Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Flashcards covering definitions, purposes, techniques, types, and examples of genetically modified organisms and related biotechnology, generated from lecture notes.

What is a genetically modified organism (GMO)?

An organism or microorganism whose genes have been modified or altered using genetic engineering techniques, allowing a segment of DNA from another organism to be added to the host.

List three specific purposes for producing GMOs.

Production of genes or recombinant proteins, studying the expression and functions of genes, producing models of human diseases, making transgenic animals for research, or creating GM crops.

Define a transgenic organism.

A modified organism created by adding genetic material from a different species.

Define a cisgenic organism.

A modified organism produced from genetic material from the same species or a species that can naturally breed with the host organism.

What is the most common natural technique used in GM crops to alter the plant genome?

The use of the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which naturally invades plant cells and alters the plant genome by inserting its own DNA.

Name two manual techniques used to introduce the gene of interest directly to the nucleus of a plant cell.

Electroporation or using a gene gun (where genetic material coated with gold or tungsten particles is shot into young plant cells).

What is a first-generation GM crop?

Crops that are not significantly different from the parental unmodified crops in terms of phenotype, taste, and nutrition but contain enhanced traits such as herbicide tolerance or insect resistance (e.g., insect-resistant maize, herbicide-resistant soybean).

What is a second-generation GM crop?

Crops that possess initial genetic traits along with increased nutrition benefits for humans and animals, such as higher protein or vitamin levels (e.g., rice with higher levels of beta-carotene, tomatoes with higher carotenoids).

What is the primary objective of third-generation GM crops?

To provide increased ability to resist abiotic stress like drought or saline soils, or to create pharma plants to help produce active pharmaceuticals.

What essential nutrient does Golden Rice biosynthesize and what two genes are introduced to achieve this?

It biosynthesizes beta-carotene. The two introduced genes are phytoene synthase (phy) from daffodils and the CRTL gene from the soil bacteria Erwinia uredovora.

How did the Flavr Savr tomato achieve a reduction in spoilage or ripening?

It was genetically engineered with a Flavr Savr gene coding for an antisense strand that inhibits the production of the enzyme polygalacturonase, which normally induces ripening and softness.

What are BT crops?

Crops genetically modified to produce a crystal protein that is toxic to many pest insects, which is naturally produced by the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis.

Name the four categories that most genetically modified vaccines belong to.

Recombinant protein vaccine, virus-like particle vaccine, vector vaccine, and DNA vaccines.

What was the first recombinant human vaccine approved in 1986 and what was it produced by?

Recombivax HB. It was produced by inserting the Hepatitis B virus gene that codes for the HBV surface protein into yeast.