Transgenic Animals and Transgenic Plants- Eugene Cauzon

       Introduction

            Biotechnology is technology advanced with the use of biological systems and living organisms to develop products and make scientific progress. Today, biotechnology is more common than normally thought, being integrated into most people’s daily lives. It is not some fantastical dystopian technology, but a real tool that is used in many different industries. Transgenic plants and animals are well-known forms of biotechnology, often related to Jurassic Park or the controversies over GMO fruits and veggies. Transgenic organisms are made when genomes, an organisms set of genetic instructions, are altered. This can be by done by inserting foreign DNA into a genome or combining different DNA from different genomes.

What are the greatest advancements in transgenic organisms?

 

            For many years, people would breed specific individuals of a species through a process called selective breeding. Though this tactic works, it takes up a lot of resources and time because people need a lot of supplies like food and water for the organism and then it takes a tremendous amount of time to get the organism ready to reproduce. Furthermore, you would need to use a huge quantity of the organism because you are looking for the best one to be part of the next generation of that particular species. However, in the 1980s, there was an Italian scientist named Mario R. Capecchi who changed a gene in mice. With the genetically modified mice, they could breed to produce offspring that also have the same altered gene. This experiment was essentially a more efficient option for selective breeding because instead of waiting for a long time to produce certain individuals to produce a similar positive strain. One application with this new technology is that farm crops like tomatoes can be modified positively to introduce new genes that can synthesize pesticides to protect it from insects eating the plant. This can also be applied in different factors for thriving plant life. Additionally, having the ability to change certain genes can help eradicate certain traits. For example, in the US, there is an obesity epidemic that is affecting tons of people. Some recent research suggest that obesity can also be linked to genetics. By replacing the gene that makes people obese, we can reduce the obesity percentages. This makes the development of transgenic organisms significant because it lets scientists see that certain problems can be solved by altering some of the core building blocks of life.\

How are transgenic organisms best used?

 

            Transgenic organisms, including animals and plants are used in many different industries. Transgenic plants are often used in the production of produce, to create ideal traits, quality and high yield. One famous example of this is golden rice. Although ultimately unsuccessful due to push back from anti- GMO activists, golden rice was a grain genetically modified to have more nutrients compared to regular rice . In Canada and the US, 90% of all crops grown are considered GMO, Crops like soybeans, corn, sugar beets, canola, and cotton are all majority GMO. To make GMO plants scientist first identify what trait they want, then they find an organism with that trait and copy that gene. After, they insert the gene into the DNA of the plant and examine it as it grows to make sure that it has taken that trait. On the other hand, transgenic animals are commonly used in three major categories, connected to human health. These categories are “to obtain information on gene function and regulation as well as on human diseases, (ii) to obtain high value products used for human therapy, and (iii) to improve animal products for human consumption. (Houdebine).” Transgenic animals are used in research of human diseases as they are modified to mimic symptoms of specific diseases or to create organs for transplantation (only for Monkeys so far). They are made by inserting a specific gene into the genome of an animal. Personally, I believe that transgenic organisms are best used when they are created with good intentions, just like how golden rice was invented to help prevent malnutrition.

How are transgenic organisms changing the world?

