Making changes to DNA in order to change the way living things work
Genetic Engineering
Creates new crops and farm animals
Make bacteria that can make medicines
Grow human body parts
Prevent genetic diseases, change humans
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)
An organism created through genetic engineering
WHO defines GMO as an "organism, either plant, animal, or microorganism, in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination"
GMOs in Food and Agricultural Industries
Pest resistance
Virus resistance
Herbicide tolerance
Fortification
Cosmetic preservation
Increase growth rate
How a GM strawberry is made
1. Copy flounder's antifreeze gene
2. Insert into bacteria cell
3. Infect strawberry cell
4. Grow GM strawberry plant
Flounder's antifreeze gene
Stops it from freezing to death in icy seas
GM strawberries make a protein which helps them resist frost, they don't contain any other fish genes and do not taste or smell of fish
GMO food list
Tomatoes
Corns
Bananas
Tomatoes
Genetically modified to travel better so don't have to be picked when green – better tasting!
Corns
Genetically modified to reduce being eaten by insects
The world may soon be out of bananas due to susceptibility to fungi, viruses and pests
Golden rice is genetically modified rice that now contains a large amount of A-vitamins
Beta-carotene
The element that gives carrots their orange color and is the reason why genetically modified rice is golden
How golden rice is made
Implant three new genes: two from daffodils and the third from a bacterium