Chapter 9

• Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms whose genetic makeup or DNA has undergone a deliberate change, including microorganisms, insects, plants, fish, and humans.
• Genome editing is a technique for making precise alterations to an organism’s or cell’s DNA by cutting a specific region of DNA and repairing the damage, resulting in an altered sequence.
• If applied in a safe and sustainable manner, CRISPR/Cas9 can introduce innovations essential to advance food production, human health, and animal welfare.
• The CRISPR/Cas9 technology is more targeted, precise, and efficient than the conventional tools for making changes to the genomes of different organisms.
• Genome editing can be used to alter an organism’s traits by altering its genome, which is its genetic makeup and is contained within the chromosomes’ nucleic acids.
• Genome editing can be used in aquaculture to create fish with greater disease resistance, increased temperature tolerance, and faster growth rates.
• Genome editing can be used in the food industry to enhance the yield of food enzymes, which are primarily produced by microbial fermentation.
• Genome editing is becoming increasingly important in biomedical research as it is used in the search for and creation of novel therapeutics.
• The protein was successfully utilized as an eco-friendly insecticide for many years before to the creation of the recombinant corn.
• A bacillus thuringiensis protein is expressed in Bt corn.
• Genetic manipulation in aquaculture can also be used for bioremediation, which involves the development of GMOs for the degradation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and pesticides.
• Genes are expressed in the recipient genome and inheritance of gene through further generations.
• Examples of currently used GMOs include herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, altered fatty acid composition, virus resistance, fortification, vaccines, faster maturation, flower production, and paper production.
• The use of GMOs can lead to unintended impacts on other species, as evidenced by the controversy surrounding Bt corn.
• Genetic manipulation in aquaculture is used to enhance growth and/or efficiency of food conversion, enhance muscle characteristics for commercial purposes, control reproductive activity and/or sexual phenotype, increase resistance of species to diseasecausing microorganisms, increase tolerance to/of environmental variables such as temperature, modify behavior, and control fertility and/or viability.
• The protein had long been known to be harmful to a number of pestiferous insects including the monarch caterpillar.
• Aquaculture production is also seen to have significant social effects and there are many conflicts in the globe today.
• Whether GMOs are safe for human consumption is one of the main worries held by the public.
• The introduction of a transgene into the host DNA may have toxic effects.
• Eating a genetically modified fish is just as safe as eating fish raised traditionally.
• The development of new and more effective techniques for producing antibodies to cure diseases, generating and producing medications, and creating vaccinations all depend on GMO-based medical research.
• A dormant toxin gene may be potentially produced in a fish species that is normally safe if a transgenic were to be inserted.
• The environmental impacts of aquaculture production are dictated by three main factors: species in production, location of production, and system of production.
• The use of GMOs allows scientists and researchers to better understand how human and animal genes function as well as the function of genes in particular diseases.
• The main cause of social effects of aquaculture production is the export-driven manufacturing of commodities like shrimp where businesses aim to maximize profits by taking advantage of underdeveloped nations with lax rules.
• A regulatory evaluation process of the inserted gene on a case-by-case basis might be able to lessen these risks.
• Traditional livelihood, community displacement, and exploitive labor practices are among the main social effects of aquaculture production.
• The aquaculture industry’s main effects include overfishing, the spread of disease and parasites, the introduction and spread of exotic species, chemical pollution, habitat destruction for the establishment of the farm or as a result of farm activities, and the eradication of predators that feed on the farmed species.
• There may be issues if the DNA is derived from an allergenic protein, or if there are transgenic results in the expression of an inactive toxin gene.
• Over 10,000 diseases are caused by a single defective gene and most diseases, from cancer to dementia, are influenced by our genetic makeup.
• Toxin and allergen production may negatively affect a person’s health.
• Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/associated protein 9 (Cas9) (CRISPR/Cas9) is the most recent and popular modern biotechnology method for genome editing.
• Research involving GE and GMOs requires prior clearance from the nation’s relevant regulatory bodies.
• Many countries and regions have established high-tech facilities for vaccine or single-cell protein production that could be hubs for the reproduction of biological weapons.
• For conducting GE tests on the animal species and the proposed trait modification, prior authorization from the local Animal Ethics Committee or Animal Welfare Committee is also required when working with GM animals.
• The advantage of corn plants producing this protein is that farmers will need to use less insecticide on their crops.
• Unintended economic consequences include obtaining trade secret protection, plant breeder’s rights, and patents for inventions, which are aimed to safeguard technologies and goods.
• The protocol entered into force, and its main objectives are: to set up the procedures for safe trans-boundary movement of living modified organisms, harmonize principles and methodology for risk assessment and establish a mechanism for information-sharing through the Biosafety Clearing House (BCH).
• According to the safety level of experiments to be performed, the IBSC ensures the availability of the fundamental biosafety equipment needed.
• Given the high expense of creating and testing plants, GMO seeds may be pricey, which makes transgenic plants out of reach to farmers.