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Genetically Modified Plants. By: Amy Chen, Bridget Panych. Genetically Modified Plants. Summary Makes changes to the hereditary material of a living organism
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Genetically Modified Plants By: Amy Chen, Bridget Panych
Genetically Modified Plants Summary • Makes changes to the hereditary material of a living organism • Biotechnologies are used to develop plants resistant to pests, diseases, drought, heat, or cold, and improve the nutritional content of plant food
In 2006, a total of 252 million acres of transgenic crops were planted in 22 countries by 10.3 million farmers • Herbicide- and insect-resistant soybeans, corn, and cotton • Sweet potato resistant to a virus that could decimate most of the African harvest • Rice with increased iron and vitamins that may alleviate chronic malnutrition in Asian countries • Variety of plants able to survive weather extremes
Examples of GM Plants • Roundup, made by Monsanto (agriculture company)- a herbicide that kills any plant that it touches • Created “Roundup Ready” crops • Crop ignores Roundup, but weeds are killed • Roundup Ready seeds reduce production costs and increase yield, so food becomes less expensive • Scientists have inserted genes that produce a natural insecticide into corn plants
Genetically Modified Flower • Blue Roses • A Japanese company, Suntory • Delphinidin (produces blue pigment) • Growing the rose experimentally in Australia and the United States to get approval for sales
Technology • Restriction enzymes • Ligase enzymes • Gene vector • Donor gene
Benefits • Crops • Preventing malnutrition/disease • Eliminating Pesticides • Environment • "Friendly" herbicides and insecticides • Conservation of soil, water, and energy • Better natural waste management • Society • Increased food security for growing populations
Risks and Controversies • Safety • Human health impact: allergens, transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, unknown effects • Ethics • Violation of nature’s organisms • Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species • Objections to consuming animal genes in plants
Sources • http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml • http://www.greenfacts.org/en/gmo/2-genetically-modified-crops/1-agricultural-biotechnology.htm#0 • http://recipes.howstuffworks.com/question148.htm • http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blue-rose-is-here • Whitman, Deborah. Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful. April 2000. http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php