A Study of Genetically Modified Crops: Their Advantages and Disadvantages Prepared by: Matthew MacMullin, Biological Engineering Jordan Smith, Food Science

A Study of Genetically A Study of Genetically Modified Crops: Their Modified Crops: Their

Advantages and Advantages and DisadvantagesDisadvantages

Prepared by: Prepared by:

Matthew MacMullin, Biological Matthew MacMullin, Biological EngineeringEngineering

Jordan Smith, Food ScienceJordan Smith, Food Science

Nahid Aalidaai, Food ScienceNahid Aalidaai, Food Science

OutlineOutline

IntroductionIntroduction How Genes Affect the CropsHow Genes Affect the Crops Creation of Genetically Modified Crops Creation of Genetically Modified Crops Advantages of Genetically Modified CropsAdvantages of Genetically Modified Crops Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Disadvantages of Genetically Modified

CropsCrops Future of the TechnologyFuture of the Technology ConclusionsConclusions

IntroductionIntroduction

What Are Genetically Modified What Are Genetically Modified Crops?Crops?Have a transgene artificially Have a transgene artificially

added.added.

Transgene from an unrelated Transgene from an unrelated organism.organism.

This alters the crop plant’s This alters the crop plant’s DNA.DNA.

Why Create Genetically Why Create Genetically Modified Crops?Modified Crops?Give plants traits they did not Give plants traits they did not have before being altered.have before being altered.

Allow growers to customize Allow growers to customize plants with attributes they plants with attributes they choose.choose.

IntroductionIntroductionA brief look at the history of Genetically A brief look at the history of Genetically

Modified Plants.Modified Plants.

Breeding plants to have certain traits.Breeding plants to have certain traits.

Use of radiation to cause mutations in Use of radiation to cause mutations in the 1920’s.the 1920’s.

First genetically modified plants were First genetically modified plants were created in 1983.created in 1983.

These early creations lead to plants These early creations lead to plants containing commercially valuable traits.containing commercially valuable traits.

How Genes Affect the CropsHow Genes Affect the Crops DNA contains the organism’s genetic DNA contains the organism’s genetic

information.information. Genes are certain segments of DNA that Genes are certain segments of DNA that

hold the information needed to synthesis hold the information needed to synthesis proteins.proteins.

Different genes lead to different proteins.Different genes lead to different proteins. The proteins lead to expression of the The proteins lead to expression of the

plant’s traits.plant’s traits.

How Genes Affect the CropsHow Genes Affect the Crops

Source: Source: http://cls.casa.colostate.edu/TransgenicCrops/how.htmlhttp://cls.casa.colostate.edu/TransgenicCrops/how.html

Creation of Genetically Creation of Genetically Modified CropsModified Crops

Is the current limiting Factor.Is the current limiting Factor.Locating the gene alone is Locating the gene alone is not enough.not enough.Mostly a trial and error Mostly a trial and error process.process.

Locating the Genes to Locating the Genes to UseUse


Replication of the GeneReplication of the Gene

Usually done through a bacterium Usually done through a bacterium plasmid vector.plasmid vector.

Gene isolated using restriction Gene isolated using restriction enzymes.enzymes.

The plasmid is taken from a bacteria The plasmid is taken from a bacteria cell.cell.

The gene is inserted into plasmid The gene is inserted into plasmid using ligase.using ligase.

Plasmid placed back into bacteria cell Plasmid placed back into bacteria cell where it is replicated as the cell where it is replicated as the cell reproduces.reproduces.


Replication of the GeneReplication of the Gene

Source: Source: http://academic.kellogg.cc.mi.us/herbrandsonc/bio111/propagation.htmhttp://academic.kellogg.cc.mi.us/herbrandsonc/bio111/propagation.htm


Designing The Gene for UseDesigning The Gene for Use

The must be modified before inserted into The must be modified before inserted into plant cells.plant cells.

Need promoter and termination Need promoter and termination sequences.sequences.

A marker gene is added.A marker gene is added.

Other changes made to ensure Other changes made to ensure acceptance by the plant.acceptance by the plant.

