This section covers the definition, creation, applications, and societal implications of organisms whose genetic material has been artificially altered using genetic engineering techniques.
A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is an organism (e.g., bacterium, plant, or animal) whose genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. This is achieved through genetic engineering to insert, remove, or modify specific genes to introduce desirable traits.
Benefits of Genetic Modification:
Applications: GMOs are widely used in agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine, and research.
Transgenic organisms are a type of GMO that contains a foreign gene deliberately inserted into its genome.
Bacteria are easily transformed due to their simple genetics.
Key Example: In 1978, the human insulin gene was inserted into the bacterium Escherichia coli to produce synthetic "human" insulin for treating diabetes.
Other Applications:
Environmental Note: The bacterium Pseudomonas syringae has been modified to create an "ice-minus" strain. While this has applications, there are concerns that altering its natural ice-nucleating proteins could affect cloud formation and rainfall patterns.
Goal: To introduce new traits that do not occur naturally in the species.
History: The first field trials occurred in 1986 with tobacco plants engineered for herbicide resistance.
Key Application: Pest Resistance (Bt Crops)
Examples of Bt Crops: Cotton, rice, maize, potato, tomato, brinjal. Another notable example is Golden Rice, engineered to produce beta-carotene to combat Vitamin A deficiency.
Definition: An animal carrying a foreign gene that has been deliberately inserted into its genome.
Applications:
| Region/Country | Details |
|---|---|
| Global | Cultivation of transgenic crops expanded from 90 million hectares in 2005 to 190.4 million hectares in 2019. Major GM Crops: Soybean, maize, cotton, and canola. Leading Producers: United States, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada. |
| Pakistan | Commercially adopted Bt cotton in 2010, now covering 95% of the cotton area. Introduced triple gene cotton varieties in 2023. GM maize production increased from 1 million metric tons in 2013 to 10.5 million in 2023. GM sugarcane varieties have also been approved. |
Safety and Environmental Concerns:
Bioweapons: The Biological Weapons Convention of 1972 is a voluntary pledge by nations not to produce biological agents for war, but concerns remain about the potential misuse of genetic manipulation for military purposes.
Genetic Counselling: A healthcare service providing information and advice about genetic conditions. A genetic counsellor explains the risks, benefits, and limitations of genetic testing and its implications for an individual and their family.
Genetic Screening: Diagnostic tests to determine if a person is at risk of a genetic disease.