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Main idea: With GMOs, we would have more productivity.

Arguments/facts:
- Helps to foods become more accessible
- Can produce their own nitrogen
- Productivity of the plants is 20 percent higher

Dialogue:
Is it easier to cultivate with GMOs?
We think that yes because farmers can use less pesticide spray when they plant GMO crops. This saves farmers money and reduces the number of pesticides that end up on crops.

Summary:
Utilizing GMOs will be extremely advantageous to us because it will improve productivity in underdeveloped countries and lead to lower prices because we will have more access to land and food. Additionally for farmers due to the price of food and water.

Reference:
The GMO debate. (2020, 15 septiembre). Alliance for Science. https://allianceforscience.org/blog/2018/08/the-gmo-debate/

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Main idea: With GMOs, it would be easier for our style of life.

Arguments/facts:
- Helpful and used in all the living things
- Live longer
- Less contamination

Dialogue:
Do GMOs bring us benefits? We believe that using GMOs helps our lifestyle significantly by saving our time and effort. We should promote GMOs by creating advertisements showing what they are and how great they are.

Summary:
It would bring so many benefits like having faster-growing plants and animals because they could live in more unfavorable conditions like high heat, so they would live more.

Also, there are some diseases that are so difficult to survive like a really complex cancer, it could be wiped out by the use of genetic engineering so also we could live longer.

Reference:
Around, I. O. (2022, 20 octubre). 13 Pros And Cons Of GMOs (Backed By Evidence). In On Around. https://www.inonaround.org/gmos/

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Main idea: GMOs are unfair and unethical

Arguments/facts:
-Threat to small-scale farmers
-Causes more hunger in the world
-Boosts corporate control

Dialogue:
Isn't it unfair to small-scale farmers? We believe that farmers always give us the best result, and GMOs will never give the quality food we pay for. They've given power to ruthless companies, basically scamming us. We have to stop this by buying from more small-scale farmers, and ask for foods to be labled.

Summary:
GM crops corrupt farmers roles, and farmers could potentionally get sued if their food is contaminated with GMOs. GMOs have swept away crops providing energy, like potatoes. GM seeds are owned by unethical companies, making them sell these GM crops, not good quality and unlabeled so we can't tell we are in a scam.

Reference:
Why we are against GMOs - GMOs. (2018, January 12). Slow Food International. https://www.slowfood.com/what-we-do/themes/gmos/why-we-are-against-gmos/

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Why we are against GMOs - GMOs - Slow Food International

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Read our position paper on GMOs Biodiversity Where they are grown, GM crops occupy large surface areas and are linked to intensive monoculture

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Main idea: GMOs encourages calamity

Arguments/facts:
-GMOs create super weeds
-GMOs create super bugs
-Animal proteins could be affected by GMOs crops

Dialogue:
From our point of view, we see GMOs as havoc makers. When we use them, they affect our animals and crops and we need them to survive. We should stop using GMOs by replacing them with organic farming.

Summary:
Nature adapts easily, so weeds become super weeds when GMOs are used, then the pesticides applied to insects also harm crops, few of them survive this, that then create super bugs. And then GMOs are also fed to all animals, that make our food full of GMOs that make all these bad things.

Reference:
Gaille, L. (2019, December 16). 13 Vital Pros and Cons Of GMOs. https://vittana.org/13-vital-pros-and-cons-of-gmos

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Main idea: Helps us to have all the wants we are worried about like living longer.

Arguments/facts:
- Can grow more food for more population
- Save animals from extinction
- Save the industry

Dialogue:
Do you really think that food containing GMOs is superior to traditional meals?
Although we can't be certain that it will taste the same, we do know that it will be healthier and that we will have all the vitamins we require for the day.

Summary:
Due to the ability to create new foods that are perfectly packed with all the nutrients we require, GMOs in food will be the ideal combination. Since so many people lack so many vitamins, we could change the vitamins in GMO foods to include the ones you need more.
We could feed 2 million people more because it would be able to produce a higher yield.

Reference:
Gaille, L. (2019, December 16). 13 Vital Pros and Cons Of GMOs. https://vittana.org/13-vital-pros-and-cons-of-gmos

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Main idea: It is better for our environment.

Arguments/facts:
- Using less water
- Use fewer pesticides
- Eliminate food allergies

Dialogue:
Does it benefit the environment more? Yes, in our opinion, because there are seasons when it doesn't rain much or at all, so with the GMOs we didn't have this problem because we would need to use less water, and is not only with water but with everything.

Summary:
Our planet would be less contaminated if farmers were allowed to plant GMO crops to help preserve soil, conserve water, and cut carbon emissions. GMOs are a new agricultural practice.

References:
Hurd, K. (2021c, Enero 8). 5 Benefits of GMOs. Dirt to Dinner. https://dirt-to-dinner.com/5-benefits-of-gmos/

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Whether you're looking for a quick bite of information or want to drop some knowledge on your dinnertime companions, here's our Featured 5 of the Week! GMOs are one of the most controversial topics within our global food system. There are many misconceptions regarding what a GMO is and what the technology is designed to do. GMOs provide a wide array of benefits for our global food system and world.
5. Less Pesticide Use

They use more pesticides, they're a pesticide-crop - these are a couple of the rumors floating around about GMOs, and we're here to give you the cold-hard truth: GMOs are NOT pesticides. Conversely, they create plants that require fewer pesticides.

Let's break this down. A GMO is a genetically-modified plant (or seed). Why is it genetically-modified? The modifications allow GMO plants to resist diseases, repel insects and weeds, and to be drought-tolerant - to name a few. So, if plants can be resistant to these threats, wouldn't that mean farmers don't need as much pesticide and herbicide to protect the crop? You got it.

Bt Brinjal, a GMO eggplant, required 92% less pesticide use in a growing season compared to conventional eggplant. That is a huge reduction! And, in 2014, GMOs resulted in 37% overall reduced agricultural chemical use.

4. Higher Crop Yield

When walking through a farm of conventional versus GM farming, you will probably notice a vast difference in the crop's quality and quantity.

A 2014 meta-analysis stated that GMOs increased crop yields by 22%. GM crops allow farmers to grow more and better crops for a few different reasons. First, genetically-engineered seeds are resistant to diseases and viruses that can harm that crop. Second, GM crops are resistant to insects that may harm them. For example, the Diamondback moth likes to prey on vegetable crops like broccoli and zucchini. With genetically-modified seeds, the crops are resistant to the diseases that the moths pass on to them. Third, since GM crops don't require as much pesticide and herbicide use as conventional crops, farmers can spend that money on more seeds.

Farmers appreciate GMOs because they give them the flexibility to create a more sustainable farm by decreasing inputs, increasing outputs, and ultimately providing healthy food to their customers, like you and me.

3. Better For The Environment

Critics of GMOs claim they're bad for the environment. However, research shows this isn't the case.

We already know that GMOs require less pesticide use. Less pesticide use results in fewer pesticides released into the air and soil. Farmers who use Roundup Ready crops can practice no-till farming, which means they don't have to turn the soil over to get rid of weeds. With this, nutrients are put back into the soil, keeping it dense and fortified. Furthermore, since there's no need for a tractor to turn the soil over, fewer emissions are released into the air.

GMOs also require less water. Food and agriculture use about 70% of our global water supply. Droughts are a massive threat to our food supply. By creating drought-tolerant seeds, crops require less water.

GMOs allow farmers to use fewer pesticides, release fewer carbon emissions, conserve water, and increase soil health, all while having a higher crop yield.

