Genetic Modification

Contents

Growth of GMO Crops

Gmo acreage world 2009
Land area use in millions of hectares
Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in USA. Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from the 2002 ERS report, Adoption of Bioengineered Crops (AER-810) for the years 1996-99 and National Agricultural Statistics Service, (annual) June Agricultural Survey for the years 2000-20. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption/
Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in USA. Source: USDA, Economic Research Service using data from the 2002 ERS report, Adoption of Bioengineered Crops (AER-810) for the years 1996-99 and National Agricultural Statistics Service, (annual) June Agricultural Survey for the years 2000-20. https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-us/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption/

Damage Resistance

Cherry tomatoes red and green 2009 16x9
Credit: WikiPedant (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
The first genetically modified crop FDA approved for sale was known as the Flavr Savr tomato. Tomatoes are prone to damage during shipping and are therefore picked before ripening. However, vine ripened tomatoes have richer flavor. Calgene, developed the Flavr Savr and sold it to market between 1994-1997 in the U.S. Flavr Savr was modified by inserting an antisense into the genome that knocked-down the expression of polygalacturonase. Polygalacturonase degrades pectin in the cell walls of the fruit that results in softening, proclivity to damage and eventual rotting.

Herbicide Resistance

Glyphosate
Roundup is the trade-name of the herbicide glyphosate used in agriculture to control weed populations developed and patented by Monsanto. Glyphosate is absorbed through the foliage of plants and interferes with the enzymes that aid in production of tyrosine, phenylalanine and tryptophan. Plants and lower organisms generate aromatic amino acids through an enzyme 5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3-phosphate (EPSP) synthase which is the target of this compound. A series of Roundup Ready crops were designed by the insertion of the Agrobacterium EPSP gene driven by the CaMV 35S promoter. This version of the gene is inherently resistant to glyphosate poisoning.
Glyphosate USA 2013

Emergence of superweeds

Amaranthus palmeri
Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri), commonly referred to as pig weed is a pest species in cotton and soy fields that has become glyphosate resistant.Credit: Pompilid (CC-BY-SA 3.0)

Pest Resistance

Helicoverpa zea larva
Credit: Cyndy Sims Parr (CC-BY-SA)

Crystals from the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), called Cry protein, are toxic to various insects: moths & butterflies, beetles, ants, wasps, flies & mosquitoes, bees, nematodes. The insertion of this gene into plants like corn (Bt-Corn) were designed to be resistant to pests.
Bt-toxin-crystals

Disease resistance

Papayas in the United States primarily come from Hawaii. A virus known as Papaya Ringspot Disease threatened the papaya crop in Hawaii. To combat this, papaya were genetically engineered to block viral entry into the papaya cells. Papayas purchased in Latin markets are most likely unmodified and usually come from Mexico where the ringspot disease is not yet a problem.
Papaya Ringspot Virus Symptoms
Plum Pox Virus is a threat to the genus Prunus. A genetically modified plum plant has been developed called C5. The cells in these plants silence the expression of plum pox coat protein if infected to block propagation of the virus.

Plum Pox Virus in Apricot
An apricot infected with plum pox.
C5 plum pox resistant plum
C5 resistant plums

Nutritional Engineering

Carotenoidsynthesis
Credit: en:user:Petaholmes, (CC-BY-SA 3.0)
Golden rice is a genetically engineered rice that is meant to address Vitamin A deficiency. It introduces enzyme genes from other species involved in the biosynthetic pathways for β-carotene production, a vitamin A precursor. It is estimated that millions of deaths and irreversible blindness occur in the third world each year due to Vitamin A deficiency and creating this rice was meant to address the problem.

Rice is a staple in many cultures, therefore it is a good delivery system. Many controversies exist surrounding Golden Rice due to anti-GMO sentiment (from patenting systems), cultural sensitivities (white rice revered in certain cultures), and Vitamin A content/conversion doubts.

Golden Rice

Explore the debate