GMO Genetically Modified Organisms

1. GMOGenetically Modified Organisms Presented By Alex Earnest Hall

2. What is a Genetically Modified Organism? • GMO is an organism whose genetic material has been altered using techniques in genetics generally known as recombinant DNA technology. • GMO generally does not cover organisms whose genetic makeup has been altered by conventional cross breeding or by “mutagenesis” breeding, as these methods predate the discovery of the recombinant DNA techniques.

3. History of the GMO • The origin of this genetic engineering were a series of sequential scientific advances from the discovery of DNA to the production of the first recombinant bacteria expressing a frog gene in 1973.

4. Uses of GMO Examples of GMO are diverse, and include transgenic experimental animals such as mice, several fish species, transgenic plants, or various microscopic organism altered for the purpose of genetic research or for the production of pharmaceuticals.

5. Transgenic Animals • Transgenic animals are animals produced with externally introduced genes. Transgenic animals can be used in many fields and as models to test the effect of certain genes on health. • An example are transgenic flies.

6. Current Information on GMO • There is little international consensus regarding the acceptability and effective role of modified complete organisms such as plants or animals.

7. GMO Currents • Issues have been brought to the World Trade Organization, which determined that not allowing GMO an unnecessary obstacle to international trade.

8. GMO Currents • The practice of genetic modification as a scientific technique is not restricted in the United States.

9. GMO • Genetic Modification within agriculture is an issue of some strong debate in the United States, the European Union, and some other countries.

10. Genetic Modified Organisms • Genetically modified characters, whether as heroes, villains, or backdrop, feature prominently in many works of fiction

11. GMO • In the Spider-Man movie, Peter Parker was bitten by a super-spider, enhanced with the genes of many different spiders. The abilities of all these spiders were then transferred from the super-spider, into Peter turning him into Spider-Man.

12. GMO Benefits • Crops • Animals • Environment • Society

13. Benefits • Crops: Enhance taste and quality Reduce maturation time Increase nutrients and stress • Animals: Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk. • Society: Increased food security for growing populations.

14. GMO Controversies • Safety • Access and Intellectual Property • Ethics • Labeling • Society

15. Controversies of GMO • Safety: Potential human health impact Potential environmental impact • Ethics: Violation of natural organism Stress for animals Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species.

16. Other Controversies of GMO • Access and Intellectual Property 1. Domination of world food production by a few companies. 2. Increasing dependence on Industralized nations by developing countries. 3. Foreign exploitation of natural resources.

17. Additional Controversies of GMO • Labeling: Not mandatory in some countries. Mixing GM crops with non-GM confounds labeling attempts. • Society: New advances may be skewed to interests of rich countries.

18. GMO Countries • In 2003, countries grew 99% of the global transgenic crops were the United States=63%. • Argentina= 21% • Canada =6% • Brazil= 4% • China= 4% • South Africa =1%

19. Summary • Although “biotechnology” and “ genetic modification” commonly are used interchangeably, GM is a special set of technologies that alter the genetic makeup of such living organisms as animals, plants, or bacteria.

20. THE END • THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND GOD BLESS • YOUR FRIEND • ALEX EARNEST HALL