Genetic Modification

Genetic Modification Genetic Modification Michael Congdon Michael Congdon BME 181 BME 181

What is genetic What is genetic engineering?engineering?

The process of creating genetically modified The process of creating genetically modified (transgenic) organisms through a laboratory (transgenic) organisms through a laboratory process in which genes from one species are process in which genes from one species are extracted and artificially implanted into the extracted and artificially implanted into the genes of anothergenes of another

The genes may be sourced from any different The genes may be sourced from any different organism allowing for limitless options of organism allowing for limitless options of genetic combinationgenetic combination

This process breaks the natural barriers that This process breaks the natural barriers that organisms contain to protect themselves organisms contain to protect themselves against the introduction of foreign DNAagainst the introduction of foreign DNA

Background Background

1972-1973 1972-1973 Genetic Engineering begins with Biochemist Genetic Engineering begins with Biochemist

Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen – Use Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen – Use enzymes to cut a bacteria plasmid and insert enzymes to cut a bacteria plasmid and insert another strand of DNAanother strand of DNA

In doing this they successfully created In doing this they successfully created recombinant DNA (mixed DNA from two recombinant DNA (mixed DNA from two different organisms)different organisms)

19941994 The first modern recombinant crop is approved The first modern recombinant crop is approved

for sale in the United States for sale in the United States

Recombinant DNARecombinant DNA

rDNA is a sequence of DNA that results from the rDNA is a sequence of DNA that results from the laboratory controlled creation of genetic material laboratory controlled creation of genetic material from multiple sourcesfrom multiple sources

Creates a sequence that otherwise would not Creates a sequence that otherwise would not exist exist

Recombining DNA is possible because all DNA Recombining DNA is possible because all DNA molecules from all organisms share the same molecules from all organisms share the same chemical structure, but the variations occur in chemical structure, but the variations occur in the sequence of nucleotides within that structure. the sequence of nucleotides within that structure.

Introduced foreign DNA is replicated along with Introduced foreign DNA is replicated along with the host DNA the host DNA

Process Process

There are a number of different ways that There are a number of different ways that engineers introduce foreign DNA into a engineers introduce foreign DNA into a species species Using viruses or bacterium to “infect” animal or Using viruses or bacterium to “infect” animal or

plant cells with new DNAplant cells with new DNA Coating DNA onto small metal pellets, and Coating DNA onto small metal pellets, and

shooting them into cells using a special gun shooting them into cells using a special gun Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs Using electric shock to create holes in the Using electric shock to create holes in the

membrane covering sperm, and forcing the membrane covering sperm, and forcing the new DNA into the sperm through the holes new DNA into the sperm through the holes

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

species cells species cells

In order to isolate the trans-gene, usually restriction enzymes In order to isolate the trans-gene, usually restriction enzymes are used to recognize specific sequences in the DNA and cut it are used to recognize specific sequences in the DNA and cut it at those locationsat those locations

The DNA is cleaved at two points creating a smaller sequence The DNA is cleaved at two points creating a smaller sequence of interest of interest

Depending on how the enzyme slices the double-stranded Depending on how the enzyme slices the double-stranded sequence, the resulting slice will contain sticky ends or blunt sequence, the resulting slice will contain sticky ends or blunt ends ends

The trans gene is then inserted into a vector capable of The trans gene is then inserted into a vector capable of penetrating the cells of a target species. When done with a penetrating the cells of a target species. When done with a virus, the key is to remove the parts of the genome that cause 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 harm to a host cell, but leave the part that allows the virus to penetrate the cell wall and insert its biological information penetrate the cell wall and insert its biological information

The host will now replicate, producing offspring that express The host will now replicate, producing offspring that express the inserted Trans-gene the inserted Trans-gene

Possibilities Possibilities

Ethics Ethics

Genetically modified organisms have generated a lot of Genetically modified organisms have generated a lot of attention from environmentalists, scientists, and policy attention from environmentalists, scientists, and policy makersmakers

There's no doubt about the benefits that exist, but there is an There's no doubt about the benefits that exist, but there is an immense concern with possible consequences to the immense concern with possible consequences to the environment and human healthenvironment and human health

Many of the effects that GMOs have on the organisms that Many of the effects that GMOs have on the organisms that live around them is unknown live around them is unknown

For example If pollen from GMOs were to somehow fertilize a For example If pollen from GMOs were to somehow fertilize a compatible weed, the result might be a weed resistant to compatible weed, the result might be a weed resistant to weed killers weed killers

Movements like occupy Monsanto exist to fight against the Movements like occupy Monsanto exist to fight against the influence and success of Monsanto, a company that is influence and success of Monsanto, a company that is responsible for a majority of the GMOs seen in American responsible for a majority of the GMOs seen in American agriculture agriculture

Statistics Statistics

From 1996 to 2006 the global hectares of GMOs grew From 1996 to 2006 the global hectares of GMOs grew from 1.7 million to 102 million. With a majority grown from 1.7 million to 102 million. With a majority grown for herbicidal tolerancefor herbicidal tolerance

Breakdown by country by amount of genetically Breakdown by country by amount of genetically modified foods: modified foods:

US – 68%US – 68%

Argentina – 23%Argentina – 23%

Canada – 7%Canada – 7%

China – 1%China – 1%

Animal Specific Animal Specific

One of the most common genetic modifications in One of the most common genetic modifications in animals is hormone (BGH) increasing cow size and animals is hormone (BGH) increasing cow size and milk productionmilk production Cows treated with BGH have 79% increase in udder Cows treated with BGH have 79% increase in udder

infections infections This translates into the cows needing antibiotics as This translates into the cows needing antibiotics as

a source of treatmenta source of treatment Which in turn puts antibiotics directly into the milk Which in turn puts antibiotics directly into the milk

they producethey produce In 1989 it was cited that 20% of milk on the market In 1989 it was cited that 20% of milk on the market

had illegal antibiotics in ithad illegal antibiotics in it The year is 2013 and one can only imagine where The year is 2013 and one can only imagine where

that number lies today that number lies today

Resources 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_organismshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_genetically_modified_organisms

http://organic.lovetoknow.com/GMO_Statisticshttp://organic.lovetoknow.com/GMO_Statistics

http://fhs-bio-wiki.pbworks.com/w/page/22957102/Recombinant%20DNAhttp://fhs-bio-wiki.pbworks.com/w/page/22957102/Recombinant%20DNA%20(plasmids)%20(plasmids)