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Genetic Modification

Genetic Modification. Michael Congdon BME 181. What is genetic engineering?. The process of creating genetically modified (transgenic) organisms through a laboratory process in which genes from one species are extracted and artificially implanted into the genes of another

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Genetic Modification

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  1. Genetic Modification Michael Congdon BME 181

  2. What is genetic engineering? • The process of creating genetically modified (transgenic) organisms through a laboratory process in which genes from one species are extracted and artificially implanted into the genes of another • The genes may be sourced from any different organism allowing for limitless options of genetic combination • This process breaks the natural barriers that organisms contain to protect themselves against the introduction of foreign DNA

  3. Background • 1972-1973 • Genetic Engineering begins with Biochemist Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen – Use enzymes to cut a bacteria plasmid and insert another strand of DNA • In doing this they successfully created recombinant DNA (mixed DNA from two different organisms) 1994 • The first modern recombinant crop is approved for sale in the United States

  4. Recombinant DNA • rDNA is a sequence of DNA that results from the laboratory controlled creation of genetic material from multiple sources • Creates a sequence that otherwise would not exist • Recombining DNA is possible because all DNA molecules from all organisms share the same chemical structure, but the variations occur in the sequence of nucleotides within that structure. • Introduced foreign DNA is replicated along with the host DNA

  5. Process • There are a number of different ways that engineers introduce foreign DNA into a species • Using viruses or bacterium to “infect” animal or plant cells with new DNA • Coating DNA onto small metal pellets, and shooting them into cells using a special gun • Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs • Using electric shock to create holes in the membrane covering sperm, and forcing the new DNA into the sperm through the holes

  6. A genetically modified organism itself consists of 3 main components • gene of transfer (trans-gene) • Target organism (host) • And a vector to carry the gene into the target species cells

  7. In order to isolate the trans-gene, usually restriction enzymes are used to recognize specific sequences in the DNA and cut it at those locations • The DNA is cleaved at two points creating a smaller sequence of interest • Depending on how the enzyme slices the double-stranded sequence, the resulting slice will contain sticky ends or blunt ends • The trans gene is then inserted into a vector capable of penetrating the cells of a target species. When done with a virus, the key is to remove the parts of the genome that cause harm to a host cell, but leave the part that allows the virus to penetrate the cell wall and insert its biological information • The host will now replicate, producing offspring that express the inserted Trans-gene

  8. Possibilities

  9. Ethics • Genetically modified organisms have generated a lot of attention from environmentalists, scientists, and policy makers • There's no doubt about the benefits that exist, but there is an immense concern with possible consequences to the environment and human health • Many of the effects that GMOs have on the organisms that live around them is unknown • For example If pollen from GMOs were to somehow fertilize a compatible weed, the result might be a weed resistant to weed killers • Movements like occupy Monsanto exist to fight against the influence and success of Monsanto, a company that is responsible for a majority of the GMOs seen in American agriculture

  10. Statistics • From 1996 to 2006 the global hectares of GMOs grew from 1.7 million to 102 million. With a majority grown for herbicidal tolerance • Breakdown by country by amount of genetically modified foods: US – 68% Argentina – 23% Canada – 7% China – 1%

  11. Animal Specific • One of the most common genetic modifications in animals is hormone (BGH) increasing cow size and milk production • Cows treated with BGH have 79% increase in udder infections • This translates into the cows needing antibiotics as a source of treatment • Which in turn puts antibiotics directly into the milk they produce • In 1989 it was cited that 20% of milk on the market had illegal antibiotics in it • The year is 2013 and one can only imagine where that number lies today

  12. Resources • http://www.hudsonalpha.org/education/kits/gmod/gmo-ethics • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recombinant_DNA • http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/sep/11/genetically-modified-glowing-cats • http://occupy-monsanto.com/ • http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/the-ge-process • http://www.odec.ca/projects/2003/britt3m/public_html/makinggmo.htm • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism#Regulation • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_genetically_modified_organisms • http://organic.lovetoknow.com/GMO_Statistics • http://fhs-bio-wiki.pbworks.com/w/page/22957102/Recombinant%20DNA%20(plasmids)

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