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Understanding GM Foods

Understanding GM Foods. U.S.U. Extension Food Quality & Entrepreneurship Karin Allen, Ph.D. FACS Nutrition & Food Science Conference June 12, 2012. Biotechnology?. Biotechnology?. Biotechnology?. Biotechnology?. What is Biotechnology ?.

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Understanding GM Foods

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  1. Understanding GM Foods U.S.U. Extension Food Quality & Entrepreneurship Karin Allen, Ph.D. FACS Nutrition & Food Science Conference June 12, 2012

  2. Biotechnology?

  3. Biotechnology?

  4. Biotechnology?

  5. Biotechnology?

  6. What is Biotechnology? • US Congress, 1984: “Any technique that uses living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products, to improve plants or animals, or to develop microorganisms for specific uses” • “The application of scientific and engineering principles to the processing of materials by biological agents to provide goods and services” • “A less fearful, emotive term used in place of ‘genetic engineering’.”

  7. What is Genetic Modification? • “The artificial recombination of nucleic acid molecules in the test tube, their insertion into a virus, bacterial plasmid, or other vector system, and the subsequent incorporation of the chimeric molecules into a host organism in which they are capable of continued propagation.” • “The deliberate, controlled manipulation of the genes in an organism, with the intent of making that organism better in some way.” • Genetic engineering or modification is a type of biotechnology

  8. Genetic Modification • We have been genetically modifying plant and animal species for millennia

  9. Teosinte to Corn

  10. Wild Tomato Progenitors

  11. Genetic Modification • We have been genetically modifying plant and animal species for millennia • “Traditional” genetic modification – cross-breeding or hybridization

  12. Punnett Square • Basic tool or predicting the possible traits of the offspring • Hitchhiker’s thumb, attached or detached earlobes, left or right thumb on top when hands crossed • Not all traits are this straight-forward • Eye color, the shape of your face, blood type, straight or curly hair

  13. Problems with Cross-Breeding • The new generation may not express the desired trait • Takes many generations to build up a desired trait • Only closely-related species can be cross-bred

  14. Genetic Modification • “New” genetic modification – genetic engineering • Timeline • DNA from unrelated species can be inserted • Currently, only used in plants & microbes • 1994 – First approved GM food • 2009 – 80 GM crops are approved by the FDA for human and/or animal food

  15. GM Foods are Highly Scrutinized • FDA must review science & safety, and determines whether the food is approved • USDA reviews regulatory status of genetically engineered plants (in addition to FDA) • Any plant containing and insecticidal gene is also reviewed by the EPA for safety

  16. FDA Review Process Does the food contain genes from known allergenic sources? Does the food contain genes from known toxic sources? Are the concentrations of natural toxic substances increased? Is the fat, cholesterol, or other nutrient content changed? Does the food contain a substance that is new to the food supply?

  17. Genetically Engineered Cheese?

  18. Natural Rennet: • Slaughter the calf • Extract the enzyme • Grind the stomach into a paste and add to milk • Pour milk into a dried stomach

  19. Recombinant Chymosin

  20. DNA • DNA is the “recipe” for a living organism • Template for making proteins, which then serve a specific function

  21. What is DNA • DNA is the “recipe” for a living organism • Template for making proteins, which then serve a specific function • DNA is packaged together very efficiently to make chromosomes • We are getting better at determining which genes code for a specific protein

  22. What is rDNA? • rDNA has been split apart and recombined • This can be done by nature • Equal amount of DNA from each parent • Most of the genetic material is a random combination of both sets

  23. What is rDNA? • rDNA has been split apart and recombined • This can be done in the laboratory, as for recombinant chymosin • Typically, rDNA refers to this situation

  24. Bt Corn Bacillus thuringiensis gene gives corn resistance to infestation by corn borer worms

  25. Golden Rice Daffodil gene increases beta-carotene content of rice to combat Vitamin A deficiency

  26. Questions?

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