Genetic Modification in Our WorldBy: Paisley, Michael, Blake, and Elyse

Biopharming

Genetically Modified

Foods

BIoremediation

process of genetically modifying plants and animals to produce substances used for pharmaceuticals/medicinal purposes

food crops that have been altered using different molecular biology techniques to enhance or provide the plant with new, desirable characteristics

use of either naturally occurring or deliberately introduced microorganisms and bacteria to consume and break down environmental waste and pollutants

How it Works - Biopharming

inserting a

transgene for

a desired

protein

into the DNA of chloroplasts

from transgenic crops

By inserting the gene into the chloroplast genome, the gene can be greatly

amplified and large amounts of the protein

can be produced.

Chloroplasts contain their own set of genes separate from the main genome in the nucleus

of the cell.

Each cell has as many as 100 chloroplasts, each of which contains up to 100 copies of

the genome.

How it Works - Genetically Modified Foods cut-and-paste operation

In the DNA, the gene of interest is

identified and isolated

Specialized enzymes sensitive to the DNA

sequence only cut DNA at specific spots

growth hormone, insect resistant,

drought tolerance

Expression cassette is made, more DNA surrounding the gene is added to establish where the desired gene begins and ends

Gene is cut out

Gene is cloned

inserted into a plasmid (a

parasitic circle of DNA present in

bacteria)

millions of copies are made

copies are introduced into the host cell and get

inserted into the plant’s genome

plant cells incorporated the foreign gene into their genome and expanded in

cell culture

New plants

are

generated

How it Works - Bioremediation

Chloroplasts contain their own set of genes separate from the main genome in the nucleus

of the cell.

Microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi and protists are given substances like fertilizer and oxygen and provided with other factors to stimulate rapid growth .

Biological organisms can now survive the

absorption and digestion of organic pollutants. They are capable of breaking

down them down much quicker.

Specialized microbes can also be added to degrade the contaminants.

Used to solve environmental problems like oil spills, contaminated soil or groundwater.

Pros and Cons of Pharming (pharmaceuticals)Beneficial Uses Negative effects

-Could result in the discovery of finding or creating cures for diseases or illnesses.-It is cheaper to create proteins through biopharming than it is in synthetically.-The plants can be altered into producing more complex proteins then what is possible through microorganisms.-An important advantage in modern biopharming is that vaccines and antibodies can also be produced in crop plants, without using embryonated eggs and cell cultures.-Most people believe that this is technology is beneficial to humans by giving them the opportunity to healthier lives and better medicines.

-potential health problems could arise in humans due to overexposure to certain proteins.-Cross contamination between non-modified plants and genetically modified plants could result in negative effects on the consumers of the plants.- Social concerns of who reaps the benefits and who bares the cost.-Ethical concerns are mostly religious with the idea that humans should not be altering Gods creations.

Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods

Beneficial Uses Negative effects

- benefits of GM foods is that they can potentially produce higher crop yields, which could help feed more people in developing countries.-The initial cost of seeds higher but they reduce the need for pesticides and herbicides as well as reducing the manpower needed to successfully grow the crops, which should translate into improved financial gains.

-A social issue with GM food is it could trigger allergies due to genes from one food That a person is allergic to could be added to the host food resulting in a new allergen arising in a food.- Organisms in the environment could be harmed and result in a lower level of biodiversity in an ecosystem. Removing one pest could be removing a food source of another animal harming the entire food chain.-Some GM foods are modified with bacteria and viruses there is a fear of new diseases to come into existence.

Pros and Cons of Bioremediation (Environmental Damage Control)

Beneficial Uses Negative Effects

-Relatively cheap to buy.-If there is toxic waste the bacteria will continue to eat and break it down until it is gone.-The bacteria spreads over large areas quickly.-No harmful chemicals are used.-Has been used to clean oil spills.

-It is hard to control where the bacteria goes when it begins to spread out.-The area which the bacteria is released may not be the best environment for the bacteria to metabolize and reproduce.-The idea of releasing genetically engineered bacteria being released into the environment concerns people because there’s the possibility of viruses or diseases occurring

History of Biopharming-Made possible by advances in genetic engineering

-May soon represent one of the most important industries in the U.S market

-Differs from traditional idea of crops being used for food

-Some crops that may not be good enough for food consumption are used for pharmaceuticals

-There are many concerns with this such as in 2002 when there was pharmaceutical volunteer corn growing in a soybean field, as a result 500 000 bushels we quarantined.

-In Iowa 155 acres of conventional corn was burned because it may have been cross- contaminated.

-1990 Serum Albumin produced genetically engineered tobacco and potato plants

History of Genetically Modified Foods1973 – Recombinant DNA Created The idea for man-made DNA, or rDNA, comes from a grad student at Stanford University Medical School. Professor Herbert Boyer and a few of his biologist colleagues run with it.

