2. How does it work?
Genes use messages to make certain enzymes.
By introducing a foreign gene, new enzymes are
made according to that gene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoCII
huLl8A&feature=related&safety_mode=tr
ue&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
3. Techniques
Bacterial Carriers:
Bacterium such as Agrobacterium,
is able to transfer DNA well to plants.
Bacterium prepared in special solution to make cell walls more
permeable.
Selected gene is placed in the extra-chromosomal DNA (plasmid) of other
bacterium and dropped into solution.
Solution is heated, giving the plasmid access to the Agrobacterium, and
the gene begins to express itself.
The genetically altered bacterium is allowed to grow, then infect plants for
the gene to be expressed.
4. Techniques
Biolistics
Selected DNA is attached to small particles of either gold or
metal tungsten.
DNA particles are shot into the target cells using pressure.
5. Techniques
Calcium Phosphate precipitation
Selected DNA is exposed to calcium phosphate, tiny granules
are created.
Target cells respond to granules, and surround and digest
them.
This allows the granules to
release the DNA and deliver
it to the host Nuclei and its DNA.
6. Techniques
Electroporation
Prepared cells are surrounded by a special solution with the selected
DNA.
A short electric shock is passed through the solution.
The result is a permeable cell wall for the DNA to enter the nuclei
through.
Cells are placed into another solution which encourages to repair of
their cell walls, locking the foreign DNA within.
The new DNA is incorporated
into the chromosomes, and
the host has a new gene.
7. Techniques
Gene Silencing
The gene that controls the undesirable trait is identified.
A second copy of the gene, facing the wrong way around, is
attached to the undesirable gene.
8. Techniques
Gene Splicing
Restriction enzymes can cut their DNA into “sticky” fragments and paste
them directly to another set of DNA for infection.
These restriction enzymes are used by scientists to genetically engineer
cells. The DNA is cut, then inserted into a different set of DNA, where DNA
ligase is used to fuse the new gene sequence to the chromosome.
Alternatively, the gene may be placed into a bacterial plasmid and allowed to
enter the defective cell and deliver the new gene.
9. Techniques
Lipofection
Small bubbles of fat, liposomes, are used to carry the specific
DNA.
The target cells and liposomes are put into a special solution.
The liposomes combine with the phospholipids in the cell
membrane, allowing the DNA to enter the cell and combine
with the chromosomes.
10. Techniques
Microinjection
Selected DNA is inserted into a female ovarian egg through a
glass capillary tube.
The egg is transferred into the prepared uterus of a female to
grow full term.
Creates a transgenic animal
that will have all new cells.
11. Techniques
Viral Carriers
Selected DNA is added to a virus.
Virus is then allowed to infect the target.
As the virus replicates inside the invaded cell, the DNA is
added to the cells genetic make-up.
12. Industry
Countries using:
Japan
Malaysia
Australia
Europe (pretty much everyone)
USA
Canada
Most first world countries and some second world
Most countries require labels for consumer
choice
15. The Debate: Good or Bad?
Advantages
Medical Advances
Edible Vaccines
Virtual End to World Hunger
No mal nutrition
Grown in bulk/ plenty supply
Cheaper/Faster to Grow
Don’t have to be rich to plant
Environmentally Friendly
No pesticides
No run-off into water supply
Sustainable
Flood/Drought tolerant
Better Nutrition
Vitamin enriched
Better Bang for your Buck
Grown bigger
Endless possibilities
Anything alive can be genetically modified
16. The Debate: Good or Bad?
Disadvantages
Opposition
Religion
Regulation/ money cost for approvement
What will it do in the future?
Health risks
Allergies
Help or not?
Medicine
Antibiotic resistance
What could it create?
Resistant weeds
Pollination
Cross pollination in wild
Choice?
Labeling/ Health approval in some countries
Incidents already occurring
1989 incident killed dozens with infected food supplement L-tryptophan
2006 contaminated exported rice genes
17. Autobiography
Butcher, Mavis. "Genetically Modified Food-GM Foods List and
Information." Disabled-World.com. Disabled-World, 22 Sept. 2009.
Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.disabled-worl.com/fitness/gm-
foods.php>.
Deakin University- Faculty of Health and Behavioral Sciences. "Genetically
Modified Foods-Techniques.“ Better Health Channel. State of
Victoria. Web. 10 May 2012. <http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au
/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Genetically_modified_foods_techniques>.
Fedoroff, Nina V. "Engineering Food for All." The New York Times. The
New York Times, 19 Aug. 2011. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://www.
nytimes.com/2011/08/19/opinion/genetically-engineered-food-for-
all.html>.
Giorgio, V. "Genetically Modified Food." Scienceray. Scienceray, 5 Mar.
2008. Web. 16 May 2012. <http://scienceray.com/technology
/applied-science/genetically-modified-food/>.
