FOOD 1000 FINAL

Genetically engineered Food (GE) AKA GMO

Changing an organisms DNA to achieve a desired trait

transgenic is taking the DNA from one organism and putting it into another

GE vs Selective Breeding

Selective Breeding

• slow

• imprecise

• modification of genes happens naturally in the organism

GE

• very fast

• precise

• can introduce genes into an organism that would not naturally occur

Agricultural Breeding

Traditional breeding changes (Mendel genetics)

• artificial selection influences the genetic

Gene Editing

allow scientists to change a organisms DNA by adding, removing or altering genetic material at certain locations

CRISPR - Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats

Why GE/GM crops

Weed Protection: Glyphosate

Insect Control: Bacterium Bacillus Thuringiensis

Nutritional Value: high oleic acid soy and golden rice (mitigate vitamin A deficiency)

Ice Minus Strawberries

Ice-minus P. syringae competes with normal bacteria that cause ice crystals to form on plants. This reduces frost formation, protects strawberries from freezing damage, and increases crop yields.

Common GM foods

• Corn

• Canola

• Potatoes

• Tomatoes

• Squash

• Soybeans

• Flax

• Cottonseed oil

• sugar beets

GMO in Medicine

Insulin

clotting factors

Atryn

Banana vaccines

cancer fighting eggs

GMO in Biofuel

• algenol

• rapeseed

GMO in Bioremediation

• poplar trees remove groundwater contaminants

• enviropig is able to digest and process phosphate

Genetically modified food pros

• increased pest and disease resistance

• grow food in harsh climate

• increased food supply

• more nutritional value

• make drugs

Genetically modified food cons

• accidental cross pollination

• antibiotic resistance

• creation of “super” weeds and other environmental risks

• suicide seeds and economic impact on the farmers

• monopolization of the food markets

• reduced biodiversity

GMO regulation in Canada

• allowed to be sold in Canada

• classified as novel food under the food and drug act

• must be approved before sold in Canada

• not required to declare if the food contains GMO