2. More Nutritious

Vitamins and minerals are vital in our diet. They strengthen our immune system, keep our body functioning properly, and help maintain our overall health.

We've used the example of banana bread before. Banana bread has a basic recipe to follow, but you can add ingredients such as flaxseed and yogurt for extra nutrients. The same is true with GMOs. Nutrients are added to seeds to create a product that's better for us. For example, Golden Rice, genetically-modified rice, includes two new genes from corn and a commonly ingested soil bacterium. These new genes allow the rice to express its beta-carotene gene - a precursor to vitamin A - leading to an overall healthier and nutrient-dense rice.

Since many people are deficient in some nutrients, including vitamin A, a crop that is more nutrient-dense is key to a healthy diet.

1. Greater Food Security

In 2050, our global population will increase to 9.7 billion. That means we need to be able to feed an extra 2 billion people. How will we do it?

Experts say that by 2050, annual cereal production will need to double to about 3 billion tonnes to feed the entire population. The way to do this is to implement plant breeding technologies.

Scientists have already sequenced new variations of barley and wheat genomes that will be able to produce a higher yield. The grains were also 12% larger than usual. Since wheat takes up about 20% of the calories consumed globally, and the current yield is only increasing 1% annually, this is especially hopeful.

800 million people worldwide are already chronically hungry and 2 billion are nutrient deficient. In countries like Africa, GMOs are already necessary to feed their people, just as they will be for the world by 2050.

The Bottom Line

GMOs provide a myriad of benefits for farmers, consumers, and the environment. It's time to change the misguided perception of GMOs so we can begin to take larger steps toward feeding our world better, safer, and more nutritious food.

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Whether you're looking for a quick bite of information or want to drop some knowledge on your dinnertime companions, here's our Featured 5 of the Week! GMOs are one of the most controversial topics within our global food system. There are many misconceptions regarding what a GMO is and what the technology is designed to [...]

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Main idea: GMOs result in many disadvantages

Arguments/facts:
-They produce toxins
-They reduce the nutritional value
-They disrupt biodiversity

Dialogue:
We strongly believe that GMOs do more bad than good, because of how they can make our food more toxic to us and they take away their nutrition, then they disrupt the natural process of gene flow. To stop this we should create posters saying how to avoid GMOs and what they do to our body.

Summary:
GMOs are bad, because of how they increase the creation of toxins, that can harm us. They decrease the nutrition in our food and risk the dissruption of biodiversity.

Reference:
6 Major Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Foods. (2021, June 12). Bio Explorer. Retrieved January 24, 2023, from https://www.bioexplorer.net/disadvantages-of-genetically-modified-foods.html/

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6 Major Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Foods | Biology Explorer

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In the continuing battle for hunger, food production has gotten more technologically improved through the years using genetics engineering, here are the 6 major disadvantages of genetically modified foods (GMO) which has effects on humans, environment, social and ethical concerns while GMOs on the r…

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GMOs are usually used as a reference for food products, but it is an abbreviation that stands for "genetically modified organism." A GMO is created when the genes from one species are artificially forced, in laboratory conditions, into the gene structures of unrelated plants or animals. These genes can originate from any living being, plant, or creature, including humans, and be forced into the genetic structure of any other living organism.

Sometimes GMOs are referred to as transgenic products. That is because of the genetic transfer which occurs during modern GMO research. The process may also be referred to as genetic modification or genetic engineering, but all these terms lead to the same approach to organism modification.

And the reason why GMOs are usually referenced to food products is because that is where most GMOs are found.

Since the 1990s, when the first GMOs were introduced into the human food supply chain, the advantages and disadvantages of this technology and its outcomes have been debated. The US has somewhat embraced GMOs, while the rest of the world has treated them with great hesitation.

Here are the key advantages and disadvantages of GMOs to think about.

What Are the Advantages of GMOs?

1. GMO crops can be tailored to provide better health benefits.
GMO foods can be modified so that they provide a complete nutritional profile. Multiple vitamins and minerals can be built into the crops as they grown by adjusting the genetic profile of the plant, making it possible for people to get what they need with fewer foods and lower costs. That makes it possible to provide more people who are living in poverty with the food resources they need to maintain their health.

2. There is the possibility of an increased shelf life.
GMO crops can be engineered to last longer once harvested, which makes it possible to extend the distribution life of the food product. That makes it possible to use the existing infrastructure for food distribution to send healthy foods further around the world. That means locations which are experiencing food deserts or shortages can still receive affordable foods that can benefit the general population.

3. It takes less land to grow more food.
GMO crops can be engineered to produce higher yields from the same croplands. In some instances, the crop yields can potentially double when the transition from traditional crops to GMO crops is completed by local farmers. That makes it possible to meet the food demands that future generations are going to face. By 2050, upwards of 10 billion people are expected to be living on our planet. Oxfam currently estimates that global food production is enough to feed about 8 billion people.

4. Genetically modified crops can conserve energy, soil, and water resources.
That allows our food distribution networks to make less of an impact on the environment. Food can be grown in areas that receive very little rainfall and have zero irrigation with proper genetic modifications. Crops can be grown on fields with little soil. Because the crops have an increased resistance to disease, weeds, and pests, there is greater consistency in the yields that can be produced. That makes it easier to budget food resources for a larger population base.

5. Simple changes to certain crops can have a major impact.
The United Nations, through their Food and Agriculture Organization, suggests that the easiest way to decrease vitamin A deficiencies is to genetically modify rice to have higher levels of this nutrient. Because half of the world's population consumes rice on a daily basis, the high rates of this vitamin deficiency could be resolved with this one simple change. Bananas in Uganda are being looked at for this vitamin enhancement as well, while soybeans provide higher levels of Omega-3s without trans-fats.

6. Fewer harmful agents need to be applied to crops.
GMO crops are more resistant to pests, weeds, and other threats. That means farmers have less of a need to apply pesticides or herbicides to their crops, which saves them money and potentially increases the health benefits of the food being grown. Farmers can also make more money from their existing croplands because there are greater yields with GMO crops. Even the sustainability benefits, such as drought-resistance, can maintain yields so that fewer subsidies are required.

7. It can save core crops from extinction.
Many of the foods we eat today are products of a single initial resource. Every naval orange, for example, is essentially a clone of one original tree that was grafted to created additional trees. That lack of genetic variation puts the crop at-risk should a virus or bacteria be able to attack the basic genome of the crop. We've already seen that happen with the Hawaiian Rainbow Papaya and genetic engineering helped to save the industry. Something similar could happen to naval oranges or any other crop.

8. Farmers can use better ground-care methods.
Because GMO crops have a greater overall tolerance, no-till farming methods become a possibility. Even if tilling is required, less may be necessary to successfully plant a crop. That means less irrigation may be necessary. Less nutrient runoff may be experienced. Soil erosion can be reduced. At the same time, the safety and nutritional value of the crops are not placed at-risk.

9. Future GMOs could eliminate food allergies or intolerance issues.
Current genetic engineering research is focused on removing the allergen triggers that are present in common foods, like peanuts. Intolerance issues that are caused by gluten-containing foods or other triggers are also being examined. The future of food science in the world of GMOs could make it possible for people with food allergies or intolerance issues be able to safely eat foods they love in the future.

10. GMO crops use less water.
From 1980 to 2011, the amount of irrigation water required for fields planted with corn decreased by 53%. For cotton fields the amount of irrigation water decreased by 75%. Soybeans, rice, and potatoes all saw decreases of at least 38%. Even wheat fields saw a 12% decrease in irrigation water consumption when planted with GMO crops compared to traditional crops.

