Download GMOs versus Selective Breeding

Running head: GMOS VERSUS SELECTIVE BREEDING
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GMOs versus Selective Breeding
Shay Townson
Waxahachie Global High School
Engineering Design and Development
April Moon
November 2014
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Running head: GMOS VERSUS SELECTIVE BREEDING
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Table of Contents
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….….... 3
Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4
Genetically Modified Organisms…………………………………………………………….……………………….……......4
Figure 1: Lime Apple……………………………………………………………………….……………………………..4
Selective Breeding……………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….….....5
Techniques and Methods…………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….5
GMOs…………………………….………………….……………………………………………………....……….……....5
Selective Breeding…………………………………………………………………………………………….……......6
Uses………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….……….7
GMOs……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…….......7
Figure 2: Artic Apple……………….…………………………………………………………………………7
Selective Breeding……………………………………………………………………………………….……..….......7
Benefits and Risk……………………………………………………………………………………………………….………………8
GMOs………………………………………………………….……….…………………….………………………….…....8
Selective Breeding………………………………………………..……………………………………………………...8
Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……….…......9
References….……………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………...…...10
Appendix………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12
Running head: GMOS VERSUS SELECTIVE BREEDING
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Abstract
The human race has been cultivating plants for thousands of years along with selective
breeding. Unlike today, these people did not have the power or the ability to genetically change
the crops DNA or even know what DNA was. Selective breeding is the process of only allowing
the crops that show the most desirable traits to be replanted again and again. This process was
the basics of farming for thousands of years and allowing for the grains, vegetables, and fruits
that we buy today. Genetic engineering is a new technic
that allows for DNA of an organism to be added to a
plant to increase crop yield, drought or flood resistance,
and lessen the use of herbicides. Today, genetic
engineering, along with selective breeding, are used to
Figure 1: Lime Apple
create or better food for the present and future. An
example would be Figure 1 in the way that it is an apple that has the inner properties of an
orange with a green color (Waananen, September 2013).
Keywords: GMO, selective breeding, genetic engineering
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Introduction
The topic of genetic engineering is currently a highly debated topic around the world
because of untold side effects and consequences. The ethics and morals aside not many large
studies have been done over the long term effect of genetic engineering. There are many
people debating for and against genetic engineering all over the web, but neither side wants to
work with the other to try see if it is effective.
Genetically Modified Organisms
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) started around the late 1970s with the
Asilomar Conference during which biologists got together with a couple of lawyers and doctors
to create the guidelines or foundation for genetic modification to lay out how to safely use
genetically engineered DNA (Shireen 2013). This conference basically kick started the whole
field of genetically engineered DNA or recombinant DNA in science, which is now the dominate
research in biology. The conference decided that all recombinant DNA research must be done
under the guidelines put in place by the National Instituted of Health to protect the laboratory
personnel, the general public, and the environment. One failing point of the conference is
considering the ethical and legal implications of genetic engineering of plants, animals, and
humans (Berg 2004). The first patent issued was in 1980 to General Electric being the first
patent on a living organism in the US. This organism was a bacteria that feed on crude oil which
would be helpful if there was an oil spill. In 1982 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
approves a genetically engineered E. coli bacteria that produced insulin to appear on the
market. It was not until 1994 that GMOs appeared on the shelves of grocery stores throughout
America with Flavr Savr tomatoes being approved by the FDA. The world continues with little
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notice while other GMOs are created like GM wheat, rice, soybeans, and alfalfa until 1997 when
the EU votes for mandatory labeling on all GMO food products. GMOs still become dominate in
the food industry despite the knowable of them being used is seen by the public (Shireen 2013).
Selective Breeding
Around 10,000 years ago people began to change the natural reproductive cycle of
plants and animals to produce more desired traits within these plants and animals. This was
done by either cross pollinating plants or breeding animals that have desired traits in hopes
that the traits will be pasted down to the offspring (Dire Wolf Project). Selective breeding is an
ongoing process that has played an important part in supplying the planet’s population with
food. The development of plant varieties and animal breeds meant that agriculture could be
done on an industrial basis. This type of breeding still continues on in the modern world with
the knowledge of genetics, theory of evolution, and Mendel’s law (The Great Soviet
Encyclopedia, 2003). An Example of selective breeding is Tomatoes because before the Spanish
came over to America Tomatoes were much smaller and waxier than today. After about a
hundred years of selective breeding Tomatoes looked a lot closer as we see them today and
have the ability to survive conditions other plants could not (Wall, 2013).
