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Designer Plants GMOs

What is a GMO? Genetically Modified Crops (GMOs) A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. (Yes, this is from google.) A GMO is plant (or animal) whose DNA has been modified.

History of GMOs 1973- First man-made DNA strand is created 1980- First GMO patent is issued allowing for testing on living organisms 1982- E. Coli is genetically modified producing insulin 1994- GMO foods are allowed in stores because of the larger size and longer life span 1999- GMO foods and crops rule over organic foods 2003- Insects adapt to genetically modified repellents and are now unaffected

Wonder Corn

Non-Bruising Potatoes

Ok, So How Do I Make These Super Cool Crops ? “DNA extraction is the first step in the genetic engineering process. In order to work with DNA, scientists must extract it from the desired organism. A sample of an organism containing the gene of interest is taken through a series of steps to remove the DNA. The second step of the genetic engineering process is gene cloning. During DNA extraction, all of the DNA from the organism is extracted at once. Scientists use gene cloning to separate the single gene of interest from the rest of the genes extracted and make thousands of copies of it. Once a gene has been cloned, genetic engineers begin the third step, designing the gene to work once inside a different organism. This is done in a test tube by cutting the gene apart with enzymes and replacing gene regions. Since plants have millions of cells, it would be impossible to insert a copy of the transgene into every cell. Therefore, tissue culture is used to propagate masses of undifferentiated plant cells called callus. These are the cells to which the new transgene will be added. The new gene is inserted into some of the cells using various techniques. Some of the more common methods include the gene gun, agrobacterium, microfibers, and electroporation. The main goal of each of these methods is to transport the new gene(s) and deliver them into the nucleus of a cell without killing it. Transformed plant cells are then regenerated into transgenic plants. The transgenic plants are grown to maturity in greenhouses and the seed they produce, which has inherited the transgene, is collected. The genetic engineer's job is now complete. He/she will hand the transgenic seeds over to a plant breeder who is responsible for the final step. The fifth and final part of producing a genetically engineered crop is backcross breeding. Transgenic plants are crossed with elite breeding lines using traditional plant breeding methods to combine the desired traits of elite parents and the transgene into a single line. The offspring are repeatedly crossed back to the elite line to obtain a high yielding transgenic line. The result will be a plant with a yield potential close to current hybrids that expresses the trait encoded by the new transgene.” (http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/)

MODIFYING

Step 1 Locate the gene that you would like to change and extract that from the organism's DNA sequence

Step 2 Clone or duplicate the desired gene that you want to modify

Step 3 Design the gene to work inside a different organism Why? Plant cells contain thousands of cells and its impossible to change every gene. When changed in a different organism, the organism is used as tissue culture to spread to the other cells in the organism you want to change.

Step 4 Transfer the the newly developed genes into the nucleus of a new cell without killing the cell. Gene Gun

Why do we Genetically Modify? Increase production of food Allows for more profit and less expense for business GMOs are used to create more efficient and effective plants. GMOs can be used to eliminate insects and pesticides that harm plant growth GMO crops last longer than Non-GMO crops

Why is the Chicken From 1957 so Different From 2005? The food that chickens have been fed recently has been genetically modified to meet the needs of the economy and benefit businesses by making chicken breasts unproportionate to the muscle resulting in larger quantity although lacking nutrition.

Where are GMOs headed? Based off of what was said by Steve Savage, GMOs have a high chance of being a standard in the future because they allow for more success, profit, and cheaper production although it is possible that this technology may not be made available to farmers worldwide.

Citations DNA sequencing- https://www.neb.com/applications/cloning-and-synthetic-biology/dna-analysis/dna-sequencing DNA duplication- http://info.sfcriminallawspecialist.com/Portals/33030/images/dna.jpg Gene- http://i1-news.softpedia-static.com/images/news2/Gene-Switched-On-by-Stress-Speeds-Up-the-Spread-of-Cancer-377951-2.jpg Gene gun- www.bio.davidson.edu GMO Potato- http://www.biofortified.org/2013/05/qa-with-haven-baker-innate-potatoes/ Innate Potatoes- www.simplotplantsciences.com/ GMO Tomato- abcnews.go.com Steps to genetically modify a plant- http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/education/summary.htm History of GMO- http://gmoinside.org/gmo-timeline-a-history-genetically-modified-foods/

Citations Continued Future of GMO- https://gmoanswers.com/ask/what-are-plans-future-gmos-will-all-crops-be-ge-eventually Difference in Chickens- http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/video/video/2014/11/see_the_startling_growth_of_chickens_from_1957_to_1978_to_2005/oc hicken570.jpg.CROP.promo-mediumlarge.jpg GMO Seeds- www.publicnewsservice.org Weird Fruit- http://discoveryeye.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/GMO-Orange.jpg http://socialmoms.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp- content/uploads/2012/05/GMO-fruit1.jpg Corn- http://watchmen-news.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/GMO-corn-difference.jpeg-610x400.jpg corn in desert- https://desertification.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/1989-12-mais.jpg