Running head: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS 1
A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an entity whose "genetic make-up has
been deliberately altered" (Jumba, 2010 p. 1). The resulting animal or plant is referred to as
"transgenic." Transgenic plants and animals have an ever-increasing variety of uses and
applications. Plants can be modified so that they are resistant to pesticide application, so that
they can deliver greater nutrition, and even have glowing genes inserted to indicate that they
need to be watered (Zimmer, 2005). These particular plants would not be for human
consumption, but rather serve as sentinels for unaltered plants nearby. They can also be used to
deliver vaccines, as we will see later. Both plants and animals can be altered to have increased
resistance to disease and also have antibiotic properties. GMOs can even be used on a
unicellular level to produce pharmaceuticals.
History
Humankind has sought to modify organisms for its benefit for centuries, from selective
breeding to the cross fertilization of crops. In 1973, DNA was successfully transferred from a
virus into a bacteria cell. In 1980, a process of creating insulin from a genetically altered
bacteria was patented (Forman, 2010).
Different Types and Uses of GMOs
There are different biotechnological approaches to creating GMOs: recombinant DNA
technology, genetic splicing, genetic engineering, gene splcing, and gene technology. Uses of
these organisms include plants that are resistant to viruses, bacteria, insects, and herbicides,
particularly the product Round-Up (Velander et al., 1997). There have also been products
brought to market that have touted advantages including hormones produced by bacteria that
increase milk production in cows, canola that produces healthier oils, and corn and cotton with
better insect resistance (Jumba, 2010).
, Running head: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS 2
GMOs can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry. This year, the FDA has approved
the drug Eleyso for the treatment of Gaucher disease. The company Protalix Biotherapeutics has
used transgenic carrots and tobacco cells to create the injectable enzyme present in this
medication (Weinreb & Yeshayahou, 2013). Some fruits and vegetables are being modified in
order to deliver vaccines against diseases (Forman, 2010). Obviously, this will be of great
benefit to those countries that have problems of refrigeration and logistics. Finally, transgenetic
organisms can be used for novelty and entertainment: a species of fish that glow for the aquarium
trade has been developed, trademarked GloFish (Zimmer, 2005).
Benefits vs. Consequences
There are many issues surrounding GMOs that have not fully been resolved, so we can
term these as a consequence or a negative. They include property rights, safety, consumer
choice, and poverty reduction (Jumba, 2010). In the U.S., there is no requirement for distributors
or farmers to label GMOs as such, and some feel that this puts profits over consumer choice
(Forman, 2010). As far as poverty reduction goes, many of the seeds are engineered to create
crops that are not capable of propagation. This means that there will always be consumer demand
for them season after season. This has generated a great deal of press from India recently, and
even implicates the GMOs in the suicide of desperate farmers.
One of the most vocal critics of GMOs is Nathan B. Balalion, who targets food in
particular. He sources from a study that found the introduction of a Brazil nut plant gene into a
soybean plant caused potentially fatal allergies in some consumers. Another peer-reviewed
study that he cited noted that a genetically modified growth hormone injected into cattle was
carcinogenic (rBGH), even though the FDA approved it in 1994 (Forman, 2010). Balalion’s
research shows that economic incentives may be taking a higher priority than food safety.
A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an entity whose "genetic make-up has
been deliberately altered" (Jumba, 2010 p. 1). The resulting animal or plant is referred to as
"transgenic." Transgenic plants and animals have an ever-increasing variety of uses and
applications. Plants can be modified so that they are resistant to pesticide application, so that
they can deliver greater nutrition, and even have glowing genes inserted to indicate that they
need to be watered (Zimmer, 2005). These particular plants would not be for human
consumption, but rather serve as sentinels for unaltered plants nearby. They can also be used to
deliver vaccines, as we will see later. Both plants and animals can be altered to have increased
resistance to disease and also have antibiotic properties. GMOs can even be used on a
unicellular level to produce pharmaceuticals.
History
Humankind has sought to modify organisms for its benefit for centuries, from selective
breeding to the cross fertilization of crops. In 1973, DNA was successfully transferred from a
virus into a bacteria cell. In 1980, a process of creating insulin from a genetically altered
bacteria was patented (Forman, 2010).
Different Types and Uses of GMOs
There are different biotechnological approaches to creating GMOs: recombinant DNA
technology, genetic splicing, genetic engineering, gene splcing, and gene technology. Uses of
these organisms include plants that are resistant to viruses, bacteria, insects, and herbicides,
particularly the product Round-Up (Velander et al., 1997). There have also been products
brought to market that have touted advantages including hormones produced by bacteria that
increase milk production in cows, canola that produces healthier oils, and corn and cotton with
better insect resistance (Jumba, 2010).
, Running head: GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS 2
GMOs can also be used in the pharmaceutical industry. This year, the FDA has approved
the drug Eleyso for the treatment of Gaucher disease. The company Protalix Biotherapeutics has
used transgenic carrots and tobacco cells to create the injectable enzyme present in this
medication (Weinreb & Yeshayahou, 2013). Some fruits and vegetables are being modified in
order to deliver vaccines against diseases (Forman, 2010). Obviously, this will be of great
benefit to those countries that have problems of refrigeration and logistics. Finally, transgenetic
organisms can be used for novelty and entertainment: a species of fish that glow for the aquarium
trade has been developed, trademarked GloFish (Zimmer, 2005).
Benefits vs. Consequences
There are many issues surrounding GMOs that have not fully been resolved, so we can
term these as a consequence or a negative. They include property rights, safety, consumer
choice, and poverty reduction (Jumba, 2010). In the U.S., there is no requirement for distributors
or farmers to label GMOs as such, and some feel that this puts profits over consumer choice
(Forman, 2010). As far as poverty reduction goes, many of the seeds are engineered to create
crops that are not capable of propagation. This means that there will always be consumer demand
for them season after season. This has generated a great deal of press from India recently, and
even implicates the GMOs in the suicide of desperate farmers.
One of the most vocal critics of GMOs is Nathan B. Balalion, who targets food in
particular. He sources from a study that found the introduction of a Brazil nut plant gene into a
soybean plant caused potentially fatal allergies in some consumers. Another peer-reviewed
study that he cited noted that a genetically modified growth hormone injected into cattle was
carcinogenic (rBGH), even though the FDA approved it in 1994 (Forman, 2010). Balalion’s
research shows that economic incentives may be taking a higher priority than food safety.
