Gmo pros and cons

Power point presentation about the pros and cons of Genetically Modified Organisms

1. GMO Genetically Modified Organisms

2. Genetically Modified Organisms The alteration of some or all parts of living organisms The living organisms include: plants, animals, and microorganisms Scientific techniques and tools are used for modification Biotechnology is the use of either organisms or biological process to modify various products

3. TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS Genetic engineering- the process of adding new DNA to an organism to modify genetic structure Molecular markers/Gene markers- the DNA sequence in the genome which allows identification and location of DNA in modified organisms. The genome is the organism’s set of DNA Molecular diagnosis- techniques used to analyze the biological markers Vaccines- used as a preventative inoculation to prevent the acquiring or spreading of a particular disease

4. TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS Tissue culture- parts of animals or plants which are placed in glassware or test tubes to grow Fermentation- process of using microbes to convert substances into other compound substances Biopharming- the production of pharmaceuticals in domestic animals and plants (USDA) Cross-pollination- process of fertilizing a plant with the pollen from a different plant (USDA)

5. TECHNIQUES AND TOOLS Bt/Bacillus thuringiensis- the use of soil bacterium to produce toxins which kills some insects and pests (USDA) ELISA/Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay- a techniques which detects certain proteins with the use of antibodies (USDA) Plant breeding- using the process of cross-pollination on certain plants to create various new plants with certain traits/characteristics (USDA) Selective breeding- the process of crossing/mating organisms to create an offspring with a particular characteristic

6. RISKS Possibility of being toxic (Schlenker & Roth, 2011) Possibility of causing an allergic reaction (Schlenker & Roth, 2011) Could harm the environment by impacting insects, birds, mammals, waters, etc. (Schlenker & Roth, 2011) The possibility of unknown health concerns for humans Possible destruction of the natural ecosystems Food companies conduct their own tests not the FDA

7. RISKS Ethnical concerns- man playing God by manipulation and/or modifying organisms, plants, and animals Possibility of new diseases being introduced into the community All foods/produce are not labeled to inform the consumers of genetically modified foods Genetically modified foods could cause abnormal conditions/problems for those suffering from chronic illness (Creative commons, 2017)

8. BENEFITS Resistance to certain diseases and insects (Schlenker & Roth, 2011) A stronger tolerance to certain weather conditions (drought, cold, etc.) Opportunity to increase the nutritional value of certain foods (Schlenker & Roth, 2011) More production of crops More food to feed the hungry and decrease hunger/starvation Certain foods last longer than normal

9. BENEFITS More crops are produced Plants are resistant to herbicides which kill weeds (USDA, 2008) Higher level of tolerance to various environmental issues (droughts, extreme cold, etc.) Resistance to pests/insects (USDA) Could make certain foods more nutritious with the addition of minerals and vitamins to the foods Food/crops last longer (USDA)

10. BENEFITS Increased revenue for farmers internationally (Creative commons, 2017)

11. Benefits Some GMO foods taste better Possibility of growing more food in a small area Ecologically- possibility of better waste management Environmentally friendly

12. REFERENCES U.S. Department of Agriculture. Biotechnology Frequently Asked Question (FAQs). Retrieved from U.S. Department of Agriculture: https://www.usda.gov/topics/biotechnology-frequently-asked-question-faqs Schlenker, E.D., Roth, S.L. (2011). Williams’ Essentials of Nutrition and Diet Therapy. 10 th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.