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Published byCalvin Perry Modified over 9 years ago
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GMOs and Feeding Populations How agricultural choice affects public / community health
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GMO Foods – Hazardous or Necessary? Depends on Your Point of View
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What is a Genetically Modified Organism? It involves the insertion of DNA from one organism into another OR modification of an organism’s DNA in order to achieve a desired trait. Suntory "blue" rose
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How does this differ from Mendel and his peas? GM vs Selective Breeding Selective breeding Slow Imprecise Modification of genes that naturally occur in the organism GM Very fast Precise Can introduce genes into an organisms that would not naturally occur
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Genetic engineering vs agricultural breeding Artificial selection has influenced the genetic makeup of livestock and crops for thousands of years. Proponents of GM crops say GM foods are safe. Critics of GM foods say: –Traditional breeding uses genes from the same species. –Selective breeding deals with whole organisms, not just genes. –In traditional breeding, genes come together on their own.
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Agricultural breeding Traditional breeding changes organisms through selection, while genetic engineering is more like the process of mutation.
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Genetically modified organisms
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Biotechnology affects our lives Biotechnology: the material application of biological science to create products derived from organisms Transgenic organism: an organism that contains DNA from another species –Transgenes: the genes that have moved between organisms
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GMO in Medicine Insulin (e.g., SemBioSys Genetics Inc- saflower) Clotting factors Atryn (anticoagulant). Banana vaccines Cancer fighting eggs
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GMO in Biofuel Algenol Biofuels Rapeseed (i.e., canola)
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GMO in Bioremediation Enviropig i.e., “Frankenswine” Able to digest and process phosphate Poplar trees remove groundwater contaminants
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GMO in Pesticides Kills caterpillars but not poisonous to humans + http://www.nature.com/cr/journal/v12/n2/full/7290120a.html
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Bt crops Some genetically modified foods
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Golden rice Some genetically modified foods
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Starlink corn
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StarLink corn is one of several kinds of bt corn that have been genetically engineered to produce insecticide within the plant itself so that external applications of pesticides to fields can be reduced or eliminated. While other corns on the market in 1999 and 2000 produced a toxin called Cry1A(b), StarLink had Cry9C, a slightly different version of the protein. In tests required for government approval to grow the crop, the Cry9C protein had been slower to break down under artificial digestibility tests than Cry1A(b) and had raised the suspicions of EPA reviewers by exhibiting several other characteristics of allergens. Because the issue of Cry9C allergenicity was unresolved, the EPA granted permission to grow the crop as long as it was not used for human food. Since the majority of the corn harvest in the United States is used for animal feed and the production of fuel alcohol, this restriction did not spell the end of the line for StarLink corn as a crop. Farmers would simply have to ensure that their StarLink harvest was directed into channels that didn't lead to the human food supply.
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genetically modified baby
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https://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/may/01/fear-of- designer-babies-shouldnt-distract-us-from-the-goal-of-healthy- babies ABC News report of 30 genetically modified babies having been born http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=117472
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Some genetically modified foods AquAdvantage salmon
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Common GM Foods Products Corn Canola Potatoes Tomatoes Squash Soybeans Flax Cottonseed oil Sugarbeets
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Common GM Foods
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Genetically Modified Foods Experts say 60% to 70% of processed foods on U.S. grocery shelves have genetically modified ingredients. Common GM crops: Soybeans Corn Cotton
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Genetic Modification Cons Introducing allergens and toxins to food Accidental cross pollination Antibiotic resistance Creation of "super" weeds and numerous other environmental risks
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Genetic Modification Pros Increased pest and disease resistance Grow food in harsh climates Increased food supply (more food/acre) More nutritional value Make drugs (and stronger, healthier babies) Ring spot virus
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GMO Controversy in Hawaii http://hawaiiseed.org/local-issues/taro/ Undermines the genetic integrity of taro, sacred to the Hawaiian people; Threatens the taro market and livelihood of taro farmers. Taro production yields over 6 million pounds annually valued at $3.3 million. Threatens the biodiversity of the taro plant; Could cause new, unexpected problems in taro cultivation; Could contaminate traditional varieties of taro and take away taro farmers’ ability to choose what they grow in their lo’i; and Overlooks the wealth of traditional knowledge about growing taro that has been passed down through generations.
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I just happened upon this the other day – fiber in our seawaters Fiber Particles in the Oceans, Lakes, and Sea
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