Feature: What does Genetically Modified Mean?

The news is full of articles on Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) and Genetically Modified Food, but what does it really mean. Genetic modifications means to take the hereditable information found in the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) of genes from animals, plants, or microbes and insert that information into another cell. This information is then transferred along the cell's normal biochemical processes to produce proteins that eventually results in the desired hereditable characteristic being exhibited ^{4 5}.

Through conventional plant and animal breeding programs man has been altering the genetics of living things for many years. The genetic information from both parents is combined at reproductive fertilization, resulting in an offspring that has genetic information from both parents. Offspring that show the desired characteristic are then used for further reproduction.

Unlike conventional breeding programs genetic modification can place the exact genetic information desired of one species into another species. One is example is the DNA information of the gene (called bt gene) from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis and inserting this information into corn. The toxin produced by this gene is toxic to certain insects, predominantly caterpillars, thus lowering the need for insecticides⁴. The Bacillus thuringiensis bacteria has been used by organic farmers as an insecticide for years⁴.

Along with the desired gene a marker gene is also transferred. This marker gene allows the identification of cells that have successfully undergone gene transfer. Antibiotic resistance genes have been used as markers. Cells are placed in a petri dish with the antibiotic present in the growth medium. Cells that grow in this environment have successfully undergone the gene transfer of the gene desired and the resistant to the antibiotic ^{2 4}. Concerns over the introduction of antibiotics resistance have been expressed. This concern is countered by using antibiotics that occur in natural microbial populations¹. Yet concerns still exist. Alternative methods to produce markerless transgenic plants now exist ³.Gene technology is here. Knowledge on how this technology works will allow the public to make inform decisions on how best to control this technology to benefit mankind.

Look for future articles on, How does Genetic Modification Occur, Genetically Modified Food, are They Safe, Genetically Modified Organisms Advantages and Disadvantages, and The Future of Genetic Modification.

References for What does Genetically Modified Mean?