1975 – Asilomar Conference A group of biologists get together with a few lawyers and doctors to create guidelines for the safe use of genetically engineered DNA.

1980 – First GMO Patent Issued A 1980 court case between a genetics engineer at General Electric and the U.S. Patent Office is settled by a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ruling, allowing for the first patent on a living organism. The GMO in question is a bacterium with an appetite for crude oil, ready to gobble up spills.

1994 – GMO Hits Grocery Stores The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves. The delayed-ripening tomato has a longer shelf life than conventional tomatoes.

History of Genetically Modified Foods

-The 1980’s marked the scientific discovery that specific pieces of DNA could be transferred from one organism to another (Cramer 2001).

-Today, biotechnology and the process of genetic modification is emerging and advancing throughout the planet. As of 2004, genetically modified crops were being grown by 8.25 million farmers in 17 countries (James, 2004).

-A recent study has shown that humans made normal potatoes into sweet potatoes through some form genetic modification over 8000 years ago.

History of Bioremediation

-Since 1992 Environmental Technologies, LLC has been providing environmental remediation solutions throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, and China.

-The Dissolved-Oxygen In situ Treatment™ (DO-IT™) System ( This consistent recirculation of oxygen-rich, nutrient-rich treatment water satisfies several critical requirements of all in situ bioremediation systems) has been the go to method for the last 10 years

-2 very substantial oil spills are the Exxon Valdez in 1989 and the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010

Connections to Biopharming

- New pharmaceuticals that are genetically engineered proteins targeting the major illnesses such as cancer, cardiovascular, and infections

Connections to GMO’s

- The DNA is genetically modified in a way that cannot be created in nature.

→ resist diseases and insects

→ Increase yield

Connections to Bioremediation

- Enhance the growth of the pollution eating plants - Add microbes to degrade the pollution - In a non-polluted environment the role of microorganisms is to break down

organic matter, bioremediation enhances this natural process of biodegradation by using it as a method to clean up polluted areas

Genetically Modified FoodsPast Present Future

-New species or flavours such as sweet potatoes

-Flavour modification-Growth rate-Crop yields-Immunity to pests and weeds

-Healthier advantages on top of better foods

Biopharming UsesPast Present Future

-Using crops as drug producing bioreactors

-Using crops as drug producing bioreactors

-New cures and used to help solve sicknesses

BioremediationPast Present Future

-used to remedy environmental problems found in soil, water, and sediments

-Microbes are often used to remedy environmental problems found in soil, water, and sediments

-Help solve contaminated soil and water problems-As well as decontamination, incineration, or burial in a landfill

In Our Opinion..Developed Countries Developing Countries

- not a single product that has been produced using the biopharming technique has been approved by the FDA, we already have lots of medicine and medical aid available in Canada and other developed countries

- there is enough farmable land that is fertile to grow our own food and a large quantity of it and we have all the necessary pesticides and controls available to us to keep our food healthy and natural

- important advantage in modern biopharming is that vaccines and antibodies can also be produced in crop plants, helpful in countries where disease and infection is a major contribution to illness and increasing fatality rates

- GM foods would be very useful for increasing food production (because plants can produce higher yields and have a higher nutritional value in countries where famine and poverty are a huge issue

Bioremediation

Depending on the size and the severity of the polluted site, bioremediation may be safer and cheaper than incineration or landfilling chemicals. It also has the benefit of treating large quantities of contamination on site, so that no treatments to degrade the chemical substances are necessary. This type of genetic modification is useful for both developing and developed countries and research should be continued because these types of spills and environmental pollution occur globally.

References

Biopharming and the Food System Examining the Potential Benefits and Risks. (2005, June 7). Retrieved from http://www.agbioforum.org/v8n1/v8n1a03-

elbehri.htm

Chaudry, A. (2006, July 22). Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from The Science Creative Quarterly website: http://www.scq.ubc.ca/genetically-modified-foods/

Genetically Modified Foods. (2015). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from University of Utah Health Sciences website: http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/gmfoods

Cornell University and Penn State University (Ed.). (2009). Bioremediation. Retrieved November 29, 2015, from Environmental Inquiry website:http://ei.cornell.edu/biodeg/bioremed/

Connealy, L. (2014, November 17). Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods. Retrieved December 1, 2015, from http://www.newportnaturalhealth.com/2013/07/gmos-the-pros-cons-of-genetically-modified-food/

Biopharming and the Food System: Examining the Potential Benefits and Risks. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.agbioforum.org/v8n1/v8n1a03-elbehri.htm

GMO Timeline: A History of Genetically Modified Foods. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://gmoinside.org/gmo-timeline-a-history-genetically-modified-foods/

History of Genitcally Modified Foods. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.globalchange.umich.edu/globalchange2/current/workspace/sect008/s8g5/history.htm