Genetic modification

By: By: Ji Eun KimJi Eun Kim

Cecilie EideCecilie Eide

Ola SkoczekOla Skoczek

Simon HagenmaierSimon Hagenmaier

Dorottya PapiDorottya Papi

Renaat MynyRenaat Myny

Sam ChiersSam Chiers

Melodie Haelters Melodie Haelters

Index1. Definition

2. History

3. Advantages and disadvantages

4. Examples ( golden rice, sweet corn and long- lasting tomatoes)

5. European regulations about labelling

6. Concerns Environmental / Health

7. Ethical problems

1.Definition

What?

The manipulation of a living organism’s genetic

How?

By eliminating, modifying or adding copies of specific genes often from other organisms through modern molecular biology techniques.

Other names: Recombinant DNA (rDNA)

Genetic engineering

Gene splicing

2. History

1953: Structure of DNA deduced (Watson, Crick, Wilkins, Franklin).

1968: DNA code deciphered

1973: First recombinant DNA

1990: First genitically modified food (tomato).

1994: The first GM food was launched on the American market, it were tomatoes.

Two years later also GB launched the tomatoes into their market.

2002: 60 million acres of GM food were cultivated

2003: 70 million acres were cultivated

2005: 90 million acres were cultivated

Conclusion

3.Advantages and disadvantages of GM food

Desired characteristics of food are achieved and in a shorter time.

Improves nutritional value

Many people rely on GM food for medicines

Gene technology is the best solution to the problem of world hunger

A. Advantages

B. Disadvantages

Unacceptable to some groups to copy genes.

Interfiere in food chain

Genetically engineered animals may suffer more health problems

Allergic reactions

Golden rice Golden rice

Advantage:

It contains Vitamin-A,

so children in developing

countries won’t become blind

Disadvantage:

Poor countries become

depentent on rich countries

which have the technics for

engineering

Sweet corn Sweet corn

Advantages: - No longer use of insecticides - The farmer don’t need to deal

with toxic

Disadvantages: - Insects can become resistant

to the poison - Endangered butterflies are in

bigger threat

Long- lasting tomatoes Long- lasting tomatoes

Advantages:

- GM tomatoes can remain fresh longer

- GM tomatoes can tolerate a lengthier transport time

Disadvantage: - Tomatoes are resistant to

antibiotics

5. European regulations about labelling

Eu law : labelling if the product has more than 0.9 percent of GM DNA in the product.

Such as: GMO- soja an GMO- sweet are labelled as GMO products.

Other derivatives don’t have to be mentioned on these product’s label.

(For example sugar, …)

But most producers don’t label their products because they don’t want to lose their consumers or the label they put on the product is very small. (see these pictures)

6. Concerns

A. Environmental

B. Health

o Effect of herbicide tolerant and insect resistant GM crops

o the growth of GM crops

o “Genetic Pollution”

o weakened immune system

o Hidden Allergens

o Increased antibiotic resistance

7. Ethical Problems

Christians GM unacceptable intervention

A. The first one is ethic itself

B. The second one is the question if it will feed the world

Manipulated food = bigger, better and more crops

This could be a solution for the famine in the poor countries.

But…