11. There may be a positive environmental impact with GMO crops.
In general terms, GMO crops require fewer in-field operations and applications to maintain the quality of the yield. Because of this, fewer passes over the field are required. That reduces the amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that are created through fossil fuel combustion with tractors, combines, and other farming equipment. Carbon dioxide is also stored in the soil, so fewer passes means less of a release occurs there as well.

12. GMO foods must meet the same standards as traditional foods.
For GMO food products to be sold in the United States, they must meet the same quality and safety standards as any other food product. When compared to organic foods, Stanford University has even found that there are no additional health risks when eating GMO foods or organic foods. Although there are food allergy concerns, especially in children, any food at any time has the potential of creating an allergy. From a pure nutritional standpoint, GMO foods are equal or greater than what is found at the average grocery store.

13. GMOs can even safe beneficial insects.
When Bt proteins are used in genetic engineering, it targets a specific group of insect pests that are dangerous to that specific crop. Other beneficial insects that would be killed when spraying a general pesticide are saved. Those included proteins have a minimal effect on them. Although there are stories of shepherds letting loose sheep into Bt fields and losing thousands of head of livestock because of it, there are often more positives than negatives to find here.

What Are the Disadvantages of GMOs?

1. In the US, the FDA does not require GMO labeling.
GMO ingredients can be placed into food products and US shoppers wouldn't even know it. There are currently no national-level labeling requirements for foods that have GMO ingredients. Some states have looked at creating labeling laws to require GMO information, but for the most part, only non-GMO foods tend to be labelled right now. The Non-GMO Project reports that 64 countries, including the entirety of the European Union, Japan, and Australia all require labeling.

2. Most core foods have some level of genetic modification.
Commercialized crops include cotton, corn, and soybeans. More than 90% of these crops being grown today have some level of genetic modification. Even sugar beets, grown at commercial levels, are more than 90% GMO. Any products that are derived from these core foods, such as corn syrup or soybean oil, still contain the genetic changes from the core ingredient used to make the item.

3. There may be an increased risk of allergies or food intolerance.
Animal testing may be highly controversial, but it should be noted that GMO foods studied in animals have found organ impacts in virtually every circumstance. In humans, there may be an increased trend of food allergies and digestive intolerance because of genetic modification. When plants produce pesticides inside of the plant to kill insects, by basic definition, that plant is toxic.

4. GMO crops can contaminate other fields.
The crops may be genetically modified, but they still grow the same way as any other crop. That means pollination is required for the crop to produce the "fruit" that is being grown. Bees do much of the pollination work, which means they are exposed to the genetic changes of the plant. Seeds are produced by these GMO crops as well in many instances, which can be spread to other fields and contaminate them. If cross-pollination occurs, there is no predictable outcome for both fields, though soybeans are an exception since they don't cross-pollinate.

5. Animal proteins could be affected by GMO crops.
The vast majority of the core crops in the US that are grown are GMO crops. These crops are then fed to livestock, aquaculture, and apiculture, which impacts groceries that are based on animal proteins. GMO ingredients can be found in milk, seafood, eggs, and animal muscle tissues. Even honey can have GMO ingredients when bees are pollinating genetically modified crops to produce it.

6. Many GMO crops are trademarked, patented, and legally protected.
Farmers that grow GMO crops may be required to sign an agreement to exclusively grow a specific product. They may be asked to take steps that protect the crops being grown from contamination. Farmers that don't take these steps could be taken to court because of breeching that contract. Some companies have even sued farmers who have patented crops growing in their fields because of natural pollination or distribution patterns, despite the fact that no seeds were ever planted by them.

7. It encourages the use of additional herbicides.
More than 80% of GMO crops grown around the world are created to be tolerant to herbicides. Farmers have increased the number of toxic herbicides because of this by more than 1500% since the first GMO crops were introduced. One of those most common herbicides being used, glyphosate, has been listed by the World Health Organization since 2015 as being a probable carcinogenic.

8. GMOs create super weeds.
If nature knows how to do one thing well, it is to adapt. As crops have grown more resistant to weeds, the weeds have grown stronger and more resilient to the chemicals applied to them that try to kill them. Because of this, some farmers have resorted to using ingredients such as 2, 4-D, which is one of the primary ingredients found in Agent Orange. The US Veteran's Administration has a long list of presumptive diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure, with many of them being cancers.

9. GMOs create super bugs.
As pesticides are applied to insects that provide a threat to crops, a few of them tend to survive the application. Each subsequent generation becomes more resilient to the pesticide. That means either more needs to be applied or a stronger agent needs to be applied. When something stronger is placed on the crops, the cycle of resilience begins again. Although GMO crops reduced pesticide use by over 1 billion pounds from 1996-2010, the threat of resilient super bugs that could destroy entire croplands without being affected by a pesticide could reduce food supplies instead of increasing them.

10. There are concerns that GMO foods may help to create antibiotic resistance.
One of the ways that crops are modified to be more resilient to disease is to artificially place antibiotic genes within the DNA of the crops. Because there is evidence to suggest that continuing exposure to an antibiotic can lead to disease resistance, the GMO efforts to create a safer food supply could be a contributing factor to the "super bacteria," such as MRSA, that are increasing in regularity.

11. Genetic engineering doesn't solve everything.
Atrazine is one of the most common herbicides that is applied to US croplands. According to the National Institutes of Health, atrazine resistance has been studied since the early 1970s. There are dozens of weed species that are already resistant to this herbicide, with research studies by Bettini, Shimabukuro, and Anderson showing over three decades that resistance is growing.

The advantages and disadvantages of GMOs is a necessary conversation we must have. At some point, we must figure out how to feed our growing population levels. New farming methods can only produce a limited amount of change. With this technology, we have the potential to maximize our resources. Of course, maximizing those resources while creating health problems for future generations may not be the right answer either. We should be working to prevent resistance instead of encouraging it.

How do you feel about GMO crops? Do you feel safe eating them? Why or why not?

Blog Post Author Credentials
Louise Gaille is the author of this post. She received her B.A. in Economics from the University of Washington. In addition to being a seasoned writer, Louise has almost a decade of experience in Banking and Finance. If you have any suggestions on how to make this post better, then go here to contact our team.

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GMOs are usually used as a reference for food products, but it is an abbreviation that stands for "genetically modified organism." A GMO is created when the genes from one species are artificially forced, in laboratory conditions, into the gene structures of unrelated plants or animals.

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Main idea: GMOs are unnecessary.

Arguments/facts:
-It comes with environmental Impacts
-There are morality concerns
-It could make new allergies

Dialogue:
We believe that it will affect our animals and that it is unnatural. The different foods we are mixing together might not react well and make us sick. We should avoid GMOs and encourage growing food at home.

Summary:
"Hunger comes from inequity not from food shortage". GMOs cause our animals population to decrease, and creates allergies endangering us. They aren't natural, so instead of taking the risk, we should grow our own food.

Reference:
Around, I. O. (2022, October 20). 13 Pros And Cons Of GMOs (Backed By Evidence). In on Around. https://www.inonaround.org/gmos/

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Cue the controversy! We're diving into the pros and cons of GMOs. There are usually a lot of spirited opinions and debates around genetically modified foods, but I intend to keep this article as neutral and impartial as possible. There's a lot of public skepticism around the topic. Is the fear warranted? Should you be concerned about GMOs? What should you look out for?
Let's dive into all the details. Keep reading to learn more!
Note: This article contains affiliate links, meaning In On Around will make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps me maintain the site. As always, I value full transparency & only work with brands I love and trust.

What Are GMOs?

