BENEFITS AND RISKS OF GMOS  The gene responsible for the production of

OBJECTIVES: Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the protein is inserted to crops like cotton,
using GMOs. eggplant, and tomato.
Previous Lesson: Genetic Engineering and the Uses of GMOs
 Organisms have different characteristics because of the variety of genes  These plants began to manufacture Bt
expressed. proteins themselves. The proteins are toxic to
 The technology allows insertion of a desired trait to an organism through
the process of recombinant DNA technology (Genetic Engineering) pests but not to humans.
 Genetic Engineering is the process of adding a foreign DNA to the
genome or all genetic material of another organism.
HERBICIDE-RESISTANT PLANTS
 Recombinant DNA technology is the technique of combining two DNA  Using herbicides may have killed the weeds
sequences from different sources.
 Genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism or microorganism
around the plant but it also has an adverse
whose genetic material has been altered to contain in a segment of DNA effect to crops.
from another organism.
 Scientists were able to develop the
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF GMOS
characteristic of plants where they can
 Genetic engineering has a wide application in
tolerate the chemicals in the herbicides. Thus,
medicine and in agriculture.
the surrounding weeds are killed and leave
 Because of genetic engineering, plants
the main crop unaffected.
become resistant to pests, weeds, and that
INCREASE IN NUTRITIONAL VALUE
crops are grown with more nutritional values.
 Genetic engineering can alter the traits
PEST-RESISTANT PLANTS
expressed in crops including their nutritional
 Scientist were able to develop pest-resistant
value.
crops by introducing the bacterium, Bacillus
 One notable project is the production of the
thuringiensis (Bt) to plants.
Golden Rice which addresses the nutritional
 Bt produces crystal proteins which are toxic to
deficiencies associated with Vitamin A which
crop pests such as horn worms.
 greatly affects countries with citizens under  GMO crops have toxic or allergenic effects on
the poverty line. laboratory animals based on studies.
 Genetic engineers isolated genes (portion of  GMO and Non-GMO crops cannot co-exist.
the DNA) that encode enzymes for beta-  GMO is not precise technology that will
carotene from daffodil flower and added continue to deliver unpleasant surprises.
them to the rice. In this way beta-carotene, a THE WOLBACHIA PROJECT
precursor to Vitamin A has been synthesized. In Singapore’s government laboratories,
OTHER BENEFITS OF GMO scientists have bred the bacteria-carrying
 It could potentially solve hunger and nutrient mosquitoes in rows of pallets where they’ve
deficiencies among children. separated the male pupae for release in the worst-
 Growing crops in different seasons and hit dengue areas.
conditions can be done. Plants that do not These in-bred mosquitoes aren’t like
grow in warm weather can be modified to fit conventional mosquitoes--they cannot spread
with the different types of weather. malaria or even dengue. These diseases are
 More yields of crops can be expected. Since primarily spread by female mosquitoes and the
pest and weeds can be removed weeds can Wolbachia Project includes all male mosquitoes
be removed without affecting the plant, which are genetically modified.
increase of harvest can happen. These mosquitoes, when mate with female
DISADVANTAGES OF GMOS CONSUMPTION mosquitoes (that aren’t genetically modified),
 GMO crops increase pesticide use. don’t fertilize the eggs, thus preventing them from
 GMO crops have created superweed. hatching. Eventually, the female mosquitoes die
(they can survive only up to 7 days) and the
spreading of the disease is gradually reduced.