Genetic Modification

1
Genetic Modification

• Michael Congdon
• BME 181

2
What is genetic engineering?

• The process of creating genetically modified
  (transgenic) organisms through a laboratory
  process in which genes from one species are
  extracted and artificially implanted into the
  genes of another
• The genes may be sourced from any different
  organism allowing for limitless options of
  genetic combination
• This process breaks the natural barriers that
  organisms contain to protect themselves against
  the introduction of foreign DNA

3
Background

• 1972-1973
• Genetic Engineering begins with Biochemist
  Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen Use enzymes to
  cut a bacteria plasmid and insert another strand
  of DNA
• In doing this they successfully created
  recombinant DNA (mixed DNA from two different
  organisms)
• 1994
• The first modern recombinant crop is approved for
  sale in the United States

4
(No Transcript)
5
(No Transcript)
6
Recombinant DNA

• rDNA is a sequence of DNA that results from the
  laboratory controlled creation of genetic
  material from multiple sources
• Creates a sequence that otherwise would not exist
  
• Recombining DNA is possible because all DNA
  molecules from all organisms share the same
  chemical structure, but the variations occur in
  the sequence of nucleotides within that
  structure.
• Introduced foreign DNA is replicated along with
  the host DNA

7
Process

• There are a number of different ways that
  engineers introduce foreign DNA into a species
• Using viruses or bacterium to infect animal or
  plant cells with new DNA
• Coating DNA onto small metal pellets, and
  shooting them into cells using a special gun
• Injecting the new DNA into fertilized eggs
• Using electric shock to create holes in the
  membrane covering sperm, and forcing the new DNA
  into the sperm through the holes

8

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

9

• In order to isolate the trans-gene, usually
  restriction enzymes are used to recognize
  specific sequences in the DNA and cut it at those
  locations
• The DNA is cleaved at two points creating a
  smaller sequence of interest
• Depending on how the enzyme slices the
  double-stranded sequence, the resulting slice
  will contain sticky ends or blunt ends
• The trans gene is then inserted into a vector
  capable of penetrating the cells of a target
  species. When done with a 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 penetrate the cell wall and insert its
  biological information
• The host will now replicate, producing offspring
  that express the inserted Trans-gene

10
(No Transcript)
11
(No Transcript)
12
Possibilities
13
Ethics

• Genetically modified organisms have generated a
  lot of attention from environmentalists,
  scientists, and policy makers
• There's no doubt about the benefits that exist,
  but there is an immense concern with possible
  consequences to the environment and human health
• Many of the effects that GMOs have on the
  organisms that live around them is unknown
• For example If pollen from GMOs were to somehow
  fertilize a compatible weed, the result might be
  a weed resistant to weed killers
• Movements like occupy Monsanto exist to fight
  against the influence and success of Monsanto, a
  company that is responsible for a majority of the
  GMOs seen in American agriculture

14
(No Transcript)
15
Statistics

• From 1996 to 2006 the global hectares of GMOs
  grew from 1.7 million to 102 million. With a
  majority grown for herbicidal tolerance
• Breakdown by country by amount of genetically
  modified foods
• US 68
• Argentina 23
• Canada 7
• China 1

16
Animal Specific

• One of the most common genetic modifications in
  animals is hormone (BGH) increasing cow size and
  milk production
• Cows treated with BGH have 79 increase in udder
  infections
• This translates into the cows needing antibiotics
  as a source of treatment
• Which in turn puts antibiotics directly into the
  milk they produce
• In 1989 it was cited that 20 of milk on the
  market had illegal antibiotics in it
• The year is 2013 and one can only imagine where
  that number lies today

17
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/gene
  tically-modified-glowing-cats
• http//occupy-monsanto.com/
• http//www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/th
  e-ge-process
• http//www.odec.ca/projects/2003/britt3m/public_ht
  ml/makinggmo.htm
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_
  organismRegulation
• http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_genetical
  ly_modified_organisms
• http//organic.lovetoknow.com/GMO_Statistics
• http//fhs-bio-wiki.pbworks.com/w/page/22957102/Re
  combinant20DNA20(plasmids)