is a crop that is extremely heterozygous, genetically improving the potato

through conventional breeding is a time-consuming and challenging task. Tetrasomic inheritance

and the fact that it is a crop grown vegetatively make genetic gains challenging. In addition,

despite breeders' best efforts, market factors have maintained very old types prevalent. It is

possible to correct a few genetic flaws while keeping the well-known advantages of conventional

kinds through genetic modification. The J. Simplot Company's Simplot Plant Sciences Division

The R. Simplot Corporation used marker-free transformation techniques to create potatoes under

the Innate trademark. The genetically altered potatoes exhibit enhanced quality qualities that are

advantageous to farmers, processors, merchants, and consumers as well as offering input traits

that ultimately result in sustainable advantages for the soil. The creation of the Innate potatoes,

the process by which the qualities were designed, and the achievements and setbacks the potatoes

are experiencing in the industrial setting are all described. It will take time for Innate® potatoes

to be successful on the market since potato processors and retailers are still worried about how a

genetically modified food will affect their brand image. At Simplot Plant Sciences, genetic
 Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department

editing and other potentially less controlled and stigmatized techniques are still being used to

improve potato genetics. 

A potato that has had its DNA altered through genetic engineering is said to be

genetically modified. The objectives of modification include introducing insect resistance,

adjusting the concentrations of specific compounds produced by the plant, and stopping the

tubers

from browning or bruised. There are ways to avoid consuming GMO potatoes, including avoiding

any "White Russet" potatoes, avoiding russet in general unless it is organic, buying organic, and

avoiding processed potato products unless they are clearly marked as non-GMO.

7. References

https://youmatter.world/en/definition/gmo-means-seeds-foods-bad/#:~:text=According
%20to%20the%20World%20Health,mating%20and%2For%20natural
%20recombination.

https://www.gmwatch.org/en/106-news/latest-news/18506-gmo-potatoes-the-risks-to-
health

https://www.iflscience.com/gm-potatoes-may-benefit-health-approved-usda-26258

https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/projects/gm-plants/what-is-gm-and-how-is-it-done/ 

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/9781119717003.ch3

https://www.ditchthetoxins.com/gmo-potato/
Pamantasan ng Cabuyao
Katapatan Subdivision, Banay-banay, Cabuyao, Laguna

Senior High School Department