Information Sheet STS 123.

3-3
Specific Issues in Science, Technology, and Society
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) and Gene Therapy

Learning Objectives
After reading this INFORMATION SHEET, YOU MUST be able to:
1. Identify the uses and effects of GMOs and gene therapy on society, and
2. Discuss the moral and bioethical questions concerning genetic
engineering.
This section discusses the moral and ethical issues concerning GMOs and
their impacts on society. It also sheds light on the various forms and applications
of gene therapy.

Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are products
of artificial manipulation and alteration of a species’
genetic material in a laboratory using genetic
engineering. Plant, animal, bacteria, and virus genes
may be combined or may be crossbred to produce
another kind of species that do not naturally occur in the
environment.
One of the most controversial issues in science and
technology is the introduction of genetically modified
seeds in the agriculture sector that resulted in increased
crop yield. New technologies are used to artificially
develop traits in plants, such as resistance to browning pests. With the aim to
improve harvest and the agriculture sector as a whole, humans seem to be
disinterested in preserving genetic diversity the natural way.
Increased crop yield, pest resistance, and other benefits of GMOs are indeed
advantageous, yet there are also disadvantages that need to be studied
comprehensively. In addition, the growing concern with how GMOs may affect
consumers’ health and the environment needs to be addressed.
Genetic engineering, usually associated with recombinant DNA technology, is
founded on the work of many scientists over the years. In 1953, the discovery of
DNA by James Watson and Francis Crick opened the gates for the countless
possibilities of genetic engineering. In 1973, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen
were the first scientists to genetically modify an organism by combining genes
from two different E.coli.
In 1982, the US Supreme Court ruled to allow the patenting of GMOs. This
ruling allowed the Exxon Oil company to start using a microorganism that can
consume oil.
In 1982, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first GMO-
Humulin, a type of insulin produced using genetically engineered E.coli bacteria
to be available in the market.
In 1993, FDA approved bovine somatotropin (bST), a metabolic protein
hormone used to increase milk production in dairy cows for commercial use.

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 In 1994, FDA approved the Flavr Savr
tomato for sale on grocery stores. This kind
of tomato has a delayed-ripening effect that
gives a longer shelf life compared with
natural tomatoes.
In 1995, Bt Potatoes and Corn, and
Roundup Ready Soybeans were approved
safe by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In 1996, weeds resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide used for many GMO
crops, were detected in Australia. Research shows that the super weeds are 7 to
11 times more resistant to glyphosate that the standard susceptible population.
In the same year, Dolly, the first cloned animal, was born.
In 1997, the European Union ruled in favor of mandatory labeling on all GMO
food products, including animal feed.
In 1998, a genetically modified papaya in Hawaii was found to be resistant
to the Ring spot virus and produced the Bacillus thuringiensis toxin, an
insecticide that is not harmful to humans.
Starting 1999, over 100 million acres worldwide are planted with genetically
engineered seeds.
In 2000, golden rice was developed in the Philippines to address vitamin A
deficiency, which is a public health issue in Asian countries where rice is a staple
food crop. Golden rice is a variety (Oryza sativa) genetically modified to
biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible parts of rice.
Additional three beta-carotene-synthesized genes differentiate the golden rice
from its parental strain. The introduction of golden rice was opposed by
environmental and anti-globalization advocates because this GMO was thought
to compromise food production, nutrition, and financial security.
In 2003, a Bt-toxin-resistant caterpillar-cum-moth, Helicoverpa zea, was
found feasting on GMO Bt cotton crops in the southern United States.
In 2006, yorkshire pigs were genetically modified to produce offspring that
produce the enzyme phytase in their saliva to digest plant phosphorus, unlike
that of normal pigs.
In 2011, a researcher in eastern Quebec found Bt toxins in the blood of
pregnant women and showed evidence that the toxin could be passed on to the
babies.
In 2012, French farmer Paul Francois sued Monsanto for chemical poisoning
that he claimed was caused by the pesticide Lasso, which was part of the
Roundup Ready line of products. He won the case.
As early as 2013, corn and poplars were genetically modified and used to
produce biofuel,
which is regarded as an efficient substitute for petroleum products.
In 2014, the patent on the Roundup Ready line of genetically engineered
seeds ended.
Numerous GMOs are produced all over the world. Those mentioned here
involve mutation.

