Quinoa Mother Grain for Mother Earth

Quinoa and Downy Mildew

Quinoa is a highly nutritious and understated pseudo grain

Worshiped by the Incas as mother grain

90 - 99% of Quinoa crops are ruined by downy mildew

GENETICIST:

PSEUDO PHD. CATHERINE M. G. MURRAY

Science and Technology Report

Science and Technology Report

Altered Plant: Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa)

Goal: Resistance to downy mildewSource of Gene: Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.)Gene PLH1

Step One – Isolating Gene PLH1

Isolate the DNA of Helianthus annuus  Obtain a sample of sunflower plant tissueGround tissue in a blender, put in a tubeAdd a lysis solution

Solution contains a detergent and proteinase K

Place tube in warm water bath

Step One – Isolating Gene PLH1

Add a concentrate salt solutionPlace tube in centrifugeUse a micropipette to remove the

liquid and put in another tubeAdd isopropyl alcohol and gently mix. Place the tube in a centrifugeUse a micropipette to remove the

liquid at the top of the tubeResult: extracted and isolated DNA

Step One (Cont)

Isolate the Gene PLH1 using restriction endonucleases Restriction endonucleases -

enzymes that splice the DNA at certain points where it recognizes specific sequences

Creates DNA fragments

Step Two – Cloning the Gene

This is done through the Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)

video

Step Three – Designing Gene

Transcription – the synthesis of RNA from a DNA template

Three parts of a genePromoterCoding RegionTermination Sequence

RNA polymerase – enzyme that “reads” the DNA code and builds the mRNA strand

Step Three – Designing Gene (Cont)

Transcription Factor – factors that are needed to produce the mRNA strand or “transcript”

Process:

RNA polymerase binds to DNA strand Double helix unwinds

RNA polymerase moves along the DNA strand (3’ ---> 5’ direction)

Step Three – Designing Gene (Cont)

Ribonucleotides bond to the DNA strand

Result: strand of mRNAStrand of ribonucleotides begins to

break awayDNA strands rewind into double helixRNA polymerase reaches the

termination sequence RNA polymerase and the mRNA strand

released from the DNA strand mRNA strand -----> cytoplasm

Step Four – Inserting PLH1

“Gene Gun Method” Paint copies of the gene PLH1

onto microscopic metal (tungsten) particles

Load onto a gene gun

Step Four (Cont)

Fire at cells of Quinoa – “callus” Metal particles penetrate cellsCellular Fluid flushes DNA off

particlesDNA -----> nucleus ------> integrated

into the genome

Step Five – Backcross Breeding

Transgenic Quinoa plant is inbredSunflower plant is inbredTransgenic inbred line x elite inbred line ----> F1 generation50% of the transgenic line’s alleles

and 50% of the elite line’s allelesF1 generation x elite inbred line ----> BC1 generation

Step Five (Cont)

75% elite line’s alleles and 25% transgenic line’s alleles ELISA TEST

Crossing continues until BC5Percentage of elite alleles is about

99%Last step: self-cross the new transgenic elite line

Product

A new line of Quinoa plants in which the downy mildew-resistant gene has been incorporated

ETHISIST:

REBECCA A. CRAWFORD

Consumer Appeal Analysis

Public Ethics Concerns

According to the Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN, the most important ethical values of food are:The value of food The value of enhanced well-being The value of human health The value of natural resources The value of nature

The Value of Food

Every year 15 million children die of hunger

Good for countries where nutrition is scarce

The Value of Enhanced Well-Being and Human Health

Help poor farmers in south America and AsiaBoost economyIncrease income

Extremely healthy:Good source of magnesium, iron,

copper and phosphorus

Common Public Concerns

Use of “material from organisms that have never been part of the human food supply”

ToxinsAllergic ReactionsDecreased Nutritional Value

How We Address Them

Use of “material… [not]…part of the human food supply”We use sunflower genesBoth are plantsSunflowers – commonly consumed

How We Address Them (Cont)

ToxinsThe pesticide for downy mildew

(Mancozeb) now used on quinoa can cause: Reproductive and developmental toxicity Neurotoxicity Acute toxicity Cancer

Inserting PLH1 would eliminate need for toxins

How We Address Them (Cont)

Allergic Reactions90 - 99% more quinoa would help

more than harm Sunflower allergies are extremely

uncommonQuinoa helps people with allergies

1 in 133 Americans - Celiac disease Many non-related gluten allergies

Appropriately label the GM quinoa

How We Address Them (Cont)

Decreased Nutritional ValueWe are eliminated a health riskBesides Quinoa’s nutritional value,

sunflowers are good sources of: A Rich Source Of Vitamin E Dietary Fiber Proteins Carbohydrates

ENVIRONMENTALIST:

JENNA N. BATES

Environmental Impact Statement

Environmental Impact

Not completely knownWill take several years or decades

Vary from plant to plant Only real world information can show the true effectsMonitor plants closely

Environmental Impact (Cont)

The downy mildew could become resistant

Gene transfer to wild plantsLow risk because Quinoa has few wild

relatives in the Himalayas Native to Peru

No hybrid between GM and wild plants has survived in the wild

Gene transfer to weeds

Environmental Impact (Cont)

Unlikely to improve strength of weed The natural pesticides it makes could kill animalsThe risk of this is very low

Use of pesticides would actually pose a more evident risk to the surrounding ecosystem.

Reduce pesticide use

Environmental Impact (Cont)

“GM crops have enabled U.S. farmers to make annual reductions in pesticide applications of 46 million pounds since 1996.”

Mancozeb kills animals Reduction of fosil fuel useLess soil erosionUnknown effects on soil and the flow of nutrients

Marketing Plan

AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST:

ALEXANDRA M. C. STAMBAUGH

SUNFLOWER ENHANCED

Genetically altered plants are closer to the hybrid plants than the actual plants

What is the purpose of the modification?

99% of the Quinoa plant crop is eliminated by Downy Mildew

Who is our market?

Marketable in countriesJapan- macrobiotic diet (25-30% of

diet cereals and grains).  Other Eastern Asian countries such

as India and China “Here in Henan's rural Gushi

County…”Market in Developed Countries—market similarly to wholegrain, with protein and fiber

Problem Addressed and Solution

Fighting malnutrition on a low budget:Economic price: cooked 222 calories for

cup (229g) cooked can be priced around $3 for a .5 kg bag. 

Important for a Vegetarian diet—8 + grams of protein per cup

Contains all 9 essential amino acids, 5 grams of fiber (more than prunes, whole wheat, rye)

Problem Addressed and Solution (Cont)

No saturated fats, no transfats, extremely low sodium, no sugars

Can be grown in high elevations—specifically 10,000 ft

Easily grown in Himalayas—stimulates economic growth in Eastern Asian countries

Problem Addressed and Solution (Cont)

Only issue is water logging, which is easy to revise

Easy to grow- mature seeds germinate once in contact with water

How is it going to be marketed?

Quinoa must be rinsed before packaging—Saponin – natural pesticide

Dried and then packaged in bags or boxes

Versatility of useAs is, Flour, Pasta, many other grain products

Easy storage: cool, dry place, Storage calls for easy transport

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