Biology of GMOs: What Are They and How Do They Work?
Genetically modified organisms or “GMOs” are at the center of global interest and controversy spurring varying opinions from scientists and politicians about the biological, ecological and societal impact they present. But, before the ecological and societal impacts can be discussed, a general knowledge of GMOs at the molecular level is a necessity. For hundreds of years humans have been selectively breeding crops to display advantageous traits but not until recently has this process been revolutionized. With the introduction of genetic engineering and biotechnology in the latter half of the 20th century, scientists now have the ability to genetically modify organism.
What is a gmo?
At a basic level, a GMO is a microorganism, plant or animal whose genetic composition is altered to produce favorable characteristics. Although the technology is relatively new, GMOs have many applicable uses across different industries. Some prominent examples are: herbicide and Insecticide tolerant crops, vitamin enriched rice, virus resistant fruit, and faster maturing salmon.
How are GMOs Made?
Genetically modifying plant organisms is like putting together mismatched pieces of a puzzle. To modify a plant, scientists begin with the seeds. The first step is to determine which plant will be modified. The second step involves deciding which characteristics should be added to the existing organism. Desirable traits include resistance to disease and pests, as well as tolerance to salt and droughts. After deciding the desired traits, the researchers must find the desired traits in other plants. When the secondary plant is determined, the researchers take a piece out of the seed and add it to the primary seed. Researchers have a machine specially designed to chip small pieces out of seeds to pair with other seeds without killing the embryo of the original seed so that it may still be planted and grown into a full plant. The chips of seeds are ground into powder and studied, and later added to the existing seeds and grown. After the seeds grow into plants, they are rigorously tested for what traits they have gained or lost from the addition of the secondary plant genes. Unfortunately, adding pieces from one plant to another plant can be a game of roulette, and it takes many trials and tests to determine which newly generated plant is the most susceptible to the needs of the public.
Scientifically, the piece of the secondary seed is added to the piece of the primary seed, or to a piece of the grown plant, in order to mix the genes and force the primary plant to grow in such a way as is desirable to gaining new traits from the secondary plant. The tissue is taken from the plant, forced into the cell of the secondary plant, which pushes the genes into the secondary chromosomes, and it eventually makes its way into the plant’s DNA, making it reproducible.
Scientifically, the piece of the secondary seed is added to the piece of the primary seed, or to a piece of the grown plant, in order to mix the genes and force the primary plant to grow in such a way as is desirable to gaining new traits from the secondary plant. The tissue is taken from the plant, forced into the cell of the secondary plant, which pushes the genes into the secondary chromosomes, and it eventually makes its way into the plant’s DNA, making it reproducible.
Why Create GMOs?
The process of genetic modification can be complicated at times, but scientists wouldn’t go through this process if the favorable characteristics created through genetic engineering didn't present possible wide-ranging and extensive uses beneficial to many industries and groups of people. Regarding GM microorganisms, they “are now not only used to produce pharmaceuticals, vaccines, specialty chemicals, and feed additives, they also produce vitamins, additives, and processing agents for the food industry” (1). While GM microorganisms have a great importance across many industries, particular emphasis is GMO use in the agriculture industry, as it has seen dramatic increase over a short period of time (see figure on the right). The substantial increase of GMOs is attributed to the favorable traits genetic modification of plants results in, herbicide tolerance and insect resistance. HT, or herbicide tolerant crop, is meant to endure the application of herbicides such as Roundup, which is intended to kill all plant life it meets. With HT technology every weed except the specific crop planted can be killed, reducing the use of herbicides. On the other hand, Bt crops are engineered to resist a certain breed of insects that kill crops. Bt crops have genes from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis engineered into them so that the plants produce a toxin that kills certain insect species that previously destroyed the plants. By genetically engineering the plant to resist certain insect species, farmers don’t have to use conventional insecticides as often.
No matter the industry, GMOs can play an important role in enhancing a product, reducing costs and increasing profits.
No matter the industry, GMOs can play an important role in enhancing a product, reducing costs and increasing profits.
Relations to case study
Super Maize was modified in the same way that Bt crops are- comments in the case note that the corn was modified to be resistant to certain insects, making it easier to produce a higher quantity without the fear of mass crop death or need for insecticide. A possible explanation can be further understood with the information provided about how GMOs are made: maybe the toxin that the corn is engineered to produce is also the toxin that caused Eric's reaction. While toxins are produced in making the corn, it is noted that more bushels of corn could be counted on with less cost. Some of the costs avoided could involve insecticides, and the shear quantity of corn sold could increase revenues significantly for the farmers. Read on in this chapter to uncover the positives and negatives of GMO use in the agricultural field, and to see how the costs of using this technology, in this case exemplified by the death of a young consumer, could so gravely outweigh these and other benefits.
Critical thinking questions
1. What do you think are the best uses of genetic engineering in animals?
2. Do you think the use of genetically engineered organism is challenging natural biological evolution?
3. Why is genetic modification within the agriculture community so important? Think about who the agriculture community involves, what they do, and why the field itself is important.
1. What do you think are the best uses of genetic engineering in animals?
2. Do you think the use of genetically engineered organism is challenging natural biological evolution?
3. Why is genetic modification within the agriculture community so important? Think about who the agriculture community involves, what they do, and why the field itself is important.
Works Cited
1) "GM Microorganisms Taking the Place of Chemical Factories." GMO Compass. N.p., 26 Jan. 2006. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.
Other works used
"Recent Trends in GE Adoption." USDA. N.p., 5 2012. Web. 12 Nov 2012.
1) "GM Microorganisms Taking the Place of Chemical Factories." GMO Compass. N.p., 26 Jan. 2006. Web. 9 Nov. 2012.
Other works used
"Recent Trends in GE Adoption." USDA. N.p., 5 2012. Web. 12 Nov 2012.