What is it?

What are the

advantages (pros)
and disadvantages
(cons)?
What is your
opinion?
Genetic Engineering

• Means making changes to DNA in order to change the way living

things work.

• Creates new crops and farm animals

• Make bacteria that can make medicines
• Grow human body parts
• Prevent genetic diseases, change humans
Genetically Modified Organism
Genetically modified organism (GMO) is
the term used for an organism created
through genetic engineering.
 WHO defines GMO as an “organism,
either plant, animal, or microorganism,
in which the genetic material (DNA) has
been altered in a way that does not occur
naturally by mating or natural
recombination”
GMOs in Food and Agricultural
Industries
1. Pest resistance
2. Virus resistance
3. Herbicide tolerance
4. Fortification
5. Cosmetic preservation
6. Increase growth rate
 1. The flounder’s
antifreeze gene is
This diagram shows how one type of
copied and
inserted into a GM food, a strawberry that resists
small ring of frost damage is made.
DNA taken from
a bacteria cell. The flounder is a fish that live in icy
seas. It has a gene that stops it from
2. The DNA ring freezing to death.Strawberries are
containing the soft fruits that can easily be damaged
flounder gene is put by frost.
into a second
bacterium.
3. This second bacterium is used
to infect the strawberry cell. The Wonder
flounder’s antifreeze gene enters what they
used to
the strawberry’s DNA.
make this
Strawberry cell one green!
with Antifreeze
4. The new GM gene
strawberry cell is
grown into a GM Thanks to the new gene, GM strawberries make a
strawberry plant protein which helps them resist frost. They don’t
which can be bred contain any other fish genes and, and do not taste or
many times. smell of fish.
 What Have I Eaten?
GMO food list Genetically modified (GM) foods
possess specific traits such as
tolerance to herbicides or
resistance to insects or viruses.
By most estimates, up to 70% of the
processed foods at your local grocery
store contain at least one ingredient
that’s been genetically altered

Click Click
Genetically modified to travel
better so don’t have to be picked Genetically modified to
when green – better tasting! reduce being eaten by insects.
Going Bananas?
According to recent reports, the world may
soon be out of bananas. Because of the
starchy fruit’s unique method of
reproduction, it seems, banana plantations
in Africa, Asia and Central America are
uniquely susceptible to fungi, viruses and
pests. Unless scientists can find a way to
genetically enhance the banana’s ability to
ward off parasites, we could be bananaless
in ten years.
Several agroscience companies believe
http://gslc.gen they can genetically engineer such an
etics.utah.edu/ invincible banana by copying parts of the
features/gmfo genetic codes of other fruits and instilling
ods/ them into the banana.
 Can We End World Hunger? Malnutrition and
vitamin deficiencies?
Golden rice is genetically modified rice that now
contains a large amount of A-vitamins. Or more
correctly, the rice contains the element beta-carotene
which is converted in the body into Vitamin-A. So when
you eat golden rice, you get more vitamin A.

Beta-carotene gives carrots their orange color and is the reason why
genetically modified rice is golden. For the golden rice to make beta-
carotene three new genes are implanted: two from daffodils and the
third from a bacterium
Advantages:
•The rice can be considered a particular advantage to poor people in
underdeveloped countries. They eat only an extremely limited diet lacking in
the essential bodily vitamins. The consequences of this restricted diet causes
many people to die or become blind. This is particularly true in areas of Asia,
where most of the population live on rice from morning to evening.

Are there any disadvantages?