GMOs or "Genetically Modified Organisms" are living organisms that have had their genes altered in one way or another. They can be bacteria, animals, or crops, and have also been used to create medicine and textiles. Since GMOs have had their genes altered, they're prohibited from USDA-certified organic products (as long as it's about 95-100% pure).

Genetically modified crops are commonly used with pesticides and herbicides, like dicamba and glyphosate. You can read more about glyphosate here: Is There Glyphosate In Organic Food? Glyphosate 101
Let's dive into it all in more detail:
Different Types of GMOs

According to the USDA, genetically engineered crops (GE crops) can be classified either as:

Herbicide-tolerant (HT)

Insect-resistant (Bt)

"Stacked" - a variety combination of both HT and Bt traits

The "stacked" variety has become increasingly popular since the year 2000, especially for cotton:

Cisgenic Vs. Transgenic GMOs

There are also distinctions between cisgenic and transgenic crops. According to ATTRA, "transgenic crops have had genetic material transferred between two unlike species. Cisgenic crops have genes that have been "edited" within that species."

Transgenic GMOs involve conventional crops like corn and soy, while cisgenic can involve CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats), TALEN (Transcription activator-like effector nucleases), and RNAi (Ribo-nucleic acid interference) technology. (... yes, it's confusing!)

Cisgenic GMOs are very, very new - they began in 2015! They also don't have nearly the same level of regulation as transgenic crops, which can pose a significant risk.

Genetically Modified Organisms Vs. Selective Breeding

For centuries, humans have been selecting & slowly altering crops through the process called cross-breeding. This involves selecting the best of the best crops (like corn), and re-planting varieties which would increase the harvest and breed a more desirable crop. It was a natural form of "trial and error" to see what worked and what didn't for farmers. Who wouldn't want juicier, healthier crops?
However, today's form of "selective breeding" is very different.
Today, laboratory scientists create transgenic genetically engineered crops as a "shortcut" approach to this selective breeding process. Instead of naturally cross-breeding, scientists:

1. Identify the specific gene in the plant that is "desirable" (like resistance to bugs)

2. Make copies of that specific gene within a lab

3. Insert those gene copies into the cell DNA of another plant

Through this process, they have thereby modified the cells of the plant with the edited gene.

Genetically Modified vs. Genetically Engineered

There are distinct differences between genetically modified crops and genetically engineered crops. With genetic engineering, foreign DNA is introduced to a cell from an unrelated species. In genetic modification (GMOs), the crop's current genetic material is altered or modified in some way to create a new attribute.

While similar, they use two different modification techniques. Now, according to the USDA, "bioengineered" is food that "contains genetic material that has been modified through certain laboratory techniques and for which the modification could not be obtained through conventional breeding or found in nature."

The term bioengineered also includes cisgenic engineering techniques like CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats), which is a developing genome editing tool, as mentioned above.

GMO = Genetically Modified Organism

GE = Genetically Engineered

BE = Bioengineered

Adoption Of GMO Crops

Every year, the adoption of genetically engineered crops increases across the United States. In 1996 adoption rates were very, very low. In fact, the first GMO food to appear on the market was a tomato in 1994. Now, most planted acres are genetically engineered. The adoption of GMO crops is fairly recent! Genetically engineered glyphosate-tolerant soybeans, for example, came on the market only in 1996.

We're not eating the same food we used to eat.

The food our grandparents once ate is significantly different than the food we're eating today. This is extremely important to note when we discuss the potential pros vs. cons.

The adoption of GMOs is by far the most popular in the United States (71.5 million hectares), while Brazil follows with 52.8 million hectares. Most other global nations do not have nearly the same adoption of genetically modified organisms.

Most Common GMO Crops

The type of crops that are GMO depends on the country, however, as of September 2022, the United States allows 11 main GMO crops. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), over 90% of all corn, cotton, and soy grown in the United States is genetically modified.

90%+ of corn, cotton & soy in America is GMO.

The following crops are currently allowed to be genetically modified:

This list also includes products derived from these crops, like vegetable oils, flours, proteins, syrups, and more. For example, soy lecithin, soy isolate, and soy flour can all be derived from GMO soy.

GMO advocates & lobbyists are always pushing for this list to grow, so it's important to keep up-to-date on the latest agricultural news!

Bioengineered/GMO tomatoes and beef, for instance, are coming down the pike. It will take about 2 years for this beef to come on the market, but this is (unfortunately) just the start of bioengineered animal products. Some cattle are now being bred to "better withstand climate change," so they'll have a shorter "slick" coat. Keep an eye on this as it rolls out.

GMOs In Animal Farming

GMOs are commonly used in animal agriculture. In fact, over 95% of animals used for meat and dairy in the United States eat GMO crops. YES, 95%! If a meat product does not specify that it's non-GMO or organic, always assume that it was fed GMOs.

Cattle that will become certified organic beef cannot be fed GMO corn, grain, alfalfa, or other feed. No genetically modified feed can be used at all in organic farming ( which is a win)!

Over 95% of animals used for meat and dairy in America eat GMO crops.

New GMO Labeling Requirements

As of January 2020, the genetically modified crop labeling requirements have changed. This is, frankly, an effort by the FDA & USDA to DECREASE transparency on genetically modified ingredients. Products with GMOs are now required to list them on the label as " bioengineered."

The new bioengineered logo is also intended on making it seem more "natural," (it has a picture of sunny green grassy fields). The terminology can be confusing to consumers (especially since most people are unfamiliar with most shoppers). This change has made it VERY difficult to know if a product contains genetically modified ingredients, especially if brands choose not to disclose it clearly. There are new loopholes in the regulation.

Some important things to note about this change:

Processed foods that use bioengineered crops, like sodas or cooking oils, do not need to disclose if they're under the 5% margin.

Many prepared foods found in the freezer aisle, like meat lasagnas, might have bioengineered ingredients without disclosure.

The milk from cows who eat bioengineered alfalfa are not required to be listed as bioengineered (the law applies for human food, not livestock feed)

Since there will be no in-store spot checks, brands are only inspected if someone (like a consumer) complains & reports them.

The use of the term "bioengineered" allows food manufacturing companies to use very new cisgenic methods (like CRISPR) within the food supply with little-to-no regulation. Since they're technically "genetic deletions" instead of "genetic additions," the USDA does not require labeling to the same degree. HUGE red flag! This is a very tricky loophole meaning gene-edited foods do not need FDA approval and labeling is voluntary. [BIG ISSUE]

The law applies for human food, not livestock feed

It's not required to specify on the label exactly which ingredients are GMO and which are not. Most manufacturers are not fully transparent about it and consumers are left in the dark.

Important Note: As of January 2020, GMO labeling requirements have changed!

Label Phrasing & QR Codes

There are now 5 ways that food manufacturing companies can disclose if they're using bioengineered ingredients:

1. Written directly on the package, like labeling "bioengineered food" (the most common method)

2. A USDA approved symbol, such as the one in the above photo

3. A digital link, like a QR code, with clear instructions such as "Scan here for more food information."
Important note: if a product contains a QR code or a scannable label of any kind, they're not required to also like "bioengineered" in writing on the package.

4. A text message option prompting the consumer to request information like, "Text [command word] to [number] for bioengineered food information."

5. A telephone number or URL that consumers can call or visit for more food information.

USDA Sued Over QR Codes

* Important update as of September 2022*

If companies require shoppers to go to a separate website, link, text message, or call a number to request information, then it could discourage shoppers from taking the next step towards learning about what they're truly eating. A QR code is not enough information to properly inform a consumer about the presence of bioengineered ingredients! It's, frankly, just putting up a curtain to make it less transparent.

