Genetically Modified Foods

1. Genetically Modified Foods By: Robyn Stewart & Jana Spindler

2. What are Genetically Modified Foods? Genetically modified foods, commonly called GM foods, are food products containing some quantity of any genetically modified organism as an ingredient. Combining genes from different organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology, and the resulting organism is said to be “genetically modified.” This is A very controversial topic which has stirred up quite a commotion.We intend to show you all about how foods can be genetically modified, the good and the bad of these genetically modified foods and let you know how we feel about this topic.

3. Technology Involved: There are several different ways that Genetically Modified foods can be created. The methods that I am going to talk about are a method called microinjection, one involving nature, one using a gene gun, and one using electricity.

4. Microinjection

5. Agrobacterium Tumefaciens This is a diagram showing the use of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform cells.

6. Biolistic Here is a picture showing how the biolistic method works. There is a vacuum and you can see a plastic disc represented in purple that mediates the pressure of the helium. Another plastic disc is represented in red. This disc is coated with gold/tungsten particles and has wire mesh underneath it. The helium gas is turned on and pressure builds up until it reaches its limit. Then the helium gas floods the chamber and accelerates the particles of DNA. The gold/tungsten particles detach and travel with the DNA to the target tissue.

7. GENE GUN

8. Electroporation

9. This is a diagram of a simple “electroporation” unit.A cell suspension is placed in the cuvette along with a solution containing the desired genes.A pulse is sent through the system which results in the new DNA being able to travel through the cell wall.

10. Unfortunately, sometimes the genes that are introduced into a plant aren’t always helpful in every way imagined. When we play with the balance of species, we affect more than we intend to.

11. Bacillus thuningiensis– kills insects therefore providing corn with a natural defense against insects.

12. Monsanto is the leading producer of agriculture products and solutions.

13. Plants with "input traits" that are commercially available include: Roundup Ready® soybean, canola, and corn: resistant to treatment with Roundup herbicide that may result in more effective weed control with less tillage, and/or decreased use of other, more harmful herbicides YieldGard® corn and Bollgard® cotton: express an insecticidal protein that is not toxic to animals or humans which protects the plant from damage caused by the European corn borer, tobacco budworm, and bollworm Destiny III® and Liberator III® squash: resistant to some viruses that destroy squash

14. Arguments for GM foods: • Environmental Protection – Previously unusable land is now usable • saving scarce good land (ex: rainforests). • Genetic Improvements –side effects are more likely to benefit the • environment than harm it. • Crop protection – Crops can fight off disease and pests by themselves • on a case to case basis.

15. Preservation of our gene pool – millions of species that would have • been lost are now reserved in labs. • Profits for everyone – benefits for industries, developing countries, • developed countries, and the average person. • Safety – safe because they are essentially the same as the originals. • Increased nutrient intake – GM foods have an enhanced amount of • nutrients.

16. Product tracking – the identity and location of GM foods are monitored in case of problems. • Decreased herbicides – Only one application of herbicides is required • instead of the original 2 -3 applications. • Decreased pesticides – eliminate the need for post harvest sprays • which reduces the number of pesticides that make • it to the dinner table. • Regulation – monitored by the government and problems as they occur are corrected efficiently.

17. Arguments against: • Ethical and moral issues • Immoral to play God with food • Vegetarians and religious groups • oppose because their foods may be • contaminated by foods they wouldn’t • normally eat. • Imperfect technology • Technology is still so new and young. • Not all effects could have been tested yet • Environmental issues • Environmental side effects are still unknown • Insects, birds and wind could distribute • genetically altered seeds all over.

18. Crop vulnerability • Pests and can quickly adapt faster than they can be fought. • Loss of gene pool • Loss of genetic diversity threatens to deplete valuable gene banks • Profit • Will benefit the big industries more than anyone else. Once again making the rich richer • Increased allergens • Allergens can be transferred into foods unwittingly

19. Increased consumption of pesticides • Because the pesticides are produced by the food they can not be simply washed off as if they were just sprayed on. • Lack of government control • Government control is run by industry people for industry people. Nobody is looking out for the consumer. Technology... is a queer thing.  It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other.  ~C.P. Snow, New York Times, 15 March 1971

20. Personal View We understand that the technology is still very new and more testing will continue. As long as we don’t become a completely GM foods based culture we think GM foods is a good idea. We support genetically modified foods because of the benefits they will provide us in the future. Genetically modified foods will allow us to produce more using less space. This is very important when you consider our growing population. Also, the benefits for developing countries are too great to ignore. The ability to generate crops that can thrive in any climate and in any soil is incredibly valuable. This means that there would be more food in places where getting food was a problem before. This is not a solution to world hunger but it is the beginning to a solution.

21. Summary: We are at a critical stage of development in terms of modification of genes. Currently, there are four main ways to integrate new DNA into plants. These are microinjection, agrobacterium tumefaciens, biolistic and electroporation. Each of these methods has its pros and cons as well. As we continue to develop our technology and further our knowledge of genes, we have to be aware of the effect that it will have on our environment in the long run. In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists. -Eric Hoffer

22. Bibliography: • Deacon, Jim. Biology and Control of Crown Gall. The Microbial World. The • University of Edinburgh. Accessed November 5, 2005. • http://helios.bto.ed.ac.uk/bto/microbes/crown.htm#Top • Electroporation. BT Corn. Accessed November 12, 2005. • http://dragon.zoo.utoronto.ca/~jlm-gmf/T0301C/technology/electroporation.html • GM Foods Cartoons. Cartoon Stock. Accessed November 5, 2005. • www.cartoonstock.com/directory/g/genetically_modified_foods.asp • Melcher, Ulrich. Electroporation, Molecular Genetics. Last Updated: September 5, • 2001. Accessed November 5, 2005. • http://opbs.okstate.edu/~melcher/MG/MGW4/MG431.html • Montsanto vs. Schmeiser. Last Updated 2005. Accessed November 12, 2005. • http://www.percyschmeiser.com/ • Quotations about Technology. Quote Garden. Last updated November 5, 2005 • Accessed November 7, 2005. www.quotegarden.com/technology.html • Sizer, Frances and Eleanor Whitney. Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. • Toronto, Canada. Nelson Thompson Learning. 2003 • Vines, Randy. Plant Biotechnology. Virginia Cooperative Extension. Last Updated: • March 2002. Accessed November 12, 2005. • http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/biotech/443-002/443-002.html#L4 • What are Genetically Modified Foods? Human Genome Project. Last • modified September 17, 2004 Accessed October 25, 2005. • www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml • Transgenic core images. Oregon Health & Science University. August 24, 2004. • Accessed November 10, 2005. • http://www.ohsu.edu/research/transgenics/slide_show/slidehome.shtml