Biotechnology allows the use of living organisms or their processes for human ne
ID: 15635 • Letter: B
Question
Biotechnology allows the use of living organisms or their processes for human needs or purposes. Currently, this topic includes such general examples as cloning, stem cells (adult, umbilical cord, and embryonic), DNA fingerprinting, biological warfare, bioremediation, genetically modified organisms, vaccines, and transgenic plants and animals to name a few. In this assignment, you will explore specific examples of biotechnology applications.Assignment details:
Research how a SPECIFIC biotechnology application within the above GENERAL examples (or ones not listed above) is used today. Example: Insulin production in bacteria is an example under the general topic of recombinant organisms.
1.What specific biotechnology application did you choose?
2.Briefly describe this biotechnology application. How is it done?
3.Based upon the definition of biotechnology in the assignment, describe how your biotechnology application is an example of biotechnology.
4.What benefits are derived from this application?
5.Are there any concerns or negative impacts associated with this use of biotechnology? Why or why not?
Important: Each person in the class should choose a DIFFERENT biotechnology application. Read other students' posts first to see what they have selected and choose a different biotechnology application.
Explanation / Answer
GMO Genetic engineering is a process whereby genes from one organism are moved into the genome of another organism. In the case of genetically engineered foods, genes from bacteria or other plants or organisms are introduced into foods such as soybeans, corn, potatoes, and rice to provide herbicide-tolerance and/or insect resistance to the plants. The mechanism for creating a genetically modified organism is often called the recombinant DNA technique. It involves combining the strands of DNA from different sources to create a new DNA molecule that has a different combination of genes than that which is seen naturally. The newly created DNA is then inserted into a living organism or an egg or sperm, which will result in a genetically modified organism. Organisms may be genetically modified for any different reasons. Genetic modification is done to make organisms more vigorous, also to add resistance to specific threats, or for the goal of expressing a particular trait in an organism. It can be used for many other purposes like incorporating a deficient gene for nutrition into a crop so that it gets expressed. The first step is to isolate the gene of interest and then link to another piece of DNA sequences so that the gene gets expressed in recipient organism. some of the techniques adopted include: Microinjection In this method, eggs are isolated from animals and fertilized in vitro, and then the constructed DNA containing the foreign gene is injected into the nucleus of the egg. The foreign DNA is often inserted at random locations into the DNA of the fertilized egg. The egg is then implanted into the oviduct of a surrogate animal, where the egg will develop. This method has helped in creating many transgenic animals. Some examples include from mice to large animals such as cattle. Often it is seen that only a small percentage of the implanted eggs develop into the transgenic animals, and only a small percentage of these animals express the inserted gene efficiently because of the random insertion methodology. Retroviral Vectors The gene of interest is inserted into the retrovirus genome and then is used to infect embryonic cells, which later develop into organisms carrying the specific gene of interest. In this process the gene is inserted randomly into different sites in the DNA of different embryonic cells. Not only might the DNA be expressed at low levels or not at all, as in microinjection, but it may be expressed only in certain cells. Embryonic Stem Cell Transfer This method allows insertion of the genes of interest into specific sites in the genome of the recipient organism. Embryonic stem cells are then isolated from the recipient organism and are allowed to grow in tissue culture flasks. These cells are then modified by inserting DNA containing the gene of interest and sequences that enable the DNA to be inserted into specific sites in the genome. These modified embryonic stem cells are then injected into the blastocyst stage of a developing recipient organism, and this blastocyst containing the gene of interest is implanted into a surrogate mother. The resulting organisms express the gene. Examples of GM foods with genetically modified ingredients: Canola- is often included in oil products and in fried or baked snack foods. Corn- GM corns have been developed as pest resistant and the unfit variety exceeds its Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) or the self-produced pesticide. There are also corn-based products like snack foods, baked and fried foods, which serve as special purpose foods as well as edible oil foods. Cottonseed Oil- is often blended with vegetable oil products, casings, snack food, edible oil products as well as fried or baked foods. Dairy Products- 22% of US cows are injected with bovine growth hormone as a form of genetic modification to raise the quality of milk and other products. Meat- meat from animals that come from farms that use GM feed or injected with the bovine growth hormone. Papaya- GM papayas have been developed as virus resistant Soybeans- GM plant variety that were developed as herbicide resistant and can be used in the production of soybean-based foods like soy milk and other