A judge recently ruled that GMO labeling needs more than just a QR code. The USDA acted unlawfully. Hopefully, this will enact change and require the USDA to revise its ruling. The USDA was even sued prior to their 2018 ruling since a 3rd party study showed that electronic disclosures can oftentimes fail and are not adequate methods to fully disclose ingredient information. These electronic disclosures can be extremely confusing to use for consumers, especially those with a lack of technical knowledge. Proper internet or phone connection is also oftentimes required to gain that information, but in-store WiFi may be limited, especially in smaller or rural retailers. This was creating a major food transparency accessibility issue!

The new bioengineered labeling laws will cause further confusion amongst shoppers.

USDA Organic Vs. Non-GMO Verified Certifications

There are distinct differences between the USDA certification and Non-GMO Verified certification. The Non-GMO Project Verified seal only takes into account whether a product contains GMO ingredients. It does not consider the use of chemical fertilizers, synthetic substances, irradiation, or sewage sludge (unlike USDA organic).

USDA Organic is far SUPERIOR to Non-GMO Verified, however, both are far superior to conventionally grown produce (or produce without full ingredient disclosure or transparency). Non-GMO verified certification can be helpful when searching for conventional GMO-grown crops.

Here is a great explanation by Boston Organics of the differences between the two certifications:

Greenwashing Alert: Some packed products will slap a "Non-GMO Verified" seal on the products after being certified, even if their products would have never contained GMOs in the first place. This is a common greenwashing tactic used in the food manufacturing space. If a product (like plain almonds) lists "non-GMO" on the label, this is a marketing ploy, since they wouldn't be genetically modified in the first place.

Are GMOs In Organic Food?

No, USDA organic certification prohibits the use of bioengineered ingredients or genetically modified ingredients. The USDA requires that certified organic products are 95-100% organic ingredients only, so, at most, a product would contain about 5% GMO ingredients.

Even if a product has the "100% USDA Organic Certified" seal, it can contain up to 5% of GMO ingredients (mostly because cross-contamination is almost impossible to avoid). The USDA organic prohibits the use of chemical fertilizers, irradiation, synthetic substances, sewage sludge, and GMOs.

In the European Union (EU), foods with over 0.9% GMO ingredients must list either "genetically modified" or "produced from genetically modified [name of food.]"

Important distinction: Organic certified is always non-GMO, but non-GMO is not necessarily always organic.

Pros of GMO Foods

Let's dive into the arguments in favor of bioengineered foods. Note: be sure to read the cons, since some of these arguments are debunked!

1 - Crop Yield

Potential for improved crop yield - when certain crops are left untreated they can be overcome by weed infestations which can significantly reduce the crop yield, sometimes up to 50%.

They're more weather resistant and insect/pest resistant (easier for farmers to grow), leaving them less bruised or damaged.

2 - Fewer Pesticides

Some argue that GMO crops use fewer pesticides since they're less vulnerable to insects
However, a 2020 study found that GMO crops reduced pesticide use only by about 8.3% initially, while conventional non-organic crops allow for more harmful pesticide ingredients. Over time, superbugs become resistant to the gene-edited crops & can force farmers to use pesticides once again.

3 - Affordability

Since GMO crops are more popular and in more supply, they're usually more affordable (supply + demand in action).

4 - Shelf Life

They can have a longer shelf life (usually because of herbicide use)

Cons of GMO Foods

Now let's dive into the many potential cons of GMO foods:

1 - Health & Environmental Impacts

Long-term health & environmental impacts are unknown. This is a new agricultural practice!

They may negatively impact insects and other species. The full environmental risk to bees and other pollinators is unknown, yet their population is on a sharp and concerning decline.

2 - Failed Crop Yields

The "improve crop yield" argument is debated since some GM crop yields fail. Some studies have even shown a decrease in crop yield! [10, 11, 12, 13]

3 - Antibiotic Resistance

May increase antibiotic resistance, which is a major issue! May even be passed through feces into sewage systems, which creates an even larger issue.

GM crops are losing their effectiveness and superbugs are taking over. Monsanto even admitted that Bt cotton failed since the pink bollworm developed resistance.

4 - Soil Degradation

GM crops may contribute to soil degradation, putting the future of food security at risk and polluting our landscapes. ,

5 - Corporate Greed

GMO seeds are manufactured by a select few large companies that own the intellectual property for the variations (big $$$ for these profiteering companies!). They are able to control the use and distribution of these seeds.

The same companies who are creating the seeds (like Monsanto) are creating the pesticides/herbicides tolerant to those seeds (ex: Glyphosate-tolerant crops). There's a ton of corporate control and heavy industry & political influence in the push for GMOs.

Small-scale farmers are even at risk of being sued by these mega corporations if their crops are contaminated (likely through wind) with a patented GMO crop that they don't legally purchase. It's all centered around profits, not people.

There's also a potential for bias with data surrounding GMO products. Can we really trust the "science" when the companies creating the product are leading the research?

Since many GMO crops are specific herbicide-tolerant, the crops are sprayed with potentially toxic chemicals. You can read more about that here.

We cannot fully confirm if GMOs cause cancer or not since it's so new. "Insufficient evidence" doesn't mean that it's not necessarily true - it means we don't have the long-term data to confirm or deny it yet.

7 - Allergies

There's concern that GMOs may be linked to allergic reactions in some individuals. Since genetically engineered foods are very unstable, they can introduce and elevate levels of certain allergens, especially as they cross-pollinate.

8 - Outcrossing

There's a risk of outcrossing, meaning GMO crops can breed with wild crops, creating new hybrids that weren't intended to be created.

Once GMOs are released into the environment, they can never be recalled. It's a permanent chance in the agricultural landscape that threatens crop diversity. We're forever altering nature and threatening native species.

8 - Morality Concerns

Since GMOs contain altered DNA, are we "playing God?" There are ethical and moral considerations to keep in mind! We're playing with nature.

9 - Biodiversity

Intensive mono-crop farming where the same strains of GMO corn and soy are grown in mass, can reduce flavor profiles and decrease crop diversity. Monocrop farming or "simple crop rotation" can deplete the soil of nutrients and make it less productive over time. It can even lead to erosion and poor microbial growth in soil.

Can We Feed The World Without GMOs?

Controversial topic alert: GMOs do not feed the world. The issues around food poverty do not lie in food production. We are farming and producing enough food! The issue lies in food distribution and food waste management.

The majority of GMO crops go towards animal feed (mostly factory-farmed), textiles, and biofuels, like the production of ethanol. It's not always for direct food consumption! We don't need GMOs to feed the world - even with a rapidly growing population.
Hunger comes from socioeconomic inequity - it does not come from food shortage.

The United States wastes about 30-40% of its food.

What To Do About GMOs

When possible, avoid products with a bioengineered label. Read ingredient labels very carefully - especially look for ingredients that could be derived from GMO crops (think: lecithin, flours, oils, etc...)

Opt for 100% certified organic products (organic is non-GMO, but non-GMO is not necessarily organic).
Support local, regenerative, organic farms that raise animals the way nature intended

If you can't find an organic variety of a crop, opt for the non-GMO version.

If you see a brand clearly breaking the bioengineered law (not properly disclosing it), file a report.

