GMO
Genetically Modified
Organisms
Presented
By
Alex Earnest Hall
What is a Genetically Modified
Organism?

GMO is an organism whose genetic material
has been altered using techniques in
genetics generally known as recombinant
DNA technology.

GMO generally does not cover organisms
whose genetic makeup has been altered by
conventional cross breeding or by
“mutagenesis” breeding, as these methods
predate the discovery of the recombinant
DNA techniques.
History of the GMO
The origin of this genetic
engineering were a series of
sequential scientific advances from
the discovery of DNA to the
production of the first recombinant
bacteria expressing a frog gene in
1973.
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Uses of GMO
Examples of GMO are diverse, and
include transgenic experimental
animals such as mice, several fish
species, transgenic plants, or various
microscopic organism altered for the
purpose of genetic research or for the
production of pharmaceuticals.
Transgenic Animals
Transgenic animals are animals
produced with externally introduced
genes. Transgenic animals can be used
in many fields and as models to test the
effect of certain genes on health.


An example are transgenic flies.
Current
Information on GMO
There is little international
consensus regarding the
acceptability and effective role of
modified complete organisms such
as plants or animals.

GMO Currents
Issues have been brought to the
World Trade Organization, which
determined that not allowing GMO
an unnecessary obstacle to
international trade.

GMO Currents
The practice of genetic
modification as a scientific
technique is not restricted in
the United States.

GMO
Genetic Modification within
agriculture is an issue of some
strong debate in the United
States, the European Union,
and some other countries.

Genetic Modified Organisms

Genetically modified characters,
whether as heroes, villains, or
backdrop, feature prominently in
many works of fiction
GMO

In the Spider-Man movie, Peter Parker
was bitten by a super-spider, enhanced
with the genes of many different
spiders. The abilities of all these
spiders were then transferred from the
super-spider, into Peter turning him
into Spider-Man.
GMO Benefits
Crops
 Animals
 Environment
 Society

Benefits

Crops: Enhance taste and quality
Reduce maturation time
Increase nutrients and stress

Animals: Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk.

Society: Increased food security for growing
populations.
GMO Controversies
Safety
 Access and Intellectual Property
 Ethics
 Labeling
 Society

Controversies of GMO

Safety: Potential human health impact
Potential environmental impact

Ethics: Violation of natural organism
Stress for animals
Tampering with nature by mixing
genes among species.
Other Controversies of GMO

Access and Intellectual Property
1. Domination of world food production by a
few companies.
2. Increasing dependence on Industralized
nations by developing countries.
3. Foreign exploitation of natural resources.
Additional Controversies of GMO

Labeling: Not mandatory in some countries.
Mixing GM crops with non-GM
confounds labeling attempts.

Society: New advances may be skewed to
interests of rich countries.
GMO Countries

In 2003, countries grew 99% of the
global transgenic crops were the
United States=63%.
 Argentina= 21%
 Canada =6%
 Brazil= 4%
 China= 4%
 South Africa =1%
Summary
Although “biotechnology” and “
genetic modification” commonly are
used interchangeably, GM is a special
set of technologies that alter the genetic
makeup of such living organisms as
animals, plants, or bacteria.
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THE END
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING AND GOD
BLESS

YOUR FRIEND
ALEX EARNEST HALL
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