extension.usu.edu understanding gm foods u.s.u. extension food quality & entrepreneurship karin...
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Understanding GM Foods
U.S.U. Extension Food Quality & EntrepreneurshipKarin Allen, Ph.D.
FACS Nutrition & Food Science ConferenceJune 12, 2012
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Biotechnology?
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Biotechnology?
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Biotechnology?
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Biotechnology?
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What is Biotechnology? US Congress, 1984: “Any technique that uses
living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses”
“The application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services”
“A less fearful, emotive term used in place of ‘genetic engineering’.”
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What is Genetic Modification?
“The artificial recombination of nucleic acid molecules in the test tube, their insertion into a virus, bacterial plasmid, or other vector system, and the subsequent incorporation of the chimeric molecules into a host organism in which they are capable of continued propagation.”
“The deliberate, controlled manipulation of the genes in an organism, with the intent of making that organism better in some way.”
Genetic engineering or modification is a type of biotechnology
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Genetic Modification We have been genetically modifying
plant and animal species for millennia
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Teosinte to Corn
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Wild Tomato Progenitors
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Genetic Modification We have been genetically modifying
plant and animal species for millennia
“Traditional” genetic modification – cross-breeding or hybridization
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Punnett Square Basic tool or predicting the possible
traits of the offspring Hitchhiker’s thumb, attached or
detached earlobes, left or right thumb on top when hands crossed
Not all traits are this straight-forward Eye color, the shape of your face,
blood type, straight or curly hair
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Problems with Cross-Breeding
The new generation may not express the desired trait
Takes many generations to build up a desired trait
Only closely-related species can be cross-bred
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Genetic Modification “New” genetic modification – genetic
engineering
Timeline
DNA from unrelated species can be inserted
Currently, only used in plants & microbes 1994 – First approved GM food 2009 – 80 GM crops are approved by
the FDA for human and/or animal food
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GM Foods are Highly Scrutinized
FDA must review science & safety, and determines whether the food is approved
USDA reviews regulatory status of genetically engineered plants (in addition to FDA)
Any plant containing and insecticidal gene is also reviewed by the EPA for safety
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FDA Review Process Does the food contain genes from known
allergenic sources?
Does the food contain genes from known toxic sources?
Are the concentrations of natural toxic substances increased?
Is the fat, cholesterol, or other nutrient content changed?
Does the food contain a substance that is new to the food supply?
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Genetically Engineered Cheese?
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Natural Rennet:
Slaughter the calf
Extract the enzyme
Grind the stomach into a paste and add to milk
Pour milk into a dried stomach
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Recombinant Chymosin
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DNA DNA is the “recipe” for a living
organism Template for making proteins, which
then serve a specific function
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What is DNA DNA is the “recipe” for a living
organism Template for making proteins, which
then serve a specific function DNA is packaged together very
efficiently to make chromosomes We are getting better at determining
which genes code for a specific protein
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What is rDNA?
rDNA has been split apart and recombined
This can be done by nature Equal amount of DNA from each
parent Most of the genetic material is a
random combination of both sets
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What is rDNA? rDNA has been split apart and
recombined This can be done in the laboratory,
as for recombinant chymosin Typically, rDNA refers to this
situation
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Bt Corn Bacillus thuringiensis gene gives corn
resistance to infestation by corn borer worms
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Golden Rice Daffodil gene increases beta-carotene
content of rice to combat Vitamin A deficiency
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Questions?