Encourage homesteading/growing food at home or starting an organic vegetable garden

Instead of potentially toxic herbicides, opt for safer options like Sunday Lawn Care

When you spot a non-GMO label, check to see if any of the ingredients would even be grown genetically modified at all (this is a big marketing greenwashing ploy)

When shopping for meat, look for the following:

Organic

Pasture-raised (regeneratively farmed & humanely raised)

Grass-fed & grass-finished (meaning the animal was fed grass up until slaughter)

Local (whenever possible)

Preservative-free (as long as it's fresh) - nitrite & celery extract/celery powder free

You can learn more about processed meat here: What Is The Healthiest Lunch Meat? Processed Meat 101

Final Thoughts - The Bottom Line On GMOs

Whether you're pro-GMO or anti (it's a heated topic)... we all deserve to know what's in our food & make informed choices. Keep your eyes peeled for this change in the food industry.
Genetic modification comes with serious consequences.
After analyzing the pros and cons of genetically engineered crops from a neutral perspective, the answer is clear: the cons far outweigh the pros. Avoiding GMOs whenever possible is the best course of action. Whether you plan to buy GMO products or not, it's clear that the changing regulations and labeling laws are weak. We all deserve to know what's in our food, so let's keep fighting for more food transparency!

Pros And Cons of GMOs - Frequently Asked Questions

Click on the below FAQs to learn more about the pros and cons of GMOs!

What are your thoughts on GMOs?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

You can watch our web story here.

xoxo,

Want to read more? Check out my other articles here!

References on Pros and Cons of GMOs - Information from: FDA, USDA, Economic Research Service, Cornucopia Institute, Anti A, Boston Organics (photo), Non-GMO Project, Insider, WSU, Medical News Today, Living Non-GMO, Auburn, Morgan Myers, Washington Post, PEDIAA, Scantrust, Alliance For Science, Dr. Axe, Sustainable Agriculture, Center For Food Safety, ZBiotics, Green America, Seed World, National Geographic, Slow Food, Iowa State, Eden Foods, Foodprint

Copyright In On Around LLC 2022 ©. The statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the FDA (U.S. Food & Drug Administration). They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. The information provided by this website should not be used as individual medical advice and you should always consult your doctor for individual recommendations and treatment. The information contained in this site is provided on an "as is" basis. Related to this site, there are no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness, or timeliness. In On Around LLC assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site.

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13 Pros And Cons Of GMOs (Backed By Evidence)

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Cue the controversy! We're diving into the pros and cons of GMOs. There are usually a lot of spirited opinions and debates around genetically modified foods, but I intend to keep this article as neutral and impartial as possible. There's a lot of public skepticism around the topic. Is the fear warranted?

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What are Genetically Modified Organisms?

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What are Genetically Modified Organisms?

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Main idea: What is genetic engineering and how does it work?

Facts:

The first created GMO was bacterium in 1973.

In 1974 these technologies were applied to mice.

20 years later the first GM foods were available.

Dialogue: We believe that the process of genetic engineering is extremely complex and should only be carried out by true professionals. If it does, it can have disastrous effects if the individual doing it doesn't have any excellent experience. Therefore, this process should be carried out by someone who has an old hand, is entirely confident in themselves, and is certain that everything will go according to plan.

Summary: A procedure known as genetic engineering, sometimes known as genetic modification, involves changing the DNA in the genome of an organism. It may also include taking DNA from the genome of another organism and combining it with the DNA of the human. Scientists employ genetic engineering to improve or change an individual organism's traits. It has been used to make an insulin that is quite comparable to our own. Genetic engineering has been used on plants to enhance the hardiness, nutritive content, and growth rate of crops including potatoes, tomatoes, and rice. In animals, it has been used to create worms that glow in the dark to help researchers understand more about illnesses like Alzheimer's and lambs that generate a therapeutic protein in their milk that can be used to cure cystic fibrosis.

References: “What Is Genetic Engineering?” @Yourgenome · Science Website, 17 Feb. 2017, https://www.yourgenome.org/facts/what-is-genetic-engineering/.

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What is genetic engineering?

Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic modification, is the process of altering the DNA in an organism's genome.

This may mean changing one base pair (A-T or C-G), deleting a whole region of DNA, or introducing an additional copy of a gene.

It may also mean extracting DNA from another organism's genome and combining it with the DNA of that individual.

Genetic engineering is used by scientists to enhance or modify the characteristics of an individual organism.

Genetic engineering can be applied to any organism, from a virus to a sheep.

For example, genetic engineering can be used to produce plants that have a higher nutritional value or can tolerate exposure to herbicides.

How does genetic engineering work?

To help explain the process of genetic engineering we have taken the example of insulin, a protein that helps regulate the sugar levels in our blood.

Normally insulin is produced in the pancreas, but in people with type 1 diabetes there is a problem with insulin production.

People with diabetes therefore have to inject insulin to control their blood sugar levels.

Genetic engineering has been used to produce a type of insulin, very similar to our own, from yeast and bacteria like .

This genetically modified insulin, 'Humulin' was licensed for human use in 1982.

The genetic engineering process

1. A small piece of circular DNA called a plasmid is extracted from the bacteria or yeast cell.

2. A small section is then cut out of the circular plasmid by restriction enzymes, 'molecular scissors'.

3. The gene for human insulin is inserted into the gap in the plasmid. This plasmid is now genetically modified.

4. The genetically modified plasmid is introduced into a new bacteria or yeast cell.

5. This cell then divides rapidly and starts making insulin.

6. To create large amounts of the cells, the genetically modified bacteria or yeast are grown in large fermentation vessels that contain all the nutrients they need. The more the cells divide, the more insulin is produced.

7. When fermentation is complete, the mixture is filtered to release the insulin.

8. The insulin is then purified and packaged into bottles and insulin pens for distribution to patients with diabetes.

What else is genetic engineering used for?

The first genetically modified organism to be created was a bacterium, in 1973.

In 1974, the same techniques were applied to mice.

In 1994 the first genetically modified foods were made available.

Genetic engineering has a number of useful applications, including scientific research, agriculture and technology.

In plants, genetic engineering has been applied to improve the resilience, nutritional value and growth rate of crops such as potatoes, tomatoes and rice.

In animals it has been used to develop sheep that produce a therapeutic protein in their milk that can be used to treat cystic fibrosis, or worms that glow in the dark to allow scientists to learn more about diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease and the worm

The nematode worm, C. elegans, only has around 300 cells in its entire nervous system, making it a very simple model for studying Alzheimer's disease.

Also, due to the fact the worm is nearly transparent, when their nerve cells are labelled with green fluorescent protein (GFP), it is possible to watch the location and activity of various structures and proteins under the microscope.

The genetic material of C. elegans can easily be genetically modified to make the worm produce specific proteins the researchers want to study.

In humans, the APP gene codes for a protein associated with the amyloid plaques that are characteristic of people with Alzheimer's disease.

So, to study Alzheimer's, the researchers genetically engineered the nerve cells of the worm to contain the APP gene, effectively giving it Alzheimer's.

By tagging the APP protein produced in the worm with green fluorescent protein it was possible to see that all the cells that made contact with APP died as the worm got older.

The researchers were then able to monitor the progression of Alzheimer's disease in the worm and go on to apply their findings to understanding the role of APP in humans with Alzheimer's disease.

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Genetic engineering refers to the direct manipulation of DNA to alter an organism's characteristics (phenotype) in a particular way.

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Main idea: What is genetic engineering, kinds of cells in the human body and techniques of genetic alteration.

Facts:

Two types of cells: somatic and reproductive cells.

Various alternatives for the type of gene modification.

Several methods for getting the necessary genetic changes into all the cells.

Dialogue: We learned about two types of cells and the organs they make up thanks to this website (skin, liver, heart, lungs, etc). We independently learned that altering the genetic makeup of these cells does not affect a person's progeny.

