Package 2 : GM foods

What are Genetically Modified Organisms?

Genetically modified organisms are plant, animal or bacteria that have had one or a few selected genes introduced into it by molecular techniques.
Genetic modification involves direct modification of DNA, a living thing's genetic material. Genetic modification is being applied to develop new benefits, such as increasing the shelf life, creating greater resistance to pests, or creating the ability for crops to grow in different environmental conditions.

Some benefits of GM foods...
- improved nutritional value
- higher crop yields
- insect resistance
- disease resistance
- better food quality
- improving plant adatability to harsh growing conditions, such as drought, temperature extremes.

Some examples of GM foods...
- tomato : fruits ripening altered
- canola : oil profile altered (fatty acid)
- corn : Inidazolinone herbicide tolerant
- soyabean : Glyphosate herbicide tolerant
- potato : Coleopteran insert resistant

Eg. Transgenic maize (corn) has been deliberately genetically modified to have agronomically desirable traits. Traits that have been engineered into corn are resistance to herbicides and incorporation of a gene that codes for the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin, protecting plants from insects.

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin
- is a Gram-positive, soil dwelling bacterium of the genus Bacillus
- is a spore forming bacterium that produces crystals protein (cry proteins), which are toxic to many species of insects
- occurs naturally in the caterpillars of some moths and butterflies, as well as on the surface of plants


Source: http://www.gmac.gov.sg/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bt_corn