Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Allison McCluskey, Cloe Traylor, Joselyn Carballo, Wil Benton, Margaret Obando

Definition
Genetically Modified Organism: an organism whose genetic information has been altered using recombinant DNA technology. Recombinant DNA technology: combining genes from different sources to create a new set of genes.

Overview

The Process
Step 1: Restriction enzymes (aka molecular scissors) cut the DNA from the main organism and the second organism (called a vector) to produce linear molecules with complementary ends. Step 2: Recombinant DNA is created by merging the two sticky ends together with DNA ligase.

Step 3: Now the resulting DNA strand has components of both organisms.

Benefits
Fewer food shortages Less pest damage Less land needed for crop production (more land for wildlife conservation) Less use of insecticide sprays Resistance to disease (plants and animals) Increased growth rates

Drawbacks
Consumers of GMOs could be harmed by bacterial DNA Helpful insects could be killed Surrounding ecosystem could be changed (pollen from GMOs spreads in the area) Generally unnatural

Ethics
The Catholic Church is very against embryonic stem cell research, but the Vatican has come out in favor of GMO food as a way to help feed the poor. Both involve genetic manipulation where is the line drawn between moral/immoral? There are many arguments both for and against human modification and cloning, based on everything ranging from philosophical ideas to religious values. Some people choose to distinguish human modification and cloning from non-human modification and cloning while others consider them equally. Much discussion also centers around human cloning, which can be used in two different ways: there is reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Reproductive cloning is used to make a clone of another person while therapeutic cloning is the basis for regenerating damaged or lost tissues through the use of embryonic stem cells. Some in one group, say US Senate conservatives, have come out against the former, but for the latter.
http://www.scienceandsociety.emory.edu/GM O/ReligionGMO.htm