When performing genetic engineering, we must exercise extreme caution since if we unintentionally take the wrong cell, this might be passed on to offspring. What if this is a serious mistake? Because of this, we think that only qualified candidates should be recruited.

Summary: The "genes" found in human or other organism cells regulate the chemical processes that cause the cell to grow and operate, which in turn influence the development and operation of the organism as a whole. An organism receives a portion of its DNA from each parent, and as a result, the parents' qualities are passed on to their children. Reproductive and somatic cells are the two basic types of cells. Although reproductive cells do exist, somatic cells make up the majority of the cells in our body.

There are several possibilities for the type of gene modification. It is possible for external DNA to "homologous replace" DNA found within a gene. The gene might also be made to mutate against its will (changing its structure - "selective reverse mutation"). Or a gene might just be put in. Or a gene might be turned off and prevented from functioning with a chemical.

References: “Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering - MU School of Medicine.” Gene Therapy and Genetic Engineering - MU School of Medicine, https://medicine.missouri.edu/centers-institutes-labs/health-ethics/faq/gene-therapy.

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As the first publicly supported medical school west of the Mississippi River, the University of Missouri School of Medicine has improved health, education and research for more than 170 years.

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Main idea: What is genetic engineering, the five steps of genetic engineering, and gene cloning (plants).

Facts:

The production of GMplants became possible in the early 1980s.

Genetic engineering has been used to develop novel genes of economic importance.

Plant preceding is important.

Dialogue: We believe that genetic engineering is advantageous and beneficial in this situation since it allows for the development of new genes, which allows for the advancement of new scientific discoveries. Additionally, the gene includes information that will confer a characteristic on the organism; therefore, it's feasible that we may even discover a unique species of plant.

Summary: It has proven successful to employ genetic engineering to create new, economically significant genes that can be used to enhance the genetics of agricultural plants. The deliberate insertion of a foreign gene or genes into an organism's genome is known as genetic engineering. The genes may be changed and reinserted into the same species or they may be separated from one creature and transferred to another.

The five steps of genetic engineering for plants are:

1. Locating an organism with a specific trait and extracting its DNA.

2. Cloning a gene that controls the trait.

3. Designing a gene to express in a specific way.

4. Transformation, inserting the gene into the cells of a crop plant.

5. Cross the transgene into an elite background.

References: Suza, Walter, et al. “Genetic Engineering – Genetics, Agriculture, and Biotechnology.” Genetic Engineering – Genetics, Agriculture, and Biotechnology,  https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/genagbiotech/chapter/genetic-engineering/.

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Walter Suza; Donald Lee; Marjorie Hanneman; and Patricia Hain

Introduction

The production of genetically engineered plants became possible after Bob Fraley and others succeeded to use Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform plant cells with recombinant DNA in the early 1980s (Vasil, 2008a). Since this breakthrough in plant biotechnology, GM crops are now routinely developed and grown in many parts of the globe. Current statistics on adoption of genetically engineered crops in the U.S. can be found on the USDA Economic Research Service's website.

Genetic engineering has been used successfully to develop novel genes of economic importance that can be used to improve the genetics of crop plants. Genetic engineering is the targeted addition of a foreign gene or genes into the genome of an organism. The genes may be isolated from one organism and transferred to another or may be genes of one species that are modified and reinserted into the same species. The new genes, commonly referred to as transgenes, are inserted into a plant by a process called transformation. The inserted gene holds information that will give the organism a trait (Figure 1).

Crop genetic improvement (plant breeding) is an important tool but has limitations. First, in conventional terms, genetic improvement can only be done between two plants that can sexually mate with each other. This limits the new traits that can be added to those that already exist in that species. Second, when plants are mated, (crossed), many traits are transferred along with the trait of interest including traits with undesirable effects on yield potential.

Genetic engineering, on the other hand, is not bound by these limitations. It physically removes the DNA from one organism and transfers the gene(s) for one or a few traits into another. Since crossing is not necessary, the 'sexual' barrier between species is overcome. Therefore, traits from any living organism can be transferred into a plant. This method is more specific in that a single trait can be added to a plant.

The overall process of genetic engineering. A basic explanation of the five steps for genetically engineering a crop is provided. The five steps are:

1. Locating an organism with a specific trait and extracting its DNA.

2. Cloning a gene that controls the trait.

3. Designing a gene to express in a specific way.

4. Transformation, inserting the gene into the cells of a crop plant.

5. Cross the transgene into an elite background.

Step 1: DNA Extraction

The process of genetic engineering requires the successful completion of a series of five steps and discoveries. To better understand each of these, the development of Bt maize will be used as an example.

Before the genetic engineering process can begin, a living organism that exhibits the desired trait must be discovered. The trait for Bt maize (resistance to European corn borer) was discovered around 100 years ago. Silkworm farmers in the Orient had noticed that populations of silkworms were dying. Scientists discovered that a naturally occurring soil bacteria was causing the silkworm deaths. These soil bacteria, called Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt for short, produced a protein that was toxic to silkworms, the Bt protein.

Although the scientists did not know it, they had made one of the first discoveries necessary in the process of making Bt corn. The same Bt protein found to be toxic to silkworms is also toxic to European corn borer because both insects belong to the Lepidoptera order. The production of the Bt protein in the bacteria is controlled by the bacteria's genes.

To be able to work with the gene responsible for making the Bt toxin, scientists must extract DNA from the Bt bacteria (Figure 2). This is accomplished by taking a sample of bacteria containing the gene of interest and taking it through a series of steps that separate the DNA from the other parts of a cell.

Step 2: Gene Cloning

The second step of the genetic engineering process is gene cloning. During DNA extraction, all the DNA from the organism is extracted at once. This means the sample of DNA extracted from the Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria will contain the gene for the Bt protein, but also all the other bacterium's genes. Scientists use gene cloning to separate the single gene of interest from the rest of the DNA extracted (Figure 2).

The next stages of genetic engineering will involve further study and experimentation with this gene. To do that, a scientist needs to have thousands of exact copies of it. This copying is also done during the gene cloning step.

Step 3: Gene Design

Gene design relies upon another major discovery. This was the 'One gene One enzyme' Theory first proposed by George W. Beadle and Edward L. Tatum in the 1940's. Discoveries made during their research laid the groundwork for the theory that a single gene stores the information that directs the cell in how to produce a single enzyme (protein). Therefore, there is a single gene that controls the production of the Bt protein. It is called the Bt gene.

Once a gene has been cloned (Figure 2), genetic engineers begin the third step, designing the gene to work once inside a different organism. This is done in a test tube by cutting the gene apart with restriction enzymes and replacing certain regions (Figure 3).

Scientists replaced the bacterial gene promoter with promoters turn on the Bt gene in selected parts of the plant or promoters that can always turn on the Bt gene in all tissues. As a result, the first Bt gene released was designed to produce a level of Bt protein lethal to European corn borer and to only produce the Bt protein in green tissues of the corn plant, (stems, leaves, etc.). Later, Bt genes were designed to produce the lethal level of protein in all tissues of a corn plant, (leaves, stems, tassel, ear, roots, etc.).

Plant transformation and tissue culture

The process of transformation involves the insertion of the desired transgene construct (Figure 5) into cells of the recipient plant species. In this process, scientists isolate tissue or cells from the cultivar they wish to transform and use one of several methods to insert the transgene into the tissue or cells. The transgene construct contains the following key features.