What’s Been Done So Far?
• Genetically engineering
chickens so they have no
feathers – why?
• Genetically engineering mice so
they have no fur – why?
• Genetically engineering salmon
(fish) so they grow much faster
than normal salmon – why?
http://www.exn.ca/Stories/2000
/04/11/61.asp
• Glowing mice
 How Did They Do
That?
Jellyfish cell
1. The jellyfish has a gene that makes a
glowing protein. This makes the jellyfish
glow in some types of light.
Virus Virus inserting
their DNA into 2. The glowing gene is taken from a
a cell jellyfish cell and spliced (inserted) into
an empty virus cell (with no bad virus in
it)
3. The genetically engineered virus
attaches itself to the fertilized mouse egg
Mouse cell cell.
4. The virus delivers the glowing gene into
the egg cell nucleus, where it joins the
mouse DNA.
5. The genetically engineered mouse egg
grows into an adult mouse which will
make the glowing protein. The glow is
too faint to see under normal lights but
can be detected using a special camera.
What’s Next?
Red fish, blue fish, yellow fish, GLOW FISH?
 What Else?
Using the jellyfish Genetically A gene from a spider
protein to make a engineered moths has been inserted
naturally glowing that pass on deadly into some goats.
Christmas tree! disease genes to Their milk now
their relatives so contains tiny strands
Adding a gene they die and won’t of spider silk which
from insect killing be able to destroy can be made into a
bacteria to cotton crops! strong, stretchy
so that insects who rope.
eat cotton will be
poisoned!
Genetic engineering examples include taking the gene that programs poison in
the tail of a scorpion, and combining it with a cabbage. These genetically
modified cabbages kill caterpillers because they have learned to grow scorpion
poison (insecticide) in their sap.
Genetic engineering also includes insertion of human genes into sheep so that
they secrete alpha-1 antitrypsin in their milk - a useful substance in treating some
cases of lung disease.
Genetic engineering has
Genetic engineering works created a chicken with
because there is one four legs and no wings.
language of life: human Genetic engineering
genes work in bacteria, could create crops that
monkey genes work in mice grow in desert heat, or
and earthworms. Tree without fertilizer. Genetic
genes work in bananas and engineering could make
frog genes work in bananas or other fruit
rice. There is no limit in which contain vaccines or
theory to the potential of other medical products.
genetic engineering!
GMOs in Non-Food Crops and
Microorganisms
1. Flower production
2. Paper production
3. Pharmaceutical productions
4. Bioremediation
5. Enzyme and drug production
6. GMOs in the medical field
 Benefits of GMO
Crops
• Better taste and quality
• Less time to ripen.
• More nutrients, more food, and stress tolerance
• Improved resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides
• New products and growing techniques
Animals
• Increased resistance, productivity, hardiness, and feed efficiency
• Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk
• Improved animal health and diagnostic methods
Environment
• "Friendly" bioherbicides and bioinsecticides
• Conservation of soil, water, and energy
• Better natural waste management
• More efficient processing
Society
• More food for growing populations
Potential Risks of GMO
Safety
• Potential human health impact: allergens, transfer of antibiotic
resistance markers, unknown effects
• Potential environmental impact: unintended transfer of transgenes
through cross-pollination, loss of flora and fauna biodiversity
Access and Intellectual Property
• Domination of world food production by a few companies

• Increasing dependence on Industralized nations by developing

countries
Ethics
• Violation of natural organisms' intrinsic values

• Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species

• Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa

• Stress for animal
Potential Environmental Risks of GMO

1. Risk in gene flow- there is a potential risk of the modified gene to be

transferred from the GMO crop to its wild relative or organism in the soil and
human intestine(when ingested).
2. Emergence of new forms of resistance and secondary pests and weeds
problems
3. Recombination of Virus and Bacteria to Produce New Pathogens
4. Direct environmental risks are:
• May cause disruption of the natural communities through competition or
interference
• the possibility of unexpected behavior of the GMO’s in the environment if it
escapes its intended use and may post threats or become pest
• May cause harmful effects to ecosystem processes
• May cause negative impacts to the consumer of GMO
5. Indirect environmental risks are:
• alteration of agricultural practices
• may have impacts to biodiversity
• may have varied environmental impacts
Potential Human Health Risks of GMO
1. Human Genome Project
2. Mutation of genetically
engineered microorganisms
3. Cloning
 By inserting a gene for human insulin
into an E.Coli bacterium, the E. coli
will make lots of insulin, which
scientists and doctors can collect and
use.

