ENSCI GMOs

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO)

- a plant, animal or microbe in which one or more changes have
been made to the genome to alter its characteristics
- genes can be introduced, enhanced or deleted within a
species, across species or even across kingdoms.

- agriculture
- medicine
- research
- environmental management

GMO Applications

- domain
- kingdom
- phylum
- class
- order
- family
- genus
- species

Taxonomy

- identify
- copy
- insert
- grow

How are GMOs were made

Identify

the genetic information—or
"gene"—that gives an
organism (plant, animal, or
microorganism) a desired trait

Copy

that information from the organism that has the trait

Insert

that information into the DNA of another organism

Grow

the new organism

GMOs in Agriculture

• GMO crops: engineered for traits such as pest resistance,
herbicide tolerance, and increased nutritional value.
• Ex: Bt cotton, herbicide-resistant crops, golden rice.
• Impact: increased yields and reduced chemical insecticide
usage demonstrated in various studies.

GMOs in Medicine and Research

• GMOs in biomedical research: enabling the study of human
genetic diseases and the production of complex
pharmaceuticals.
• Ex: GM animal models, pharmaceutical production (e.g.,
insulin, vaccines), gene therapy.
• Potential applications: addressing rare metabolic disorders,
cancer, and infectious diseases.

GMOs in Environmental Management

• Applications: Biodegradable plastics, bioremediation.
• Ex: Microbially produced biodegradable plastics, GMOs for
efficient bioremediation strategies.
• Potential benefits and challenges: Balancing environmental
benefits with potential risks and ethical considerations.

Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety

- an international treaty under the Convention on
Biological Diversity (CBD).
- aims to ensure the safe handling, transport, and
use of living modified organisms (LMOs), also known as
GMOs, to protect biological diversity and human health.

• Protection of Biological Diversity
• Human Health
• Legal Framework

Importance of the Cartagena Protocol

• Advanced Informed Agreement (AIA)
• Risk Assessment and Management
• Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH)
• Socio-Economic Considerations

Key Features of the Cartagena Protocol

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

an international treaty established in 1992 to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity

• Conservation of Biodiversity
• Sustainable Development
• Global Cooperation

Importance of the Convention on Biological
Diversity

(1) conservation of biological
diversity,
(2) sustainable use of its components,
(3) fair
and equitable sharing of benefits arising from genetic
resources.

Three Main Objectives of Convention on Biological
Diversity

- Three Main Objectives
- National Implementation
- Access and Benefit-Sharing (ABS)

Key Features of the Convention on Biological
Diversity