Brainstorm: Why Genetically
Modify a Plant?
Some Recent Stat’s…
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In 2006, 252 million acres of transgenic crops were
planted in 22 countries by 10.3 million farmers.
The majority of these crops were herbicide- and
insect-resistant soybeans, corn, cotton, canola, and
alfalfa.
Other crops grown commercially or field-tested are
a sweet potato resistant to a virus that could
decimate most of the African harvest, rice with
increased iron and vitamins that may alleviate
chronic malnutrition in Asian countries, and a
variety of plants able to survive weather extremes.
In 2006, countries that grew 97% of the global
transgenic crops were the United States (53%),
Argentina (17%), Brazil (11%), Canada (6%), India
(4%), China (3%), Paraguay (2%) and South Africa
(1%).
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
Coming Soon?
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Bananas that produce human
vaccines against infectious
diseases such as hepatitis B;
Fish that mature more quickly;
Cows that are resistant to bovine
spongiform encephalopathy
(mad cow disease);
Plants that produce new plastics
with unique properties.
Source: U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science
How Are Plants
Genetically
Modified?
A Few Molecular Tools:
Restriction Enzymes
A Few Molecular Tools:
Bacterial Plasmids
Many bacteria carry
additional genes
on small, circular
DNA molecules
known as
plasmids.
Plasmids are
separate from the
bacterial
chromosome.
A Few Molecular Tools:
Sneaky Tricks
New genes can be
introduced into
plants through
microinjection,
electroporation,
with viruses, or
using “bioballistics”!
Our Goal:
Identify
genetically
modified plants
by using primer
specific to a
universal
promoter.
Carbon Footprint
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What is it?
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The demand on biocapacity that results from the
burning of fossil fuels in terms of the amount of
forest area required to sequester the carbon dioxide
emissions
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What contributes to this value?
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What can be done to reduce this number?
Carbon Footprint
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http://www.footprintnetwork.org/gfn_sub.php?
content=myfootprint
Lab This Week:
Steps:
1. Extract DNA from experimental samples
and controls.
2. Prepare PCR reactions using
micropipettes.
3. Run PCR reactions.
4. Gel electrophoresis to visualize results.
5. Analyze and interpret results.
Lab This Week:
Keys to Success:
1. Read carefully
2. Pipette carefully!
3. Make good use of
your lab notebook!
Using Micropipettes
You try!
Lab This Week:
Experimental Design:
You will extract DNA from 2 food sources, a
certified, GMO-free food, and the food product
we wish to test. Grind your GMO- sample first!
Lab This Week:
Experimental Design:
We will run PCR’s on 3 DNA samples:
1. The GMO- sample you prepared
2. The food DNA you wish to test (you prepared)
3. A sample of DNA from GMO+ food (supplied)
Lab This Week:
Experimental Design:
For each DNA sample, you will run 2 PCR Reactions:
1. With primers that amplify (copy) DNA from all
plants.
2. With primers that amplify (copy) DNA from
genetically modified plants.
Lab This Week:
Experimental Design:
Tube
Number
Master Mix
DNA
1
20 ul Plant MM (green)
20 ul Non-GMO food control DNA
2
20 ul GMO MM (red)
20 ul Non-GMO food control DNA
3
20 ul Plant MM (green)
20 ul Test food DNA
4
20 ul GMO MM (red)
20 ul Test food DNA
5
20 ul Plant MM (green)
20 ul GMO positive control DNA
6
20 ul GMO MM (red)
20 ul GMO positive control DNA
Thus each group will set-up a total of 6 PCR
reactions.
Thinking About Our Results
Thinking About Our Results