GMOs

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GMOs

• Genetically Modified Organisms

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Glowing mice
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Golden rice contrasted with ordinary rice
Transgenic Golden Rice (High levels of
Beta-carotene used to make Vitamin A give the
rice a golden color).
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PHARM animals
Transgenic Sheep Carrying a human gene for a
human protein which they secrete in their milk.
The protein is then purified from their milk
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Transgenic organisms
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Using the Ti plasmid as a vector for genetic
engineering in plants
TRANSGENIC PLANT
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Safety and Ethics

• GMO (genetically modified organism) food
  controversy

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FrankenFoods?
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Scare tactics?
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Consumer distrustJustifiedsillysomewhere in
between?
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BT Corn basics

• BT protein is produced by the bacterium Bacillus
  thuringiensis. Toxic to some insects, nontoxic to
  all other life forms
• BT corn has the gene inserted so that the corn
  plant makes the BT protein.
• Ingestion of BT protein by the larvae of the
  European Corn Borer kills the larvae
• The corn plant now has its own defense

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The Biotech Floodgate
TODAYs Facts (2008) 90 of all soybeans 75 of
all corn 65 of all foods on grocery store
shelves (soy and corn syrup are in all sorts of
stuff!)
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Whats Next

• Bananas that produce human vaccines
• Fish that mature more quickly
• Plants that produce plastics
• Fruit/nut trees that yield years earlier
• Crops that grow where they could not before
• Human milk from cows

Two featherless chickens peck around in some
grass at the Hebrew University in Rehovot.
Israeli scientists at the Agriculture department
of the university have genetically engineered
bare-skinned chickens as part of a research
project to develop succulent, low fat poultry
that is environmentally friendly. (AP)
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Labeling modified foods (CBS news report)

• http//www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id4086524n