History of GMOs

What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)?

Organisms whose genes have been artificially altered to modify their characteristics.

What does the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard define as GMO foods?

Foods that contain detectable genetic material modified through lab techniques and cannot be created through conventional breeding.

The first genetically engineered animal sold as a pet.

Glofish

What are some potential benefits of GMO crops?

Increase crop yields, reduce pesticide use, conserve water, improve food security, and aid biomedical research.

What was the first genetically modified organism created?

Escherichia coli in 1973 by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen.

What breakthrough did the first GMO lead to?

The development of genetically engineered insulin.

What were the first transgenic mammals?

Transgenic mice were created in 1974 by Rudolf Jaenisch and Beatrice Mintz, showing that foreign DNA could integrate into the mouse genome.

What are Bt crops?

Crops genetically engineered to produce Bt toxins that affect agricultural pests, such as cotton engineered to fend off bollworm.

What is the Flavr Savr tomato known for?

It was the first genetically engineered crop approved by the US FDA, modified to block the enzyme responsible for fruit softening.

What is Golden rice and why was it developed?

A biofortified rice developed to produce a precursor to vitamin A, created through the addition of genes from daffodils and a soil bacterium.

What is AquAdvantage salmon?

The first genetically engineered animal approved for human consumption, engineered to grow faster than traditional farm-raised salmon.

What is the significance of the American chestnut GMO?

A genetically engineered cultivar resistant to fungal blight, potentially the first genetically modified forest tree released into the wild in the US.

What was the purpose of genetically modifying Aedes aegypti mosquitoes?

To control populations that transmit diseases like dengue fever and Zika virus by engineering them to require tetracycline to develop.

What was the outcome of the 2021 release of genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida?

Male mosquitoes were released to mate with females, reducing the population of mosquitoes that transmit viruses.

Vector used to genetically engineer the first GMO.

Plasmid

Vector used to genetically engineer the first transgenic mammal.

Virus

Bt

Bacillus thuringiensis

Enzyme responsible for enzymatic browning in fruit.

Polyphenol oxidase

The protein responsible for the brown color when fruit browns.

Melanin

Function of melanin in plants

Natural defense mechanism

AquAdvantage salmon contains the genes from these species of fish.

Atlantic salmon, Chinook salmon, and ocean pout

First genetically engineered animal approved by the FDA for both medical and food uses.

Gal Safe pig

Herbicide-resistant crops approved in the United States in 1996.

Round-up Ready crops

In Golden Rice, the gene for the synthesis of beta carotene comes from what plant?

Daffodil

What species of mosquito is primarily genetically engineered for disease control?

Aedes aegypti

What are the two special genes carried by genetically modified mosquitoes?

A self-limiting gene and a fluorescent marker gene

What is the purpose of the self-limiting gene in genetically engineered mosquitoes?

It prevents female offspring from surviving to adulthood

How do genetically modified male mosquitoes contribute to population reduction?

They mate with wild females, passing on the self-limiting gene, leading to fewer surviving offspring.

What happens to the Aedes aegypti population if releases of genetically engineered mosquitoes stop?

The population returns to normal levels.

Which U.S. agency regulates the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

In which U.S. states has the EPA approved the use of genetically engineered mosquitoes?

Florida and Texas

What has the EPA confirmed regarding the risks of genetically engineered mosquitoes?

There are no risks to humans, animals, or the environment.

How do genetically engineered mosquitoes complement traditional mosquito control measures?

They provide an innovative tool for controlling mosquito-borne diseases.