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Genetically Modified Organisms are created when genes are transferred from an organism in a laboratory and introduced into the genome of an unrelated organism. As a result, an organism is able to be given new characteristics by receiving the addition of a specific DNA strand. The entire process can be broken down into 4 major steps:
Step 1:
Step 1:
The first step in genetically modifying an organism is to identify the desired trait. Scientists must think critically about where to find the right gene, and they typically look for it in nature. If they are looking for a gene that is resistant to cold, perhaps they would look in colder temperatures for the desired gene. When scientists first started making the RoundUp ready crops, they found a bacteria that was growing near a manufacturing plant that was producing RoundUp. In this bacteria was a gene which was resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, also known as RoundUp (Powell, 2015).
Step 2:
Step 2:
The second step is to isolate the trait. Scientists use comparative analysis to figure out what part of the genetic makeup contains the trait that they are looking for. Then, the genomes of the species with the desired trait and without the desired trait are compared. Monsanto, the company that helps farmers by developing RoundUp ready crops, patented a new method known as seed chipping. Monsanto shaved off parts of the seeds for genetic sequencing and left the rest of the seeds for planting. By doing this, it created a database which helped to match plants to their genotypes. This database helped to identify traits of interest and also to match the best genotypes to a plant phenotype when searching for a new desirable trait (Powell, 2015).
Step 3:
Step 3:
The third step is to insert the desired trait into the new genome. It is difficult to alter a genome because a seed has a rigid structure. Some companies use something called a gene gun. A gene gun shoots metal particles with a DNA coating into plant tissue. Monsanto does not use a gene gun. They use bacteria called Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This bacteria is able to naturally invade seeds and alter plants by inserting pieces of its DNA into a plant’s genome (Powell, 2015).
Step 4:
Step 4:
The Fourth step is to grow the GMO. Once the genetic trait is inserted into the genome, it needs to be able to grow and replicate (Powell, 2015). Once this new crop is made, scientists will test it very thoroughly, for example, they analyze the differences between the old crop and the modified crop. If the new modified crop does not perform well or is not what the scientists expected, it will not be developed and further grown and sold in any market. For a genetically modified crop to reach the market, it must go through over 75 tests and studies. This ensures safety for humans, environments, and animals. The data on the tests are reviewed by the USDA, EPA, and FDA. Over 75 countries have tested GMOs and there have been no risks found (“How GMOs Are Made”, n.d.).
Sources:
Image by deepakrit from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/chemistry-lab-experiment-chemist-3533039/
Image by Bruno/Germany from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/ice-cubes-ice-water-cold-frozen-3506781/
Image by Chokniti Khongchum from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/analysis-analyzing-beaker-4402809/
Image by LaCasadeGoethe from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/dna-project-lumina-walter-waymann-2649850/
Image by Pexels from Pixabay. https://pixabay.com/photos/hands-macro-plant-soil-grow-life-1838658/
Powell, C. (2015, August 11). How to Make a GMO. Retrieved from http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/how-to-make-a-gmo/
How GMOs Are Made? (n.d.). Retrieved from https://gmoanswers.com/how-gmos-are-made
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