genetically modified organisim

1. Genetically modified organisms
Biology Investigatory Project 2023-2024
Submitted by:
Nihira Maity
Roll number: 22MB067P
Supervisor:
Shreoshi Haldar
Department of Education , RIE,
Bhubaneswar
JUPITER PUBLIC SCHOOL,
GANGAPADA,BHUBANESWAR
KHORDHA

2. Certificate
This is to certify that this “Biology Investigatory Project” on the
topic “Genetically Modified Organisms” has been successfully
completed by Nihira Maity of class XII- M5 section under the
guidance of Mrs. Shreoshi Haldar in particular fulfilment of the
curriculum of Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE)
leading to the award of annual examination of the year 2023-2024

3. ACKNOWLEDMENTS
• I have taken efforts in this project. However , it would not have been possible without
the kind support and help of many individuals.
• I would like to thank my principal Mrs. Nirupama Patra and school for providing me
with facilities required to do my project.
• I am highly indebted to my Biology teacher, Mrs Shreoshi Haldar, for her invaluable
guidance which has sustained my efforts in all the stages of this project work.
• I would also like to thank my parents for their continuous support and encouragement.
• My thanks and appreciations also go to my fellow classmates and the laboratory
assistant in developing the project and to the people who have willingly helped me out
with their abilities.

4. Index
1. Certificate
2. Acknowledgement
3. Objective
4. What is GMO?
5. History of breeding and genetic engineering
6. Studies about GMO
7. How genetic modification happens
8. Introducing new DNA into a genome by using modified bacteria
9. Spider goat example
10. About CRISPR
11. How CRISPR work?
12. Applications of CRISPR
13. Are GMOs good or bad?
14. Do GMO affect your health or cause allergies

5. Genetically
Modified
Organisms

6. What is GMO ?
A genetically modified organism contains DNA
that has been altered using genetic engineering.
Genetically modified animals are mainly used for
research purposes, while genetically modified
plants are common in today’s food supply.

7. Humans have been artificially altering the
genome of plants and animals for
thousands of years by selective
breeding. Today with advances in genetic
engineering techniques means we can
speed this process up by incorporating
specific new genes from one species into
a completely unrelated species
Genetic engineering (also called genetic
modification) is a process that uses
laboratory-based technologies to alter
the DNA makeup of an organism. This
may involve changing a single base pair
(A-T or C-G), deleting a region of DNA or
adding a new segment of DNA.

8. • The specific targeted modification of DNA using biotechnology has allowed scientists
to avoid this problem and improve the genetic makeup of an organism without
unwanted characteristics tagging along.
• Most animals that are GMOs are produced for use in laboratory research.
These animals are used as “models” to study the function of specific genes
and, typically, how the genes relate to health and disease. Some GMO
animals, however, are produced for human consumption. Salmon, for
example, has been genetically engineered to mature faster, and the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration has stated that these fish are safe to eat.
GMOs are perhaps most visible in the produce section. The
first genetically engineered plants to be produced for human consumption were
introduced in the mid-1990s. Today, approximately 90 percent of the corn,
soybeans, and sugar beets on the market are GMOs. Genetically engineered
crops produce higher yields, have a longer shelf life, are resistant to diseases
and pests, and even taste better. These benefits are a plus for both farmers and
consumers. For example, higher yields and longer shelf life may lead to lower
prices for consumers, and pest-resistant crops means that farmers don’t need

9. How genetic
modification
happens ?
• Introducing new DNA into
a genome using modified
bacteria
• Introducing new DNA by
gene targeting and
homologous recombination
• Changing regions of a
genome using enzymes to
cut out specific parts of the
DNA

10. Introducing new DNA
into a genome using
modified bacteria
Bacteria are single celled organisms
that don’t have a nucleus but have
one main circle of DNA called
circular chromosome and lots of
tiny circles of DNA are called
plasmids.
• In GMOs its all about plasmids.
They are useful tiny bits of DNA
that can contain one or several
genes.
• Cool thing about these is that
they can passed between
bacteria as easily as shaking
hands.

11. Spider goats are good
example of a
genetically modified
organisms
They’re goats that
have had the spider
silk gene inserted into
their DNA so when
female goats lactate
produce milk, the milk
contains spider silk.

