GMO

GENETICALLY MODIFIED
ORGANISM
WHAT IS GMO?
• A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the
result of a laboratory process where genes
from the DNA of one species are extracted
and artificially forced into the genes of an
unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes
may come from bacteria, viruses, insects,
animals or even humans. Because this
involves the transfer of genes, GMOs are also
known as “transgenic” organisms.
• This process may be called either Genetic
Engineering (GE) or Genetic Modification
(GM); they are one and the same.
WHAT IS GMO?
• GMO proponents will argue that “genetic
modification” has been used for centuries in an
attempt to blur the lines and create confusion. 
Traditional genetics used selective breeding,
tissue cultures, hybridization and other methods
that assists nature but does not circumvent
natural laws.
• The methods used to transfer the genes of
modified DNA of a genetically modified plant are
imprecise and unpredictable.  These unintended
changes are possible differences in the food’s
nutritional values, toxic and allergic effects, lower
crop yields and unforeseen harm to the
environment that cannot be recalled.
• In history, Herbert
Boyer and Stanley Cohen made
the first genetically modified
organism (GMO) in 1973. They
took a gene from a bacterium that
provided resistance to the
antibiotic kanamycin, inserted it
into a plasmid and then induced
another bacteria to uptake the
plasmid. The bacteria was then
able to survive in the presence of
kanamycin Boyer and Cohen
expressed other genes in bacteria.
This included genes from the
toad Xenopus laevis in 1974,
creating the first GMO expressing
a gene from an organism from
different kingdom.
GMO ANIMALS
• Featherless Chicken
Scientists in Israel are responsible
for this prototype, which is a
featherless chicken. They are
significantly cheaper to raise,
more environmentally friendly,
and don't require plucking, which
saves time. The scientists say
they bred a species which has
naked neck with a standard
broiler chicken. There are,
however, some drawbacks. The
feathers on chickens help protect
them from harsh weather,
parasites, and even overzealous
cocks during mating.
GMO ANIMALS
• Glow-in-the-Dark Cat
The glow-in-the-dark cat was
developed as a way to fight feline
immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which
is related to HIV and typically affects
feral cats. American and Japanese
scientists in 2011 inserted genes in
cats to help resist FIV. In order to
mark the cells more easily, they also
inserted a green fluorescent protein
and both genes transferred to feline
eggs. This let the scientists examine
how this resistant gene developed
within the cats by examination under
a microscope. The cats are always
normal during the day, but
sometimes glow at night.
GMO ANIMALS
• Vacanti Mouse
• The Vacanti mouse was a laboratory mouse
that had what looked like a human ear
grown on its back. The “ear” was actually
an ear-shaped cartilage structure grown by
seeding cow cartilage cells into a
biodegradable ear-shaped mold. The
earmouse, as it became known as, was
created by Dr. Charles Vacanti, at the
University of Massachusetts in 1995.
Created to demonstrate a method of
fabricating cartilage structures for
transplantation into human patients, a
resorbable polyester fabric was infiltrated
with bovine cartilage cells and implanted
under the skin of a hairless mouse. The
mouse itself was a commonly used strain of
immunocompromised mouse, preventing a
transplant rejection
•  
GMO ANIMALS
• See-Through Frog
• Dissecting animals for science has
sparked controversies worldwide,
even prompting some companies to
create computer simulations as
cruelty-free alternatives. For high
school students everywhere, this
revealing amphibian may be a cut
above regular frogs. That’s because
the see-through frog does not
require dissection to see its organs,
blood vessels, and eggs. You can
see through the skin how organs
grow, how cancer starts and
develops. It’s a miracle of genetic
engineering and surely a cool
mutant gift to students.
GMO ANIMALS
• Glow-in-the-Dark Rabbit
• The glow-in-the-dark rabbit is one of the
genetically modified animals that
stemmed from art. Eduard Kac uses
genetic engineering for creating works
of art that are alive. In May 2000, he
introduced Alba, an albino rabbit that
will glow fluorescent when in blue light,
known as his "GFP bunny." The idea to
create Alba has a public debate
concerning genetically modified animals
for research. He then took Alba home to
be his pet. To create Alba, a French
research institute injected fluorescent
jellyfish protein in a rabbit egg which
was fertilized. They never agreed for
Kac to take Alba home and there were
animal rights debates, but Alba died
before the issue could be resolved.