drinks, tofu, soy four, lecithin, soy oil, and other soy-based by-products . Tomatoes- tomatoes was modified genetically in order to attain longer shelf-life by inhibiting the crop’s natural tendency to rot and degrade easily. The Flavr Savr was the first genetically engineered tomato. Vitamins- Most vitamins are derivatives from GM food sources: some examples include Vitamin C from corn, D and K carriers from corn derivatives such as starch, glucose, E from soy, A, B2, B6 and B12 from genetically modified organisms. Children Children face the greatest risk of GM foods: • they are the young, fast-developing bodies which are influenced most • they are more susceptible to allergies • susceptible to problems with milk • susceptible to nutritional problems • in danger from antibiotic resistant diseases Children’s young, fast-developing bodies are influenced most Children's bodies develop at a fast pace and are more likely to be influenced and show the effects of genetically modified (GM) foods. studies were done on young adolescent rats in their GM feeding studies. The rats showed significant health damage after only 10 days, including damaged immune systems and digestive function, smaller brains, livers etc Children are more susceptible to allergies Children are three to four times more prone to allergies than adults. GM corn is particularly problematic for children, as they depend on higher percentage of corn in their diet. Further, allergic children who often rely on corn protein also face serious problems. Children are more susceptible to problems with milk Milk and dairy products from cows which are treated with the genetically engineered bovine growth hormone (rbGH) contain an increased amount of the hormone IGF-1.this is often associated with the highest risk factors associated with breast and prostate cancer. Children are more susceptible to nutritional problems Consumption of GM foods by children could lead to unpredicted harmful changes in the nutritional state of foods Children are in danger from antibiotic resistant diseases It is seen that in children who are prone to ear and other infections are at a high risk of facing antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria, due to the use of antibiotic resistant genes in GM food. Pregnant women • Pregnant mothers eating GM foods may endanger their offspring by harming the normal fetal development and thus leading to the altered gene expression which gets passed to future generations. Embryo development can be adversely affected by tiny amounts of substances in the mother’s diet. A pregnant mother’s diet have the ability to even alter gene expression in children which gets passed on to the future generations.GM crops may contain substances that impact normal fetal development, but have never been adequately tested for these effects. The consumption of GE food by pregnant women, women who may becoming pregnant and breastfeeding mothers may also have implications for the development of allergies as well as growth and development but has not been studied widely. Birth defects could also be caused by plant toxicants, by poisonous chemicals inherent in the gene splicing process, and by herbicides on and incorporated in the cells of the GMO, all of which combine and accumulate in the system of a pregnant woman and are passed through the placenta to the unborn child. . These chemicals interferes with the enzymes or hormones in the body. Disruption of hormones in a pregnant woman’s body could be profoundly damaging to her offspring. The herbicide chemical bromoxynil has been linked with spinal and skull defects, reduced fetal weight, and developmental disorders in human fetuses (Lappe, pp. 41-47).And Glufosinate has been linked to birth defects, damage in human blood cells, learning disabilities, and abnormal behavior in children” (R. Cummins, p. 46). Studies indicate that Roundup disrupts hormones and is associated with birth defects in humans (Rachel's Environment and Health News, issue 751, Sept. 5, 2002). Roundup was linked to a 3-fold increase in attention deficit disorders Genetically modified organisms could cause genetic damage that may not be detected in the first generation but could increase in severity in future generations. Mammalian experts have stated that it takes at least four generations to know what the effect of a novel GMfood will be. Infants The use of GMOs is of particular concern for infants and young children. it is to be concerned that GMOs in baby foods are not adequately tested for safety and should not be used in baby foods as artificially fed infants are dependent on formula as their sole source of food. Infant formula is already a inferior food for babies which naturally puts them at greater risk for variety of illnesses. this includes ear and upper respiratory infections, asthma, diabetes and cancer. These risks may be increased when infant formula is genetically engineered. GMO ingredients can alter the nutritional value of baby foods, increase exposure to toxins, and elevate the risk of developing allergies and resistance to antibiotics. Children are three to four times more prone to allergies than adults and face the highest risk of death from food allergy. Infants below two years old have the highest incidence of reactions, especially to new allergens encountered in the diet. Even trace amounts of allergens can sometimes cause reactions in children. Breast fed infants can be exposed via the mother's diet. Any baby food containing GM products could lead to a dramatic rise in allergies and thus should be avoided by all means.
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