Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMO)
and Gene Therapy

Science, Technology
and Society
MODULE 3 SECTION 3

This section discusses the moral and

ethical issues concerning GMOs and their
impacts on society.

It also sheds light on the various forms and

applications of gene therapy.

Duration (Week)- 8th week

 One week (minimum of three
hours/week)

Prepared by:
LOTHY F. CASIM, LPT, R.N. Ph.D
LEANNE JAY S. MANCERAS, MSc.
Department of Biological Sciences
College of Science and Mathematics
University of Southern Mindanao

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Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and Gene Therapy

This section discusses the moral and ethical issues concerning GMOs and their impacts on
society. It also sheds light on the various forms and applications of gene therapy.

Intended Learning Outcomes

At the end of this section, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the uses and effects of GMOs and gene therapy on society, particularly in the
context of health and economy; and
2. Discuss the moral and bioethical questions concerning genetic engineering.

There doesn’t seem to be any other way of creating

the next green revolution without GMOs.
E.O. Wilson

Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) 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.
Figure 1 GMOs are said to be better for the
environment. Photo credit: Massive Science

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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. With the aim to improve harvest and the agriculture sector as a whole, humans
seem to be disinterested in preserving genetic diversity the natural way.

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

Where did it start?

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 1973, Herbert
Boyer and Stanley Cohen were the first
scientists to genetically modify an
organism by combining genes from two
different E.coli.

Figure 2 The insertion of recombinant DNA so that the foreign

DNA will replicate naturally, as pioneered by Herbert Boyer
and Stanley Cohen Photo credit: Science History Institute

In 1982, the US Supreme Court ruled to

allow the patenting of GMOs. This ruling
allowed the Exxon oil Company to start
using a microorganism that can consume
oil.

Figure 3 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill utilized a microorganism

that can consume oil.

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

Figure 4 Developed by Genentech, the first American

biotechnology company, Humulin was licensed to Eli
Lilly and became the first marketable product created
through recombinant DNA technology. Photo credit:
National Museum of American History.

In 1993, FDA approved bovine

somatropin (bST), a metabolic protein
hormone used to increase milk production
in dairy cows for commercial use.

Figure 5Process of producing rBST Photo credits:

The Boundless Thicket

In 1994, FDA approved the Flavr Savr

tomato for sale on grocery stores. This
kind of tomato has a delayed-ripening
effect that gives a longer shelf-life
compared with natural tomatoes.

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 In 1995, Bt potatoes and corn, and
roundup ready soybeans were approved
safe by the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).

Figure 6 Photo credit: USA News now

In 1996, weeds resistant to glyphosate,

the herbicide used for many GMO crops,
were detected in Australia. Research
shows that the super weeds are 7 to 11
times more resistant to glyphosate than
the standard susceptible population. In
the same year, Dolly, the first cloned
animal, was born.

Figure 7. Dolly and the Glyphosate weed killer Photo credit: Time
Magazine

In 1997, the European Union ruled in

favor of mandatory labeling on all GMO
food products, including animal feed.

Figure 8 Madatory GMO Labelling Photo credit: Modern farmer

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 In 1998, a genetically modified papaya in
Hawaii was found to be resistant to the
ring spot virus and produced the Bacillus
Figure 9 GMO thuringiensis toxin, an insecticide that is
Papaya in Hawaii not harmful to humans.
with Ring Virus
Photo credit: SAI
Food

Starting 1999, over 100 million acres

Figure 10 GMO seeds. Photo worldwide are planted with genetically
credit: Summit County Farm engineered seeds.

In 2000, golden rice was developed in the

Figure 11 Philippines to address vitamin A
Genetically deficiency, which is a public health issue
modified Golden in Asian countries where rice is a staple
Rice variety food crop. Golden rice is a variety (Oryza
Photo credits: sativa) genetically modified to
Made for Minds
biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor
of vitamin A, in the edible parts of rice.
Additional three-beta carotene-
synthesized genes differentiate the
golden rice from its parental strain. The
introduction of golden rice was opposed
by environmental and anti-globalization
advocates because this GMO was
thought to compromise food production,
nutrition, and financial security
In 2003, a Bt-toxin resistant caterpillar-
Figure 12 cum-moth, Helicoverpa zea, was found
Helicoverpa zea. feasting on GMO Bt cotton crops in the
Photo credit: southern United Sates.
Timetoast

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 In 2006, Yorkshire pigs were genetically
Figure modified to produce offspring that
13" produce the enzyme phytase in their
Enviro saliva to digest plant phosphorus, unlike
pig" that of normal pigs.

In 2011, a research in eastern Quebec

Figure 14 Bt toxin found Bt toxins in the blood of pregnant
in the blood women and showed evidence that the
serum of 93% toxin could be passed on to the babies.
pregnant women.
Photo credit:
GMO Free USA

In 2012, French farmer Paul Francois

Figure 15 Monsanto sued for chemical sued Monsanto for chemical poisoning
poisoning Photo credit: Health Care that he claimed was caused by the
Administration
pesticide Lasso, which was part of the
Roundup Ready line of products. He won
the case.
As early as 2013, corn and poplars were
Figure 16 Corn to Biofuel. genetically modified and used to produce
Photo credit: iploveslife biofuel, which is regarded as an efficient
substitute for petroleum products.

