1. Genetically
Modified Crops
Jessica Schacherer

2. What are Genetically Modified Crops?
 GM plants created using GMOs
 GMOs
 Organisms in which DNA has
been altered in a way not
naturally occurring
 “modern biotechnology”
 “gene technology”
 Allows selected individual genes
to be transferred from one
organism to another or between
non-related species

3. Benefits of GM Crop Use
 Resistance to herbicides
 Insect resistance
 Decrease use of pesticides
 Drought resistance
 Addition of vitamins & nutrients
 Golden Rice – Vitamin A
 Bt cotton in India
 Crop yields increased by 60%
 Use in United States by 2009/2010
 Soybeans 93%
 Cotton 93%
 Corn 86%
 Sugar Beet 95%

5. GM Crop Global Uses
 World hunger issue
 Supply more food to starving
nations  Poverty issue
 Conflict with current  Allow for better crop yield in
regulations in Africa poor countries
 Promote economic growth
 Export products
 Financially independent
 Conflict with current
regulations

6. Allergenicity
Gene Transfer
Out Crossing
Concerns

7. Allergenicity
•Transfer from commonly
allergenic foods discouraged
•Unless protein product
proven safe
•Protocols for tests by WHO
•No allergic effects found
Concerns currently in GM foods

8. Gene Transfer
•Transfer from GM foods to
human cells
•Via intestinal tract
•Antibiotic resistant genes
•Probability low
•Negative health effects?
Concerns

9. Out Crossing
•Movement of genes from GM
plants to wild species
•Mixing of seeds, indirect effect
on food safety & security
Maize product in US
•Ecological relationships
Concerns

10. What happens when
you combine….

11. Grapples

12. What about…

13. Lematos

14. What about…

15. Plumcots

16. Designer Fruit
 Example: Peach + Nectarine  “Natural cross hybrid”
 Peach: passes on its taste
 Combinations of different fruits to
 Nectarine: easy to eat, no fuzz produce novel ones
on skin
 None naturally occurring
 Genetically different than either
parent
 Created to enhance characteristics
from other species
 Sold as specialty items
 New fruit market
 .50 cents to $1.00 more
 Methods in field, not lab
 Still genetically modified food?
 Controversy avoided

17. How
could
lettuce
treat
diabetes?

18. Genetically Modified Lettuce
 Professor Henry Daniell of the
University of Central Florida
 Genetically engineered tobacco
plants with insulin gene
 Administered to diabetic mice
 Restored normal blood and urine
sugar levels
 Proposed using lettuce instead
 Prevent diabetes before symptoms
appear
 Treat disease is later stages

19. Genetically Modified Lettuce
 20.8 million children and adults
in US
 7% of population
 Type 1 or 2 diabetes
 Double by 2025
 $79.7 billion out of $645 billion
federally spent treating diabetes
 NIH provided $2 million in
funding of study
 Affect millions worldwide

20. Do you consider
hybrid fruit to be
GM foods?

21. Do you think
production of these
fruits is harmful or
helpful with regards
to:
society?
the environment?
the economy?

22. How do you feel
about the use of
GM lettuce to
treat diabetes?

23. Questions?

24. References
 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/
070730111638.htm
 http://webecoist.com/2009/02/19/genetically-
modified-fruits-vegetables/
 http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biot
ech/20questions/en/
 http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/africa_policy_o
n_genetically_modified_organisms_gmo_and_
genetically_engineered_ge_foods
 http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405311
1904900904576552543026705926.html#print
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