1. A promoter that acts to turn the gene on and off in the cell. The CaMV 35s promoter from the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) is commonly used in genetic engineering. Other types of promoters, such as, the nopaline synthase promoter (NOS-Pro) also may be used to express transgenes in plant tissues.

2. A selectable marker that is used to select cells that successfully obtained the construct during the transformation process. In figure 4, the selectable marker in the construct is NPT II (Kanr) that controls resistance to the antibiotic kanamycin. The cells of the plant used for transformation will be grown on a media containing the antibiotic. Other selectable markers that have been used successfully in plants include genes controlling herbicide resistance.

3. A terminator sequence, such as the nopaline synthase (NOS) is included to mark the end of the transgene sequence for proper expression in plant cells.

Two commonly used transformation methods include Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation and biolistics transformation (aka gene gun), commonly referred to as particle bombardment (Figure 5). The biolistics method involves the use of high pressure to propel tungsten or gold beads coated with DNA of the gene construct into plant cells.

Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation

Crown galls are tumors of plants that arise at the site of infection by some species of the Agrobacterium. Agrobacteria do not enter the plant cells but transfer a DNA segment called T-DNA from their circular extra chromosomal tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid into the genome of the host cells. Ti plasmids are maintained in Agrobacteria because a part of their T-DNA contains genes that encode unusual amino acids used by Agrobacterium. The T-DNA also encodes genes that affect host plant hormone physiology resulting in induced growth of the infected cells and tumor formation. Scientists took advantage of Agrobacterium's ability to stably integrate its T-DNA into the plant genome for introducing rDNA into plant cells. They first removed the genes that cause tumor or crown gall disease in plants from the T-DNA and engineered the plasmid for replication in both Escherichia coli and Agrobacterium cells. The initial replication of the construct in E. coli is useful for verifying the presence of the cloned gene and increasing the quantity of construct DNA for subsequent uses, including sequencing and transformation into Agrobacterium.

The steps in Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of plants are described in Figure 6.

At present, very few host cells receive the construct during the transformation process. Each random insertion of the construct into the genome of plant cells is referred as an event. Useful events are rare because of the random nature of the transformation process. Selectable markers are very important because they allow the identification of the rare events (Figure 7). Scientists must screen many potential transformants to identify events that are useful for breeding.

From there, the new DNA may or may not be successfully inserted into a chromosome. The cells that do receive the new gene are called transgenic and are selected from those that are not transgenic (Figure 7). Many types of plant cells are totipotent meaning a single plant cell can develop into an entire plant. Therefore, each transgenic cell can then develop into an entire plant which has the transgene in every cell. The transgenic plants are grown to maturity in greenhouses and the seed they produce, which has inherited the transgene, is collected. The genetic engineer's job is now complete. He/she will hand the transgenic seeds over to a plant breeder who is responsible for the final step.

Inheritance of a transgene in plants

Transformation is successful when a transgene is incorporated into one of the chromosomes. The cells that have only one copy of the transgene in their genomes are said to be hemizygous (hemi = half, zygous = zygote). Because the segregation in the progeny of a hemizygous plant is the same as for a heterozygous plant, the term heterozygous will be used in this course when referring to a plant that is not homozygous for the transgene. The trait will segregate in the progeny in the same manner as any other gene in the plant as illustrated below (Figure 8).

Step 5: Backcross Breeding

The fifth and final part of producing a genetically engineered crop is backcross breeding (Figure 9). Transgenic plants are crossed with elite breeding lines using traditional plant breeding methods to combine the desired traits of elite parents and the transgene into a single line. The offspring are repeatedly crossed back to the elite line to obtain a high-yielding transgenic line. The result will be a plant with a yield potential close to current hybrids that expresses the trait encoded by the new transgene.

The Process of Plant Genetic Engineering

The entire genetic engineering process is basically the same for any plant. The length of time required to complete all five steps from start to finish varies depending upon the gene, crop species, and available resources. It can take anywhere from 6-15+ years before a new transgenic hybrid is ready for release to be grown in production fields.

The tissue culture process of regenerating transgenic plants from callus may result in genetic variation that is not associated with the transgene. Also, the parent line used for transformation commonly is selected for the frequency with which useful events can be obtained and not its agronomic performance. Therefore, transgenes are incorporated into commercial cultivars by conventional breeding procedures, such as backcrossing.

References

Vasil, I. K. (2008) A short history of plant biotechnology. Phytochem 7: 387-394.

Vasil, I. K. (2008) A history of plant biotechnology: from the Cell Theory of Shleiden and Schwann to biotech crops. Plant Cell Rep 27: 1423-1440.

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Walter Suza; Donald Lee; Marjorie Hanneman; and Patricia Hain The production of genetically engineered plants became possible after Bob Fraley and others succeeded to use Agrobacterium tumefaciens to transform plant cells with recombinant DNA in the early 1980s (Vasil, 2008a). Since this breakthrough in plant biotechnology, GM crops are now routinely developed and grown in many parts of the globe.

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Main idea: What is it, its processes and techniques, and different applications.

Facts:

Term “genetic engineering” referred to various techniques.

Possibility for recombinant DNA technology emerged with the discovery of restriction enzymes.

Most recombinant DNA technology involves the insertion of foreign genes into the plasmids of common laboratory strains of bacteria.

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Summary: In order to alter an organism or population of organisms, genetic engineering involves the artificial manipulation, alteration, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules. Human insulin, human growth hormone, and the hepatitis B vaccination are examples of goods produced using genetic engineering techniques. Other genetically engineered species, including disease-resistant plants, have also been created using these techniques.

References: “Genetic Engineering | Definition, Process, Uses, Examples, Techniques, and Facts.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/science/genetic-engineering.

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genetic engineering, the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules in order to modify an organism or population of organisms. The term genetic engineering is generally used to refer to methods of recombinant DNA technology, which emerged from basic research in microbial genetics. The techniques employed in genetic engineering have led to the production of medically important products, including human insulin, human growth hormone, and hepatitis B vaccine, as well as to the development of genetically modified organisms such as disease-resistant plants.

Historical developments

The term genetic engineering initially referred to various techniques used for the modification or manipulation of organisms through the processes of heredity and reproduction. As such, the term embraced both artificial selection and all the interventions of biomedical techniques, among them artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization (e.g., "test-tube" babies), cloning, and gene manipulation. In the latter part of the 20th century, however, the term came to refer more specifically to methods of recombinant DNA technology (or gene cloning), in which DNA molecules from two or more sources are combined either within cells or in vitro and are then inserted into host organisms in which they are able to propagate.

The possibility for recombinant DNA technology emerged with the discovery of restriction enzymes in 1968 by Swiss microbiologist Werner Arber. The following year American microbiologist Hamilton O. Smith purified so-called type II restriction enzymes, which were found to be essential to genetic engineering for their ability to cleave a specific site within the DNA (as opposed to type I restriction enzymes, which cleave DNA at random sites). Drawing on Smith's work, American molecular biologist Daniel Nathans helped advance the technique of DNA recombination in 1970-71 and demonstrated that type II enzymes could be useful in genetic studies. Genetic engineering based on recombination was pioneered in 1973 by American biochemists Stanley N. Cohen and Herbert W. Boyer, who were among the first to cut DNA into fragments, rejoin different fragments, and insert the new genes into bacteria, which then reproduced.

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Genetic engineering | Definition, Process, Uses, Examples, Techniques, & Facts

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Genetic engineering, the artificial manipulation, modification, and recombination of DNA or other nucleic acid molecules to modify an organism. The term is generally used to refer specifically to methods of recombinant DNA technology. Learn about the history, techniques, and applications of genetic engineering.