Genetically Modified Organisms

Hugh
Jan 25, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Jan 30, 2022

What are genetically modified organisms?

Genetically modified organisms are plants or animals that are genetically modified for a desirable trait for humans by inserting genes. Also, genetically modified organisms can pass through their offspring so that humans can produce their desired traits. For example, the before genetically modified bananas are much smaller and have hard seeds. The modern day bananas, or genetically modified bananas are more delicious than before bananas as well. More importantly, the reason why people started to modify the genetic material in bananas is that bananas were very susceptible to panama disease. Therefore, humans reinforce bananas to make sure that they can survive even if they are infected by the disease. Modified bananas pass onto their offspring. Ultimately, you usually see modern bananas. On the other hand, corn is also genetically modified food. Before genetically modified corns were much smaller and less nutritious. Since before genetically modified corns were very easy to grow in harsh conditions and plentiful amounts, they were the main food for both Europeans and the United States. This leads Europeans and the United States to desire better quality corn.

How to Create Genetically Modified Organisms?

There are two methods to genetically modify organisms: particle gun method and agrobacterium tumefaciens method. A shared characteristic between two methods is to transfer desirable traits or DNA into a plant cell while a difference is how they transfer desirable traits or DNA into a cell. In the particle gun method, a gun shoots plenty of DNA-coated metal particles that contain desirable traits and inject them into plant cells. After they invade into the plant cell, DNA coated metal particles induce bombardment. Ultimately, the desirable traits can fuse into embryos in plant cells, which cause desirable phenotype shows to humans. In the agrobacterium tumefaciens method,

IMG Credit: The Royal Society

humans use viruses or bacteria. The reason why people refer to the agrobacterium tumefaciens method is that even though the method does not necessarily have to be agrobacterium mediated bacteria, humans usually use the bacteria to create genetically modified organisms. In the first step of the method, humans inject desirable traits into agrobacterium mediated bacteria-more specifically, in the plasmid. Second, the bacteria with desired traits are injected and are grown in the cells.

What Are Benefits and Harms from Genetically Modified Organisms?

Genetically engineering techniques are definitely practical innovation. However, they coexist with benefits and side effects for this technology. First, they can be an advantage for environmental factors. Since we also can create pest resistant crop varieties, humans just require to use a little amount of pesticides. Also, the technology improves nutrition and taste of the foods. However, there are a lot of concerns regarding this technology as well. Not only may new genes into plants arouse allergic reactions, but also can they mutate and cause toxins in the plants. If this is the case, first, second, tertiary and quaternary consumers also might be infected by toxins in the plants due to the system of the food chain. In considering current benefits and obstacles, humans should improve and use carefully genetically engineering techniques.