GMO:

Genetically
Modified
Organism
Genetically Modified Organism
(GMO)

 an animal, plant
or microorganisms whose DNA
has been altered using genetic
engineering techniques
• Genetic engineering
 direct manipulation of genes or
the transfer of genes between
organisms of changes in the
sequence of a gene
• Genetic engineering
 One common method:
the addition of foreign DNA in the
form of recombinant DNA vectors
• Genetic engineering
 Genetically modified organism
- An organism that receives the recombinant DNA
 Transgenic
- the host organism where the foreign DNA from a
different species is introduced
 Cisgenic
- gene is moved within the same species or
closely related species
• Purposes of GMOs
 In food and agriculture
Pest Resistance
 plant produces toxin to kill pest
 eg. Bt Corn
- Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis, a soil bacterium
that produces proteins which is toxic to corn borers.
• Purposes of GMOs
 In food and agriculture
Virus Resistance
 eg. GM papaya or rainbow papaya
- The papaya ringspot virus is known to be
detrimental to papaya plants.

- The protein of this virus is introduced to the

papaya plant which resulted to resistance to this virus
itself.
• Purposes of GMOs
 In food and agriculture
Herbicide Tolerance
 crop can withstand herbicide applications
 eg. Roundup Ready soybean
- Glyphosate, an herbicide for weeds was
introduced to soybeans making it tolerant to the
herbicide itself.
• Purposes of GMOs
 In food and agriculture
Fortification
 plant produces a substance of nutritive value
 eg. Golden Rice
- Beta-carotene, a precursor of Vitamin A was
introduced through biosynthesis genes to the rice.
• Purposes of GMOs
 In food and agriculture
Increase Growth Rate
 eg. Agu Advantage salmon
- A gene from an ocean pout, an eel-like fish was
introduced to Pacific Chinook salmon, making the salmon
grow faster than its normal rate.
• Purposes of GMOs
 In food and agriculture

Disease resistant crops

Drought tolerant crops

• Purposes of GMOs
 In non-food crops and in microorganisms
Flower production
 enhance flower color and to extend vase life
 eg. Blue roses.
• Purposes of GMOs
 In non-food crops and in microorganisms
Paper production
 Trees have modified characteristics for higher yield.

 eg. poplar trees

• Purposes of GMOs
 In non-food crops and in microorganisms
Bioremediation
 Plants that are genetically modified are planted in
polluted areas to absorb pollutants.
 eg. shrub tobacco
• Purposes of GMOs
 In non-food crops and in microorganisms
Enzyme production
 Modified microorganisms can produce enzymes for food
processing and medicines.
 eg. cyclomaltodextrin glycosyltransferase (CGTase)
- an enzyme used for food flavor enhancer
- produced in high quantity by a genetically
modified Bacillus bacterium
• Purposes of GMOs
 In non-food crops and in microorganisms
GMOs in medical field
 GMOs have significant role from diagnosis to treatment of
human diseases.
 production of drugs, gene therapy and laboratory
researches
 eg. Humulin
- a genetically modified insulin used by type 1
diabetes who are insulin-dependent.
• Purposes of GMOs
 In non-food crops and in microorganisms
GMOs in medical field
 gene therapy
- a potential method to cure genetic-related
human illnesses
- insertion foreign DNA into a patient’s tissue
that is hoped to successfully eradicate the targeted
disease
• Pros& Cons
of GMOs •
• Pros
 Higher crop yields
 Reduced need for herbicides and pesticides
 Improved food quality
 Increased nutritional value
• Cons
 long term effect is still unknown
 may cause adverse effects to humans (allergic
reactions, gene mutation, antibiotic resistance, and
Production of toxins)
 Emergence of new forms of resistance and
secondary pests and weed problems
• Cons
 Recombination of virus and bacteria to
produce new pathogen

 Human Genome Project

- This project was done to map the entire
human genome

 Fear of human cloning