GeneticallyModifiedOrganisms

WhatisaGeneticallyModified(GM)Food?

• Foodsthatcontainanalteredgenesequence• AnimalproductsfromanimalsfedGMfeed• ProductsproducedbyGMorganisms

Image: http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/01/09/confirmed-dna-from-genetically-modified-crops-can-be-transfered-to-humans-who-eat-them-2/

GMO in Medicine• Insulin (e.g., SemBioSys Genetics

Inc- saflower) • Clotting factors• Atryn (anticoagulant).• Banana vaccines• Cancer fighting eggs

GMO in Biofuel

Algenol Biofuels

Rapeseed (i.e., canola)

GMO in Bioremediation

Enviropig i.e., “Frankenswine”• Able to digest and process

phosphate, therefore more environmentally friendly.

Poplar trees remove groundwater contaminants

GMO in Manufacturing

• Produces silk in milk to make Biosteel

+

GMO in Pesticides

• Kills caterpillars but not poisonous to humans

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http://www.nature.com/cr/journal/v12/n2/full/7290120a.html

AdoptionofGMOCropsintheUS,1996-2014

Bt crops

Some genetically modified foods

Whyarefoodsgeneticallymodified?Geneticengineeringoffersarapidandprecisemethodofalteringorganisms(vs.selectivebreeding).

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/health-effects-gmo-foods/story?id=23459884

Haveyoueatenageneticallymodifiedfoodtoday?

CommonGMFoods

HowareGMOsmade?

http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/gmfoods/

“Gene Gun” Approach: the tomato plant's beetle resistance relies on a gene from a bacterium (Bacillus thuringiensis), which scientists inserted into the tomato plant's genome. This gene, called cry1Ac, encodes a protein that is poisonous to certain types of insects, including the beetle.

WhomakessureGMfoodsaresafe?

îGovernmentagenciesregulateGMfoods

Think…

Howdoyoufeelabouteatingfoodthatmaycontainingredientsmadefromgeneticallymodifiedcrops?Shouldyouhaveachoice?Shouldsuchproductsbeclearlylabeled?