Intro to biotech

Question 1

What is genetic engineering?

Answer 1

• Genetic engineering is the direct modification of an organism’s genome, which is the list of specific traits (genes) stored in the DNA.
• Changing the genome
  enables engineers to give
  desirable properties to
  different organisms.
• Organisms created by
  genetic engineering
  are called genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

Question 2

What is the GMO process?

Answer 2

• All genetic changes affect the protein synthesis of the organism.
• By changing which proteins are produced, genetic engineers can affect the overall traits of the organism.
• Genetic modification can be completed by a number of different methods:
• Inserting new genetic material randomly or in targeted locations
• Direct replacement of genes (recombination)
• Removal of genes
• Mutation of existing genes

Question 3

GMO bacteria

Answer 3

• Bacteria are the most common GMOs because their simple structure permits easy manipulation of their DNA.
• One of the most interesting uses for genetically modified bacteria is the production of hydrocarbons (plastics and fuels) usually only found in fossil fuels.
• Cyanobacteria have been modified to produce plastic (polyethylene) and fuel (butanol) as byproducts of photosynthesis
• E. Coli bacteria have been modified to produce diesel fuel

Question 4

GMO crops

Answer 4

GMO crop production in the US (2010):
93% of soybeans
93% of cotton
86% of corn
95% of sugar beets

Question 5

Examples of GMOS

Answer 5

Banana Vaccines
Modified virus injected in sapling tree causes the bananas to contain virus proteins

Venomous Cabbage
Scorpion genes added to the cabbage prevent insects from eating it

Question 6

OTHER REASONS TO GENETICALLY MODIFY CROPS

Answer 6

Insect resistant
Herbicide resistant
Drought/freeze resistant
Disease resistant
Higher yield
Faster growth
Improved nutrition
Longer shelf life

Question 7

Bioluminescent animals

Answer 7

Uses:
Protein tracking
Disease detection using bioluminescent imaging (BLI) to identify different types of cells
Novelty pets (Glofish are available now)

Question 8

Examples of Bioluminescent animals

Answer 8

Fast-Growing Salmon
Genes from two other fish cause this salmon to continually produce growth hormones

Less Smelly Cows
Modifying bacteria responsible for methane production in cattle results in 25% less-flatulent cows

Web-Producing Goats
Spider genes in goats enable the production of spider silk in goat milk

Question 9

GMO concerns

Answer 9

Risk to human health; unsafe to eat
Harm to the environment and wildlife
Increased pesticide and herbicide use
Farmers’ health
Seed and pollen drift
Creation of herbicide-resistant super weeds
What about genetic engineering in humans?