Genetically Modified Organisms (Transgenics) –

“The Right to Know”

Princeton Satellite 2013

Kathy McKone

What does it mean to be genetically modified?

Inserting a desired gene from one organism into an organism of a different species.

WHY Bother w/ GM Food? 1980 World Population = 4.5 Billion 2011 World Population = 7 Billion

Farmable Land disappearing

Worries about ability to produce enough food

Concerns of pesticide & herbicide overuse; and long-term effects of these chemicals

The Workhorse of Genetic Engineering = Bacteria

General GMO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAP6ZtfP9ZQ

More Advanced:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-IJikX1144

BioRad Intro:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RIPsjrXMMmw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3925Pw-VwU

Genetically Engineering Insulin

US Approval for GM food crops•Corn•Soy•Papaya•Canola •Potato•Chicory•Rice •Squash•Sugarbeet•Tomatoes

Approval does not necessarily mean these crops are distributed

Database of GM crops: www.agbios.com

Which foods contain GM product?

Agriculture: Genetically Modified (GM) Organisms

Inserting genes from one organism (Bacteria) into another organism (Plant).

Adding genes to plants can make them draught or insect resistant.

1994: first GM food was sold: Flavr Savr tomato = able to ripen on the vine & not turn to mush; wasn’t successful b/c of taste

Image:Results of insect infestation on Bt (right) and non-Bt (left) cotton bolls. Source: USDA

According to the USDA, in the U.S. in 2011:

CROPS genetically modified:

94% soy 88% corn 90% cotton Which item would NOT

be a good selection to test with students?

Which foods contain GM product?

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

% o

f al

l cro

p p

lan

ted GM corn GM soy

Sources: 1996-1999 Fernandez and McBride, 2000-2004: USDA, National Agriculture Statistics Service, Acreage.

GM Foods are NOT required to be labeled in US.

http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/11/201211811503032830.html

California's Prop 37 – to label GM foods *DEFEATED (Nov. 2012)

Biotech companies like Monsanto and Syngenta hold patents on the GE seeds and also "control who conducts research".

*Monsanto, Pesticide Companies Spend $7.1 Million to Defeat Right to Know GMO Labeling Measure in CA

http://www.carighttoknow.org/5_million_more

Very Reliable Reliable Less Reliable Very Difficult / Not Possible

Fresh corn Veggie sausages

Veggie burgers Oil

Fresh papaya Tortilla chips Fried corn snacks Salad dressing

Corn bread mix Flavored tortilla chips

Popcorn Cereal (eg cornflakes)

Corn meal Puffed corn snacks

Fries Wheat flour

Soy flour Meatballs and burgers containing soy protein

Potato chips

Soy-based protein drinks/powders

Which foods yield viable plant DNA?

Cell Biology REVIEW:Three Segments of a Gene

1) Promoter = found at the beginning of a gene; docking site of RNA polymerase

2) Gene = codes for protein of interest (pest resistance)

3)Terminator = stop transcription

Why use CaMV 35S and NOS?

CaMV 35S – Sequence for the promoter of 35S transcript of the Cauliflower mosaic virus. Used because it functions in every plant cell

NOS- Sequence for nopaline synthase terminator from soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciansUsed because it evolved to be recognized in most plants

65% of food crops use CaMV promoter; adding NOS detection ~ 85%

Most Used Promoter used in GM crops

The Cauliflower Mosaic Virus promoter (CaMV 35S) is used in most transgenic crops to activate foreign genes which have been artificially inserted into the host plant

http://www.microbiologyonline.org.uk/graphics/bluetong.gif

Popular gene from soil bacterium: Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

Bt gene protein endotoxin (lethal to many insects)

Pesticides are not needed for crops!

Endotoxins are activated by the HIGHLY ALKALINE insect mid-gut.

Also kills non-target insects (monarch butterfly).

Desirable Traits

Pest Resistance

Herbicide Tolerance

Viral Resistance

Drought Resistance

Increased Nutritional Value;

golden rice (beta carotene)

Improved Fruit

Altered Ripening

Opponents argue

Creation of super pests

Creation of super weeds

Loss of biodiversity

Biotechnology companies control agriculture

GMO-Based Web Sites

Cornell

http://www.geo-pie.cornell.edu

University of Nebraska

http://croptechnology.unl.edu/

Pro-GMO http://www.monsanto.com

Anti-GMO

http://www.greenpeace.org

BioRad’s GMO Investigator Kit Contents

Not Included but required:•Thermal cycler•Water bath/heat block•Electrophoresis Module (agarose, TAE buffer & Fast Blast DNA stain)•Electrophoresis equipment & power supply•2-20 ul pipettes & barrier tips

Bio-Rad certified Non-GMO foodInstaGeneMaster MixGMO primersPlant PSII primersGMO & PSII positive control DNA PCR MW RulerDPTPs, microtubes, PCR tubes, foam floatsManual