13. In the 1990’s,there was also a brief foray into
human engineering.
To treat maternal infertility ,babies were
made that carried genetic information from 3
humans. Making them the first humans ever
to have 3 genetic parents.
Today there are super muscled pigs, fast
growing salmon, featherless chicken, and see
through frogs.
• But recently gene editing was extremely
expensive, complicated, and took a long
time to do.
• This has now changed with a revolutionary
new technology now entering the stage -
CRISPR

14. iginally found defending single-
eria and archaea against invading
turally occurring CRISPR uses
omponents.
e short snippets of repetitive DNA
called “clustered regularly interspaced
dromic repeats ,” or simply , CRISPRs.
d are CAS, or “CRISPR-associated”
hich chop up DNA like molecular
us invades a bacterium, CAS
t out a segment of the viral DNA to
the bacterium CRISPR region,
a chemical snapshot of the infection.
special protein CAS9. The resulting
complexes act like scouts, latching onto f
floating genetic material and searching fo
match to the virus.
If the virus invades again, the scout comp
recognizes it immediately, and CAS9 swi
destroys the viral DNA. Lots of bacteria
type of defense mechanism. But in 2012,
scientists figured out how to hijack CRIS
target not just viral DNA, but any DNA i
any organism.
With the right tools, this viral immune sy
becomes a precise gene-editing tool, whi
DNA and change specific genes almost a
fixing typo.

15. HOW CRISPR
works ?
• Scientists design a ‘guide’ RNA to match the gene
they want to edit, and attach it to CAS9.
• Like the viral RNA in the CRISPR immune system, the
guide RNA directs CAS9 to the target gene, and the
protein’s molecular scissors snip the DNA.
• This is the key to CRISPR’s power: just by injecting
CAS9 bound to a short piece of custom guide RNA.
Once DNA is cut, the cell will try to repair it. Typically ,
proteins called nucleases trim the broken ends and
join them back together.
• But this type of repair process, called non homologous
end joining , is prone to mistakes and can lead to extra
or missing bases. The resulting gene is often turned
off. Adding sequence of template DNA to their CRISPR

16. • Cellular proteins can perform a
different DNA repair process, called
homology directed repair.
• This template DNA used as a blueprint to
guide the rebuilding process, repairing a
defective gene or even inserting a
completely new one.
• The ability to fix DNA errors means that
CRISPR could potentially create new
treatments for diseases linked to
specific genetic errors, like cystic
fibrosis or sickle cell anemia.
• And since its not limited to humans,
the applications are almost endless.
CRISPR could create plants that
yield larger fruit, mosquitoes that
cant transmit malaria, or even
reprogram drug-resistant cancer
cells.

17. Applications
of CRISPR
• It is a powerful tool for studying the
genome, allowing scientists to watch
what happens when genes are turned off
or changed within an organism.
• CRISPR isn’t perfect yet. It doesn’t
always make just the intended
changes, and since its difficult to
predict the long term implications of
a CRISPR edit, this technology raises
big ethical questions.
• Its up to us to decide the best course
forward as CRISPR leaves single celled
organisms behind and heads into
labs, farms, hospitals, and organisms
around the world.

18. Are GMOs
good or
bad ?
• GMO technology has reduced global
chemical pesticide use by 8.3%.
• Modified with genes that help them
survive stressful conditions, such as
droughts, and resist diseases like
blights, resulting in a higher yield
for farmers.
Lower costs for the farmers and
consumers because it allows a
greater yield and growth through
harsher conditions.
Genetic modification can increase
the nutritional value of foods.
Moreover used to simply enhance
the flavor and appearance of foods
like, to increase its self life.

19. Do GMOs affect your health?
• GMO foods are as healthful and safe to
eat as their non-GMO counterparts.
Some GMO plants have actually been
modified to improve their nutritional
value.
• An example is GMO soybeans with
healthier oils that can be used to
replace oils that contain trans fats.
• GMO plants fed to farm animals are as
safe as non GMO animal food.
Do GMOS cause allergies or
allergic reactions ?
• Most food allergies are caused by allergens
found in just nine foods: peanuts, tree nuts, milk
, eggs, wheat, soy, shellfish, sesame, and fish.
• If you are allergic to foods made with traditional
(non-GMO) soy, you will be allergic to foods
made with traditional soy,
• GMO crops are not changed in ways that would
increase the risk of cancer for thee humans or
animals that eat them. Cancer rates are not
connected with eating GMOs.

20. Conclusion
GMO crops have many advantages for your health, such as
greater nutritional value and fewer pesticides. Nevertheless,
developing countries are already faced with the need to
evaluate genetically modified crops and they will one day
also need to evaluate the possible use of GM tress, livestock,
and fish. These innovations may offer opportunities for
increased production, productivity, product quality and
adaptive fitness, but they will certainly created challenges for
the research and regulatory capacity of developing countries.