Source: Source: http://cls.casa.colostate.edu/TransgenicCrops/hohttp://cls.casa.colostate.edu/TransgenicCrops/how.htmlw.html

Creation of Genetically Creation of Genetically Modified CropsModified CropsTransformation of Transformation of

PlantsPlantsTwo methods usedTwo methods used

Micro-projectile bombardment methodMicro-projectile bombardment method

Genes are attached to micro-Genes are attached to micro-projectiles and fired into cells.projectiles and fired into cells.

Clean and safe.Clean and safe.

May cause unwanted side affectsMay cause unwanted side affects.


Transformation of PlantsTransformation of Plants Agrobacterium Method.Agrobacterium Method.

Most common method.Most common method. Makes use of Makes use of Agrobacterium Agrobacterium

tumefaciens.tumefaciens.

Disease causing DNA replaced with Disease causing DNA replaced with transgene.transgene.

Source: Source: http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?p=518http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?p=518


Transformation of PlantsTransformation of Plants

Agrobacterium Method Agrobacterium Method

Transfers genes through a Transfers genes through a floral dip.floral dip.

Does not affect stability of Does not affect stability of plant’s cells.plant’s cells.

Only effective on some cropsOnly effective on some crops


Source: Source: http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?p=518http://www.scq.ubc.ca/?p=518

Advantages of Genetically Advantages of Genetically Modified CropsModified Crops

Grow premium crops under poor Grow premium crops under poor

conditions.conditions.

Pest or Herbicide resistant crops.Pest or Herbicide resistant crops.

Faster Maturation rates for crops.Faster Maturation rates for crops.

Increased Yields for crops.Increased Yields for crops.

For FarmersFor Farmers


Higher Quality attributes.Higher Quality attributes.

Size, Colour, Flavours.Size, Colour, Flavours.

Longer shelf-life for Longer shelf-life for products.products.

For ConsumersFor Consumers


Grow Crops on less Fertile land.Grow Crops on less Fertile land.

Larger Yields feed more People.Larger Yields feed more People.

More Crops Grown; Faster More Crops Grown; Faster Maturation.Maturation.

For Developing For Developing CountriesCountries


Crops will require less Crops will require less Pesticides.Pesticides.

Crops will require less Crops will require less Herbicides.Herbicides.

Less Farmland used (in Less Farmland used (in theory).theory).

For For EnvironmentEnvironment

Disadvantages of Genetically Disadvantages of Genetically Modified CropsModified Crops

Resistant Pests and Weeds.Resistant Pests and Weeds.

Mutated Genes in Nature.Mutated Genes in Nature.

Hybrid Plants.Hybrid Plants.

Extinction of plant species.Extinction of plant species.

Unforeseen Risks.Unforeseen Risks.

Environmental Risks


Allergens from proteins not normally Allergens from proteins not normally present in food products.present in food products.

Pharmaceutical Crop Contamination.Pharmaceutical Crop Contamination. Unforeseen Risks.Unforeseen Risks.

Health RisksHealth Risks


Traditional and Organic Farms Obsolete.Traditional and Organic Farms Obsolete. Corporate Monopoly.Corporate Monopoly.

Farmers forced to use GM crops.Farmers forced to use GM crops.

Only Corporations can develop/supply Only Corporations can develop/supply

seed.seed.

Economical Economical Concerns Concerns

The Future of the The Future of the TechnologyTechnology

Currently used to improve crops.Currently used to improve crops. Still being improvedStill being improved Current research centers on Current research centers on

improving the health of consumers.improving the health of consumers. Adding vitamins to crops such as Adding vitamins to crops such as

rice in areas of the world where rice in areas of the world where nutritional deficiencies are nutritional deficiencies are abundant.abundant.

Possibility of fighting diseases.Possibility of fighting diseases.

ConclusionsConclusions Still a relatively new technology.Still a relatively new technology. Always changing and improvement.Always changing and improvement. Seemingly unlimited possibilities.Seemingly unlimited possibilities. Pros outweigh the Cons.Pros outweigh the Cons. Research will hopefully continue and Research will hopefully continue and

make the world better.make the world better. However, The products should be However, The products should be

tested thoroughly.tested thoroughly.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

Documents

A Study of Genetically Modified Crops: Their Advantages and Disadvantages Prepared by: Matthew MacMullin, Biological Engineering Jordan Smith, Food Science