genetically modified organisms

Biologist

2022

We explain what genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are, their advantages, disadvantages and what they are used for.

The genetic material of GMOs was artificially modified.

What are GMOs?

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are those microorganisms, plants or animals whose hereditary material (DNA) is manipulated by biotechnology techniques that are alien to the methods natural multiplication or combination.

Through genetic modification it is possible, for example, to alter the expression of a gene or transfer it to another organism (Of the same species or a different one).

The techniques of biotechnology applied to genetically modified organisms are also called "modern biotechnology", "gene technology", " DNA"Or" genetic engineering. " They are used, to a greater extent, in Food industry (farming Y cattle raising) and in medicine (for vaccines or to reverse inherited diseases).

Advantages and disadvantages of GMOs

Among the main advantages of genetically modified organisms are:

  • Greater resistance to harmful agents. Genetically modified seeds provide crops capable of supporting diseases caused by insects or virus, and capable of tolerating herbicides and pesticides (for example, RR soy is resistant to a highly toxic herbicide, made from glyphosate).
  • Composition and value improvements nutritious. Through the inclusion of vitamins, the elimination of allergens and the modification of the content of protein products such as corn, rice, tomatoes, soybeans, potatoes, etc. are obtained. with an improved composition.
  • Greater tolerance to droughts and floods. Genetically modified crops are resistant to numerous environmental factors, therefore, in comparison With traditional crops, they offer advantages to producers by reducing the risk crop loss.

Among the main disadvantages of genetically modified organisms are:

  • The intensive use of soils. The land is damaged, mainly due to two issues: the amount of toxic residues resulting from herbicides and pesticides. pesticides (which are sprayed on genetically modified crops) and continuous planting that does not allow the land to rest to regain its organic material Y humidity (technique called "fallow").
  • Genetic contamination. The introduction of genetically modified plants can harm the environment and affect the biodiversity. For example, a plant It can become a pest if it grows outside the original site where its harvest was contemplated or if it transfers its modified genes to other crops (in the United States, for example, they appeared in a traditional crop destined for the feeding human traces of a type of corn that had only been approved for feeding animals farm).
  • Health problems.In 1992, scientists from the agency government of the United States "Food and Drug Administration", responsible for the regulation of food, drugs, cosmetics, among others, warned that genetically modified food they can cause unpredictable and difficult to detect side effects such as allergies, toxins in the body, new diseases and nutritional problems.
  • Patented seeds. Genetically modified seeds have intellectual property rights from the multinational corporations that created them. These intellectual property rights establish that farmers cannot conserve these seeds for future harvests, causing producers to buy new seeds and their corresponding agrochemicals each year (with the possibility of a cost higher compared to traditional seeds).
  • Still unknown adverse effects. Since genetic manipulation in food was approved for commercialization in 1994, not enough time has elapsed to determine exactly the consequences it causes on health and environment the different products whose genes were modified.

Applications of genetically modified organisms

Genetically modified crops are more resistant.

Genetically modified organisms are applied in different areas and among the main ones, the following stand out:

  • The agro-livestock industry. Through the genetic manipulation of seeds, harvests can be optimized in favor of the consumer industry, both for feeding farm animals and for farming. consumption human.
  • Medicine. Through the manufacture of pharmaceutical supplies, access to treatments for certain diseases was facilitated. For example, people with diabetes can take human insulin that comes from genetically engineered human genes.
  • The food industry. Through genetic modifications in animals, biotechnological processes in food production are optimized. For example, by modifying components, higher production can be achieved in less time. Genetic modifications are also used to combat diseases in animals (resulting from mass production in feedlots or feedlot, English name and commonly used).

Transgenic organisms

Transgenic organisms are those that have been introduced to a DNA fragment that comes from another organism, which is not sexually compatible. For example, a variety of transgenic maize contains genes from a bacterium in order to make your crop more resistant.

Although it is very common to use both terms synonymously, transgenic organisms are a variant of GMOs, but not all GMOs are made by means of technique of "transgenesis".

Another variant of GMO is the "cisgenesis" technique, which consists of modifying the DNA of one organism with the gene that comes from another, but is sexually compatible. It is used, for example, in the reproduction of plants of different species.

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