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Science agrees that the majority of mutations attempted on a species have the
probability to fail miserably, and the individual plant/animal would not survive
(May, 2007).
To date, the production and consumption of GMOs are being argued upon
due to their safety alongside the right of humans to modify naturally occurring
organisms. New organisms created using genetic engineering can pose
ecological issues because the long-term effects of genetic engineering to the
environment is uncertain. GMOs may cause imbalance in the ecology of a
region just as what exotic species do. An accidents in genetically engineering a
virus or bacteria, for example, could result in super bacteria that display
antimicrobial resistance, which may cause a serious epidemic when released.
Gene Therapy
Gene therapy is the method of inserting genes or nucleic acid into cells as
drug to treat diseases. In 1972, Theodore Friedman and Richard Roblin
proposed that people with genetic disorders can be treated by replacing defective
DNA with good DNA.
In 1985, Dr. W. French Anderson and Dr. Michael Blasse worked together
to show that cells of patients with Adenosine deaminiase (ADA) deficiency can be
corrected in tissue culture. In
1990, the first approved gene
therapy clinical research took
place at the National
Institutes of Health (NIH)
under the team of Dr.
Anderson. It was conducted
on a four-year-old girl who
had ADA deficiency. In 1993,
the first somatic treatment
that produced a permanent
genetic changed was
performed.
The first commercial gene therapy product Gendicine was approved in China
in 2003 for the treatment of certain cancers. Due to some clinical successes since
2006, gene therapy gained greater attention from researchers but was still
considered as an experimental technique.
In 2016, the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the
European Medicines Agency (EMA) endorsed the gene therapy treatment called
Strimvelis that was approved by the European Commission in June 2018.
Some studies transplanted genes to speed up the destruction of cancer cells.
Gene or cell therapies have emerged as realistic prospects for the treatment of
cancer, and involve the delivery of genetic information to a tumor to facilitate the
production of therapeutic proteins. This area of gene therapy still needs further
studies before an efficient and safe gene therapy procedure is adopted (Gene
Revolution: Issues and Impacts, n.d., Wirth et al.,2013)

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Ethical Issues in Genetic Engineering
Various concerns on genetic engineering arise, making gene therapy and
GMOs very controversial innovations in science and technology. Others support
that it is unethical for humans to have a hand in genetically altering and
engineering organisms. There are instances when genetic engineering have
caused severe repercussions to public health. Until today, cloning is still
unacceptable to many for it violates the belief that only a higher being should be
responsible for the existence of organisms on earth. There are also ethical and
moral issues on stem cell therapy as it makes use of stem cells sourced from
human embryos and thus destroys them. These concerns regarding genetic
engineering and gene therapy are rooted in the question of whether or not
humans are playing gods in the alteration of genes on organisms.
Genetic engineering also poses problems in agriculture. Hence, there is a
need to study the ecological processes applied to agricultural production
systems. Agroecology is a field of study that presents novel management
approaches on farming systems that may help address concerns regarding the
effect of GMOs on biodiversity and the health of the consumers. Further
researches as well as clinical experiments to outline functional mechanisms,
predictive approaches, patient-related studies, and upcoming challenges should
be done to address existing problems in the development of and to acquire future
perspectives in gene therapy.

ASSOCIATE IN COMPUTER Date Developed:

Bulacan
TECHNOLOGY August 2020 Page ____
Polytechnic Date Revised: of 104
SCIENCE, College
TECHNOLOGY AND
Developed by:
SOCIETY Document No.
Melody N. Benedictos Revision # 00
STS 123 40-SCI-113