GMO

• Process to get GMO bacteria

  • identified desired gene taken from cell
  • amplified via PCR
  • isolated using restriction enzymes
  • ALSO, cut plasmid from bacteria using restriction enzymes
  • leaving sticky ends
  • desired gene spliced into plasmid
  • using DNA ligase
  • forming phosphodiester bonds
  • Insert recombinant plasmid into bacteria
  • bacteria multiplies
  • lots of GMO bacteria
  • transcribes desired gene
  • translated into proteins in large quantities
  • extracted from culture
  • sterilised
• Process to get GMO plants/animals

  • foreign DNA inserted into DNA vector
  • recombinant vector inserted into bacteria
  • bacteria is used
  • to inject vector carrying desired gene
  • into plant chromosomes
  • plant cells grown in culture
  • plant produced from cell clone culture
  • plant has the desired gene
  • expressed as protein trait
  • protein produced from gene
  • can be purified from plant tissues

  ORRRR

  • protein can be delivered via ingestion (eating plant)
• in animals

  • recombinant vector placed into cells that produced milk
  • so large quantities of that protein
  • can be expressed
• Why plants over bacteria?

  • safer
  • plant drugs easy to ingest
  • cheaper to grow
  • produced in greater quantity
  • don't need to sterilise drug/work in sterile conditions
• For GMOs

  • improve plant quality e.g. seedless grapes
  • greater crop yeild
  • labelled food -> can choose to eat GMOs
  • resistant to herbicides -> outcompete pests
• Against GMOs

  • outcompete organic farmers
  • can be invasive pests - outcompeting native plants & pass genes to weeds/pests
  • altered genes make toxic allergenic substances in plant
  • Companies hold patents from GMOs + some countries can't afford them