GENETIC ENGINEERING 101

Karen Ziegler, B.S.

October 20, 2011

Outline1. History of Biotechnology2. New Biotechnology = Genetic Engineering

and GMO’s3. Imagine4. What’s Happening to Fruits?5. What Are We Doing To Veggies?6. What Are We Doing To Animals?7. Pro’s of bt-foods8. Con’s of bt-foods9. Benefits for Seniors10. Labels11. References

History of Biotechnology

Cheeses: Swiss vs. Cheddar. Provolone vs. Mozzarella.

Feta vs. Parmesan. Bread: Wheat, White, French or

Sourdough. Beer: Wheat, Pilsner, Ale, Lager, Amber, Stout.

New Biotechnology=Genetic Engineering GMO’s...Imagine

Specific genes are manipulated…we get our desired result.

This is called Biotechnology, GMO’s or Genetic Engineering.

Transgenic: Adding the gene of one species to another.

Nickname: “bt”

Imagine… I’d like my unborn child to have blue eyes.

I’d like a dog exactly like the one that just died.

I’d like my strawberries with an added peanut butter taste. I’d like my spinach to last longer on the shelf.

I’m going to grow grapes, which can grow in in bad soil, but they grow all year long!

What’s Happening to Fruits?Transgenic Peppers can be made sweeter.Aroma precursors are added for better flavor.Transgenic tomatoes ripen on the vine and

Survive transport and soften later.

Graisins are giant raisins.

Hey “Mr.

Big

Stuff!”

What are we Doing to Veggies?• Most of the U.S. soybeans are transgenic. They have a

much higher protein content.• bt-corn has a natural pesticide. • bt-corn is pest resistant.• Golden rice has A vitamins which now gives it a orange-

like color. Vitamin A prevents blindness. • Multi colored carrots.

What Are We Doing to Animals?• Beef are given hormones to increase muscularity.

muscle = meat to eat • Milk cows are producing 15% more milk. • Farm raised Salmon get larger faster.• Chickens are developing larger breasts.•

Is that

chicken

drinking

my

milk?

Pros of “bt” Foods Great tasting fruits and vegetables. And they look good too!

Developing Countries are using Food rations full of vitamins.

Little spoilage. Buy it ripe but eat it later. The food will lasts longer.

Less seasonal food as it’s available longer as weather won’t matter.

More nutritious so less supplements are needed.

Healthy eating cuts down on medical bills.

More crops can be grown on less land and where it couldn’t grow before.

Less pests to worry about.

Cons of “bt” FoodsContamination to the gene.

The Monarch butterfly has been greatly affected by this crystal protein in bt-corn.

The new bt-plant may harm the natural plant.

A new stronger pest may evolve.

Will the new pest control cause cancer or promote a new super weed?

We are changing nature. (A loaf of dog?)

Large companies will dominate.

Benefits for SeniorsBetter nutrition from soybeans with higher

protein.Potatoes with nutritional starch and improved

amino acids.Taking your medication in the form of food. Combining medications through the use of food.Helping to prevent blindness by getting vitamin A

from golden rice due to the beta-carotene genetically installed.

Beans with more essential amino acids.Replacing organic with bt-foods is cheaper.No pesticides means less chemicals in our water.

LabelsTable 1. Examples of voluntary labeling under proposed FDA guidelines

Wording on Label FDA Comment

GMO free (does not contain genetically modified organisms). OR Not genetically modified.

Not recommended. “Free” implies zero content, which is nearly impossible to verify. “Genetically modified” is an inappropriate term, in that all crop varieties have been modified by plant breeders.

We do not use ingredients produced using biotechnology.

OK

This oil is made from soybeans that were not genetically engineered.

OK

This cantaloupe was not genetically engineered. May be misleading, because it implies that other cantaloupes may be

genetically engineered. Currently, there are no such varieties on the market.

Genetically engineered. OK

This product contains cornmeal that was produced using biotechnology.

OK

This product contains high oleic acid soybean oil from soybeans developed using biotechnology to decrease the amount of saturated fat. guidelines.

OK. The underlined part is mandatory because it indicates a nutritional change. The rest is voluntary under the proposed guidelines.

Byrne, P. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html

ReferencesByrne, P. (2010). Retrieved from http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/09371.html

The Emergency Food Supply, (2011). Retrieved from http://theemergencyfoodsupply.com/archives/93-percent-of-soybeans-and-80-percent-of-corn-in-the-u-s-grow-from-seeds-genetically-altered-by-monsanto

Food and Drug Administration. (2011). http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/FoodLabelingNutrition/ucm0 59098.htm

GMO Food for Thought, (2011). Retrieved from http://www.gmofoodforthought.com/2006/08/genetically_altered_cattle_wha.htm

Huffington Post, (2011). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/31/hormones-in-food-should-y_n_815385.html

Nestle, M. (2007). Food Politics: How the Food Industry Influences Nutrition and Health. Berkley, CA University of California Press.

Oak, Manali. (2011). http://www.buzzle.com/articles/pros-and-cons-of-genetic-engineering.html

Oleksowicz, M. (2011). Kaplan University, HW220-Unit 5. Lecture October 20, 2011.

Public Broadcasting Station. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/lessons/from-wolf-to-dog/lesson-overview/4783/

Schlenker, E. D., & Long, S. (2011). Williams’ Essentials of Nutrition & Diet Therapy, (10th Edition). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.

Schlosser, E. (2001). Fast Food Nation: The Dark Side of the All-American Meal.New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Webecoist, (2011). Retrieved from http://webecoist.com/2009/02/19/genetically-modified-fruits-vegetables/

Wieczorek, Ania. (2003). Use of Biotechnology in Agriculture—Benefits and Risks retrieved from http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/BIO-3.pdf

Wikipedia Dictionary. (2011). Peppers fruit or vegetable. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable