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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?