GMO and LMO

Question 1

difference between GMOs and LMOS

Answer 1

Agenetically modified organism(GMO) is any organism whosegeneticmaterial has been altered using genetic engineeringtechniques
GMOs are used to produce many medications and genetically modified foodsand are widely used in scientific research and the production of other goods

Living Modified Organism (LMO): any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of modern biotechnology (Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety)

Question 2

GMOs and LMOs

Answer 2

The term GMO is very close to the technical term legal term LMO
In general usage, LMOs are considered to be the same as GMOs
Many countries use the terms ‘genetically modified organism’, ‘genetically engineered organism’, and ‘transgenic organism’ in domestic legislation to describe LMOs

Question 3

1. what is transgenic organism?
2. Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen made the first GMO in
3. In 1974, …………………..created atransgenic mouse by introducing foreign DNA into its embryo, making it the world’s first transgenic animal
4. In ………………. the firstgenetically engineered plantwas developed byMichael W. Bevan,Richard B. FlavellandMary-Dell Chilton

Answer 3

A more specifically defined type of GMO is a “transgenic organism.” This is an organism whose genetic makeup has been altered by the addition of genetic material from an unrelated organism

2. 1973
3. Rudolf Jaenisch
4. plant

Question 4

Advantages of GMOs

Answer 4

It allows for more profit
GMOs are an effective way to provide farmers a larger profit, while making them spend less time on resources

It introduces the knowledge of genetic alterations
This is done through mapping genetic material for GMO crops
Plants can be engineered to resist temperature or produce higher yields, which is good for regions where climate limits productivity

It is economically efficient
Because GMOs are designed to resist pests, there will be no need for pesticides to be used, which means more savings

It is known to decrease food prices
Higher yields and lower costs can lead to cheaper food

It adds more nutritional value to crops
The GMO method can put in added nutritional value to crops that lack necessary vitamins and minerals.
This would help malnourished populations receive more nutrients from their diet

Its products are found to be safe
Testing of GMOs crops and other products so far shows they are safe for human consumption

Question 5

examples of GMOS in food production

Answer 5

Genetically engineered foods have foreign genes (genes from other plants or animals) inserted into their genetic codes
The potential benefits are foods that are tastier, more nutritious and resistant to diseases and droughts
Tomatoes have been developed that resist frost and freezing temperatures with antifreeze genes from a cold-water fish

Apples have been genetically engineered to reducing levels of enzymes that can cause browning or bruising
Herbicide resistant corn developed in the USA
GMO crops that are modified with the Bt gene have a proven resistance to insect pests, thus reducing the need for wide-scale spraying of synthetic pesticides

By far the biggest use of GMO technology has been in large-scale agricultural crops
At least 90 percent of the soy, cotton, canola, corn and sugar beets sold in the United States have been genetically engineered
Popular and approved food crops include sugar beets, alfalfa, canola, papaya and summer squash.

Question 6

GMOs in Feed Production

Answer 6

Commercial animal feed is composed directly from harvest crops and the leftovers of processed crops
Some of the most common commodity feed ingredients are soy, cotton, corn, canola, sugar beets, and alfalfa
Countries that produce the most animal feed – United States, Brazil, and China–are all leaders in GMO production, and that their animal feed products are composed of GMOs.

Soybean meal is the largest protein meal produced in the world; GMO soybeans are widespread in the main soybean producing countries
90% of the world’s soybean is used to feed animals
Corn (GM) is a major feedstuff ingredient, particularly in developed countries
Dairy cows, beef cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, poultry, fish are fed corn

Question 7

Disadvantages of GMOs

Answer 7

It can be dangerous to other insects that are important to our ecosystem
GMOs are believed to be dangerous to some insects because new crop genes can be deadly to them. This is worth noting when it comes to certain insects, such as butterflies, that are not actually dangerous to crops
Monarch butterflies decline as milkweed plants (where they lay eggs) are eliminated due to the use of glyphosate in GM corn and soybean

It sparks concerns on changing the field of agriculture
The process of making GMOs includes adding new genetic material into an organism’s genome
In agricultural ecology, this means introducing new genes in the genome of crops like corn
Cultivation of GM crops in a large scale results in ecosystems with GMO strains that have the potential to change agriculture in unknown ways

It can damage the environment
Genetically modified crops can cause a threat to the environment due to the fact that they are not a natural way to plant and cultivate plants
Tinkering with nature may lead to undesirable consequences

It causes unwanted residual effects
A genetically modified plant can leave unwanted residual substances that can remain in the soil for extended periods of time
Agricultural regulators were alerted by research that strains from GM crops would remain in the soil for years after the crops were removed

It can create more weeds
Engineered crops can act as mediators in transferring genes to wild plants, which can create more weeds
To keep these new weeds under control, scientists then invent new herbicides that are not necessary for non-GMO weeds
Such chemicals are toxic to various mammals and amphibians, that feed on GMO crops

It threatens crop diversity
There is opposition to introducing GM genes on genetic diversity because these genes can spread to other organic farm crops and threaten crop diversity in agriculture
If crop diversity decreases, it will have a direct impact on our entire ecosystem affecting population dynamics
Cross pollination of GM and non-GM plants could create ecological novelty or new artificial strains that are being introduced into the environment that could potentially reduce biodiversity through competition