Techniques and Methods
GMOs
GMOs have many techniques and methods for creating them some examples of this are
Gene Silencing, Bacterial Carriers, Electroporation, and Gene Splicing. Gene Silencing is when an
engineer “silences” the gene that causes an undesired trait. This can be very useful if a certain
gene activates an allergic reaction that gene could be “silenced” (Null, 2014). Bacterial Carriers
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are used to deliver into the cell by physically adding a wanted gene into a Bacterial and then
plants in a plant to add the gene to the plant. Electroporation is when the targets cells are
placed in a solution with the chosen DNA with a strong brief electric shock causing the walls of
the cell to tear allowing in the DNA. The Cells are then put in another solution to repair the
damage brought on by the electric shock trapping the DNA inside. In Gene Splicing
biotechnologists modify DNA, and then add it into the target host cells to allow for the genes
and resulting traits to be modified (Murnaghan, 2014).
Selective Breeding
There are many methods and techniques for selective breeding from high-tech and
costly processes such as in-vitro fertilization to more simple low-cost techniques that work
more with selection and controlled mating of animals and plants based on what is observable
traits. There are three main approached to selective breeding in animals Outcrossing, Line
Breeding, and Inbreeding. Outcrossing is mating two animals for about 4 to 6 generations to
make sure that the trait is more numerous than it was before, but is only worth it when the
genetic variation for a trait is high. Line Breeding is when you mate related animals like half
siblings, cousins, aunts, and nephews. It is really only effective if the trait or traits continues to
show in the offspring. Inbreeding is when directly animals are mated to create uniformities,
prepotency, and to force out latent weaknesses from the gene pool. (E, 2014) Some types of
selective breeding in plants are Mass Selection, Pure-line Selection, and Hybridization to make
it simple. Mass selection is when seeds from desirable appearing individuals for the next
generation to be planted from eliminating undesired traits. Pure-Line Selection has 3 steps
involving selecting superior appearing plants form a genetically variable population, then grown
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and evaluated by observation over several years, finally it is determined whether or not the
new plants are better than their relatives. Hybridization is mating carefully selected plants to
combine desirable genes found in two or more different varieties and to produce pure-breeding
offspring (Plant Genetics, 2014).
Uses
GMOs
GMOs have many uses like increase yield including those conveying drought, pest, and
disease-resistance with in plants. In animals they are used to increase milk and egg production,
disease-resistance and more meat. Some bacterial strains were modified so
that they are capable of producing human insulin making the process a lot
more efficient than harvesting it from pigs (Null, 2014). Other examples are
pharmaceutical agents produced in sheep’s milk and vaccines grown in chicken
Figure 2: Artic Apple
eggs. Bioremediation is the process where living organisms are used to clean
up pollutants in the soil or water. This means that microorganisms, small bacteria and yeast can
be used to clean up oil spill or just pollution in general (Wolfe, 2013). An example of the uses of
GMO is the Artic Apple, as shown in Figure 2, which no longer browns when you leave the
inside exposed for too long (Borel, 2014).
Selective Breeding
The uses of Selective Breeding include but is not limited to breeding plants to be
resistant to drought and floods, higher crop yield, larger products, weed resistant, and viral
diseases. An example many fruits and vegetables that we eat today have been breed to be
larger, more flavorful, and have a higher amount of vitamins For animals selective breeding is
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used to get more eggs, meat, and milk along with disease resistance and healthier breeds. An
example dairy cows were breed to produce large amounts of milk, but they will die if they are
not milked and their life span was reduced from thirty years to four years. Both the animal and
plant selective breeding tries to create the top of their section along with many different breeds
to choose from for different purposes and to keep a massive die off from happening if a virus
was to arise (Basu, 2013).
Benefits and Risks
GMOs
GMOs have many benefits and risks that tend to balance themselves out in the end with
neither the risk being too great but the advantage are not very high either. Some benefits
include pest resistance, herbicide tolerance, disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought or
salinity tolerance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and phytoremediation (Null, 2014). Some of the
risks of GMOs include unintended harm to other organisms, reduced effectiveness of
pesticides, gene transfer to non-target species, human health risks and economic concerns
(Whiteman, 2000).