            Experimenting around with an organism’s DNA have been around for a long time. Dating back to 30,000 years ago when humans did not know about genetics, they experimented around with wolves. They influence the DNA of the wolves so that they can be more compliant to humans, and more viable with humans. This process is called “selective breeding” or “artificial selection”. Size, hair length, color and body shape were artificially selected, and one of the wolves may inherit those genes. Transgenic organisms has come a long way, and it has evolved over the years. These artificial selection techniques have been around for a long time, and is still being used today. Transgenic organisms have a future, and they are promising the world by providing beneficial and healthy farms and crops, farm animals, and medicine. By 2050, the earth’s population will reach 9 billion people, and that means food production will need to be sped up. Scientists hope to find and provide vaccinations and medicines in GM foods, which benefits people in developing countries. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are beneficial in many different ways, and those were some of the examples to how GMOs contribute in the world. GMOs help out in agriculture, and they do that by benefiting: crop yields, reduce the use of pesticides, resistant to pests and diseases, enhanced nutrient composition, medicines, and reduce costs for food and drug production. They also help the crops mature faster and tolerate certain elements and weather conditions. GMOs also benefit animals. Animals were modified to increase yield and decrease the risk of getting diseases. By benefiting animals also mean its benefiting us humans too. Transgenic animals significantly improves human health by enhancing nutrition, protecting the environment, increasing animal welfare, and decreasing animal diseases. Tools as such will benefit the production of farm animals and animal agriculture in a timely and in an inexpensive manner. The development of transgenic farm animals will drastically influence the direct genetic manipulation of future farm animals. As well as influence the fact that we need to produce more and more because of what’s happening to the world right now. The growing world population and climate change. We don’t know what the future holds, but one thing for sure, is that people will keep their ways because they may be beneficial, or discover different methods that are way more beneficial.

Conclusion

 

            To conclude, transgenic animals and transgenic plants are very significant pieces of science, and an interesting biology concept. They are used in so many different ways, and they end up being very beneficial to everyone. The possible uses of transgenic animals and plants is endless, and there are more to discover in the future. Their history back then and currently will remain significant in the science world, and so will in the future.

 

 

Works Cited:

Adnan, Amna. “Importance of Transgenic Animals in Human Life.” Importance of Transgenic Animals in Human Life, 12 Aug. 2010, https://www.biotecharticles.com/Genetics-Article/Importance-of-Transgenic-Animals-in-Human-Life-343.html. 

  Philips, Theresa. “Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DNA Technology.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732/#:~:text=The%20use%20of%20genetically%20modified,genetic%20determinants%20of%20various%20diseases. 

Rangel, Gabriel. “From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology.” Science in the News, 23 Oct. 2016, https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-history-of-gmo-technology/#:~:text=However%2C%20humans%20have%20been%20genetically,over%2030%2C000%20years%20%5B2%5D! 

Rani, S. Jhansi, and R. Usha. “Transgenic Plants: Types, Benefits, Public Concerns and Future.” Journal of Pharmacy Research, No Longer Published by Elsevier, 27 Aug. 2013, https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0974694313003289. 

Wheeler, Matthew B. “Transgenic Animals in Agriculture.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 2013, https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/transgenic-animals-in-agriculture-105646080/.

Whitelaw, Bruce. “A Future for Transgenic Livestock.” Nature News, Nature Publishing Group, 1 Oct. 2003, https://www.nature.com/articles/nrg1183. 

 

[0] Pray, Leslie. “Recombinant DNA Technology and Transgenic Animals.” Scitable, https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/recombinant-dna-technology-and-transgenic-animals-34513/#:~:text=A%20transgenic%2C%20or%20genetically%20modified,foreign%20DNA%20into%20a%20genome.

[1] Çelik Özge. New Visions in Plant Science. IntechOpen, 2018.

[2] Pray, Leslie. “Recombinant DNA Technology and Transgenic Animals.” Scitable, https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/recombinant-dna-technology-and-transgenic-animals-34513/#:~:text=A%20transgenic%2C%20or%20genetically%20modified,foreign%20DNA%20into%20a%20genome.

[3] Regis, Ed. “The True Story of the Genetically Modified Superfood That Almost Saved Millions.” Foreignpolicy, https://foreignpolicy.com/2019/10/17/golden-rice-genetically-modified-superfood-almost-saved-millions/.

[4] How Are Gmos Made? – Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/media/135277/download.

[5 ]Houdebine, L-M. “Use of Transgenic Animals to Improve Human Health and Animal Production.” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16008757/ .

Miao, Xiangyang. “Recent advances in the development of new transgenic animal technology.” National Library of Medicine. 7 March 2013. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22833168/

“Transgenic Mice.” Learn.Genetics. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/transgenic

“Genetically Modified Foods.” Learn.Genetics. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/gmfoods

“Measuring Gene Expression.” Learn.Genetics. https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/expression

“>Canadian breakthrough in genetically modified animals.”