Right now, doctors are using pig hearts

for transplants but there are still
rejection problems. One day soon,
scientists will be able to genetically
engineer pigs to grow human organs for
use in transplants.
In Minnesota last year researchers at the
Mayo Clinic created pigs with human blood
flowing through their bodies.
And at Stanford University in California an
experiment might be done later this year to
create mice with human brains.
Scientists feel that, the more humanlike the
animal, the better research model it makes
for testing drugs or possibly growing "spare
parts," such as livers, to transplant into
humans.
The First Clone!
http://www.luc.edu/depts/biology/
dev/shclone.htm

Click and Clone Simulation

Now cats may have more than
nine lives. The company that
funded the first successful
cloning of a domestic cat two
years ago has gone
commercial.
The cost?
U.S. $50,000 each.
 "Cc," the first-ever cloned cat shown
here at seven weeks old with Allie, her
surrogate mother.

The cat was cloned by transplanting DNA from

Rainbow, a female three-colored (tortoiseshell
or calico) cat into an egg cell whose nucleus
had been removed, and then implanting this
embryo into Allie, the surrogate mother.
"CC's coat color suggests that she is a clone,
and a genetic match between CC and the donor
mother confirms this," the researchers say.
Rat called Ralph is latest clone
Scientists have succeeded in cloning the rat.
The researchers from China and France say they managed to
create several rodent copies - both male and female. The rat
joins a lengthening list of animals that have been cloned from
an adult cell.
These include sheep, mice, cattle, goats, pigs, cats, mules and
horses.
The rat has come later than the others because of unique
difficulties in controlling the development of its eggs in the
early stages of the cloning process.
Rat eggs activate almost immediately they leave the ovaries,
making it difficult to introduce the genetic material of the
animal to be copied.
What about dogs?

Click
 Cloning HUMANS?
http://www.arhp.org/patienteducation/onlineb
rochures/cloning/index.cfm?ID=282
UK scientists clone human embryo British scientists say they have cloned the
country's first human embryo. The Newcastle University team took eggs from 11
women, removed the genetic material and replaced it with DNA from embryonic stem
cells.
The aim of this kind of work - the subject of fierce debate - is to make cloned
embryos from which stem cells can be used to treat diseases.
Meanwhile South Korean scientists say they have created stem cells to match
individuals for the first time.
Stem cell lines were created by taking genetic material from the patient and putting it
into a donated egg.
The resultant cells were a perfect match for the individual and could mean treatments
for diseases like diabetes without problems of rejection.
Therapeutic cloning - believed to have huge potential to treat disease and disability -
is allowed in Britain.
Reproductive cloning - the cloning of human embryos with the intention of creating a
baby - was made illegal in 2001.
GMO in Philippine Context
 Introduction of GMO in our country created issues and
controversies similar to other countries with GMOs.
 The GMO concern started in the 1990s with the
creation of the National Committee on Biosafety of
the Philippines (NCBP) through Executive Order No.
430 of 1990.
 They developed guidelines on the planned release of
genetically manipulated organisms (GMOs) and
potentially harmful exotic species in 1998.
 In 2002, the Department of Agriculture released
Administrative Order No.8, the guidelines for the
importation and release into the environment of GM
plants and plant products.
GMO in Philippine Context
 On that same year, the entry of GMO importation
started.
 The Philippines was marked to be the first country in
Asia to approved commercial cultivation of GMOs
when GM corn planting was approved in 2002.
 In March 7, 2016 DOST, DOA, DENR, DOH, and DILG,
passed a Joint Department Circular No.1 series of 2016
on rules and regulations for the research and
development, handling and use, transboundary
movement, release in the environment, and
management of the GM plant and plant products
derived from the use of modern biotechnology.
 This joint department circular paves way to issuance
of new permits for planting and importing GM crops in
the country.
Activity: To Clone or Not to Clone?

1. There is only one Giant Panda left on earth. It

does not have a partner to breed with so once it
dies the species will be extinct. Should scientists be
allowed to clone another Giant Panda to keep the
species alive? Should scientists be allowed to
clone endangered species?
2. Mrs. Jones eldest son Mark is 10 years old and
is dying with cancer. Should Mrs. Jones be allowed
to clone Mark before he dies? Should people be
allowed to clone other humans or clone
themselves?
THE END