Selective Breeding
Selective breeding has many benefits and risks both with their own effects on people,
environment, and themselves. Selective breeding for plants can potentially positively influence
world food production by improving quality of seed grains and increase levels of protein in
forage crops. Using selective breeding make plants have the capacity to grow on lands that are
not suitable for them to grow in which can help get more food and add a variety of plants in
lands that are not suited to them (Pros and Cons of Selective Breeding, 2014).
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The risks come in when the original groups have died off and all that is left is the new
breed with only the desired traits that have no amenity to a disease and die off leaving nothing
to restart the whole process over. Some of the modified plants could use up more than
originally thought and kill the surrounding plants along with the ground. Modified plants are
also very hard to get rid of because their pollen is distributed by the wind to other plants
producing hybrids of wild and modified changing the surrounding environment (Pros and Cons
of Selective Breeding, 2014).
Conclusion
In conclusion both selective breeding and GMOs are both apart of the culture of farming
today and will probably continue into the future with their positive and negative effects.
Hopefully into the future the restrictions will be tightened to allow for better plants that will
actually help the people and farmers. Side by side science and nature will come together and
help make a better future for everyone.
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References
Basu, M. (2013, November). Selective breeding or artificial selection. Evol3000. Retrieved
November 11, 2014, from http://wallace.genetics.uga.edu/groups/evol3000/wiki/
ce8b9/Selective_ Breeding_or_Artificial_Selection.html
Berg, P. (2004, August). Asilomar and recombinant DNA. Noble Prize. Retrieved November 11,
2014, from http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/chemistry/laureates/1980/bergarticle.html
Borel, B. (2012, September). Core truths: 10 common GMO claims debunked. Popular Science.
Retrieved November 11, 2014, from http://www.popsci.com/article/science/coretruths-10-common-gmo-claims-debunked
Brookes, G and Barfoot, P. (2011) GM crops: global socio-economic and environmental impacts
1996-2011. UK. PDF. Retrieved December 2, 2014.
E, J. (2014, May). Three types of selective breeding. eHow. Retrieved November 11, 2014, from
http://www.ehow.com/info_8210961_three-types-selective-breeding.html
Health Research Funding. (2014, May). Pros and cons of selective breeding. Health Research
Funding. Retrieved November 11, 2014, from http://healthresearchfunding.org/proscons-selective-breeding/
Murnaghan, I. (2014, June). Types of techniques used to genetically modify food. Genetically
Modified Foods. Retrieved November 11, 2014, from
http://www.geneticallymodifiedfoods.co.uk/ types-techniques-used-genetically-modifyfood.html
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Null, G. [Gray Null]. (2013, May 23). Seeds of death: unveiling the lies of GMO's [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6OxbpLwEjQ&index=4&list=WL
T. (2013, June). Tomatoes' genetic history from wild to salad. Discovery News. Retrieved
November 11, 2014, from http://news.discovery.com/earth/plants/tomatoes-geneticjourney-from-wild-to-salad-13062.html
The Free Dictionary. (2003, September). Selective breeding. The Free Dictionary. Retrieved
November 11, 2014, from
http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Selective+Breeding
TNAU Agritech Portal. (2014, January). Breeding methods in crop plants. TNAU Agritech Portal.
Retrieved November 11, 2014, from
http://agritech.tnau.ac.in/crop_improvement/crop_imprv_ breeding_methods.html
Waananen, L. (September 2014) Syringes, gas masks and frankenfood: Visuals of the GMO
debate. Inlander. Retrieved November 11, 2014, http://www.inlander.com/Bloglander/
archives/2013/09/27/syringes-gas-masks-and-frankenfood-visuals-of-the-gmo-debate
Whitman, D. (2000, April). Genetically modified foods: Harmful or helpful? ProQuest. Retrieved
11, 2014, from http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
Wools, G. (2012, September). GMO timeline: A history of genetically modified foods. Rosebud.
Retrieved November 11, 2014, from http://www.rosebudmag.com/truth-squad/gmotimeline-a-history-of-genetically-modified-foods
Running head: GMOS VERSUS SELECTIVE BREEDING
Appendix: GMO increase of Yield
Figure A1: Increase of food production.
As seen above the crop yield of Genetically Modified crops has increase years in the
various regions of Africa (Brookes, 2011).
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