In 2014, the patent on the Roundup

Figure Ready line of genetically engineered
17The seeds ended.
Last
Roundup.
Photo
credit:
National
Observer

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.
Numerous GMOs are produced all over the world. Those mentioned here involve mutation.
Science agrees that the majority of mutations attempted on a species have the probability to
fail miserably, and the individual plant/animal would not survive (Mayr, 2007).

To date, the production and consumption of GMOs are being argued upon due to their safety
alongside the right of humans to modify naturally occurring organisms. New organisms
created using genetic engineering can pose ecological issues because the long-term effects
of genetic engineering to the environment is uncertain. GMOs may cause imbalance in the
ecology of a region just as what exotic species do. An accident in genetically engineering a
virus or bacteria, for example, could result in super bacteria that display antimicrobial
resistance, which may cause a serious epidemic when released.

GENE THERAPY

Gene therapy is the method of inserting

genes or nucleic acid into cells as drug to
treat genetic diseases. In 1972, Theodore
Friedman and Richard Roblin proposed that
people with genetic disorder 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 Figure 18 Gene Therapy. Photo credit: docwirenews
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 Institutes of Health (NIH) under the team of Dr.
Anderson. It was conducted on a four-year-old girl who had ADA deficiency. In 1993, the first
somatic treatment that produced a permanent genetic change was performed.

The first commercial gene therapy product Medicine 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 but was still considered as an experimental
technique.

In 2016, the Committee for Medicinal

Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the
European Medicines Agency (EMA)
endorsed the gene therapy treatment
called Strimvelis that was approved by the
European Commission in June 2018.
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Figure 19 Strimvelis set-up. Photo credit: Nature
Some studies transplanted genes to speed up the destruction of cancer cells. Gene or cell
therapies have emerged as realistic prospects for treatment of cancer, and involve the
delivery of genetic information of tumor to facilitate the production of therapeutic proteins.
This area of gene therapy procedure is adopted (Gene Revolution: Issues and Impacts, n.d.,
Wirth et al., 2013).

Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering

Various concerns on genetic engineering arise, making gene therapy and GMOs very
controversial innovations in Science and technology.

1. RISK ASSESSMENT ADDRESSES THE FOLLOWING:

• Biosafety to environment
– Effect on non-target organisms
– Possible development of weedy relatives
– Possible development of resistant pests
– Persistence in the environment

• Food/Feed Safety
– Possible introduction of allergens and anti-nutritional factors

2. RISKS THAT TRANSCEND THE TECHNOLOGY

 Intellectual property rights
 Ethical issues (playing God)
 Socio-political
- A small minority objects to all modern science
-Traditional agriculture and the rural way of life will be replaced by modern, corporate
agriculture
-Multinational corporations will control the production of GM crops and the world
economy
-Anti-biotech group preaches virtues of organic farming
-Attacks Green Revolution and GM technology as anti-organic farming

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ENABLING LAWS

 1990 National Committee on Biosafety of the Philippines created by Executive Order

(EO) 430 contained use (laboratory, screen house, glasshouse)
 2002 Administrative Order (AO) No. 8 Rules and Regulations for the Importation and
Release into the Environment of Plants and Plant Products Derived from the Use of
Modern Biotechnology
o field release and commercialization
o Use for food, feed, processing
o RA 3720 Food, Drug and Cosmetics Act
o 2006 EO 514 National Biosafety Framework, March 17, 2006; implemented 2009

International Instruments in Regulating GMOs

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

 Ensure safe movement of living GMOs across national borders
 Set guidelines for assessing human and environmental safety

CODEX Alimentarius
 Guidelines for assessment of safety of foods derived through modern biotechnology

Others support that it is unethical for humans to have a hand in genetically altering and
engineering organisms. There are instances when genetic engineering have caused severe
repercussions to public health. Until today, cloning is still unacceptable to many for it violates
the belief that only a higher being should be responsible for the existence of organisms on
earth. There are also ethical and moral issues on stem cell therapy as it makes use of the
stem cells sourced from human embryos and thus destroys them. These concerns regarding
genetic engineering and gene therapy are rooted in the question of whether or not humans
are playing rods in the alteration of genes of organisms.

Genetic engineering also poses problems in agriculture. 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 concerns regarding the effect of GMOs on
biodiversity and the health of the consumers. Further researches as well as clinical
experiments to outline functional mechanisms, predictive approaches, patient-related studies,
and upcoming challenges should be done to address existing problems in the development of
and to acquire future perspectives in gene therapy.

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CLASS ACTIVITY

On the box provided, draw a possible GMO. In conceptualizing a GMO, think of the features
or characteristics that you imagine it possesses and its potential impacts on society. Answer
the questions below.

1. What is your GMO, its modified characteristics and features?

2. In what ways do you think this GMO can positively impact society?
3. What ethical issues or concerns may arise as a result of this GMO?

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