The Colors of Biotechnology and GMO

I. INTRODUCTION

The use of living organisms, their parts or by- products in industrial applications

is on the basis of biotechnology. Examples of biotechnological use of

microorganisms, such as alcoholic fermentation and bread making, have been

registered since ancient times.

From this perspective, even selecting and breeding productive plant and animal

varieties for farming and livestock purposes throughout history could be

considered biotechnology approaches.  Setting up and defining the processes

of biological information maintenance and flow has prompted the expansion and

growing of biotechnology applications.

II. CHAPTER I

A) What is biotechnology?

Biotechnology, or genetic engineering, is the process of using living organisms

to improve qualities of a plant by such as the plant’s ability to protect itself

against damage or improving upon its ability to grow and produce. Plant

biotechnology allows for the transfer of a greater variety of genetic information

in a more precise, controlled manner. It allows for the transfer of one, or a few

genes that can introduce traits such as better insect and weed control.

Scientific and industrial environments, every day more and more specialized

and diverse, use biotechnology as a tool in their process to a greater or lesser

extent. This diversity has in turn brought about the need for a system to classify

biotechnology uses based on common features or final purpose. As a result,

nowadays there exist five main groups in biotechnological applications, which

have been identified by a color system.

 

B) The colors of biotechnology

 

1. Red biotechnology brings together all those biotechnology uses

connected to medicine. Red biotechnology includes producing vaccines

and antibiotics, developing new drugs, molecular diagnostics techniques,

regenerative therapies and the development of genetic engineering to

cure diseases through genetic manipulation. Some relevant examples of

red biotechnology are cell therapy and regenerative medicine, gene

therapy and medicines based on biological molecules such as

therapeutic antibodies.

 

2. Grey biotechnology includes all those applications of biotechnology

directly related to the environment. These applications can be split up

into two main branches: biodiversity maintenance and contaminants

removal. Regarding the first, it should be mentioned the application of

molecular biology to genetic analysis of populations and species that are

part of ecosystems, their comparison and classification and also cloning

techniques aimed to preserve species and genome storage technologies.

As for pollutants removal or bioremediation, grey biotechnology uses

microorganisms and plants to isolate and dispose of different substances

such as heavy metals and hydrocarbons, with the added possibility of

subsequently making use of these substances or by-products from this

activity.

 

3. Blue biotechnology is based on the exploitation of sea resources to

create products and applications of industrial interest. Taking into

account that the sea presents the greatest biodiversity, there is

potentially a huge range of sectors to benefit from the use of this kind of

biotechnology. Many products and applications from blue biotechnology

are still object of study and research, although some of them are actually

used on a daily basis.

No doubt using raw materials from the sea represents the most

widespread blue biotechnology in many different sectors. These

materials, mostly hydrocolloids and gellings are already being widely

used in food, health, treatment, etc. Medicine and research are other

major beneficiaries of development in blue biotechnology. Some marker

molecules from marine organisms are now commonly used in research.

Enzymatically active molecules useful in diagnostics and research have

also been isolated from marine organisms. Some biomaterials and

pharmacological or regeneratively active agents are being produced or

investigated for their use in these sectors. Finally, sectors such as

agriculture and cosmetics analyze the potential of blue biotechnology for

its future development

4. White biotechnology comprises all the biotechnology uses related to

industrial processes - that is why it is also called ‘industrial

biotechnology’. White biotechnology pays a special attention to design

low resource-consuming processes and products, making them more

energy efficient and less polluting than traditional ones. There can be

found many examples of white biotechnology, such as the use of

microorganisms in chemicals production, the design and production of

new materials for daily use (plastics, textiles ...) and the development of

new sustainable energy sources such as biofuels.

 

5. Green biotechnology is focused on agriculture as working field. Green

biotechnological approaches and applications include creating new plant

varieties of agricultural interest, producing biofertilizers and biopesticides,

using in vitro cultivation and cloning plants. The first approach is the one

to undergo further development and attract the most interest and social

controversy. Producing modified plant varieties is based almost

exclusively on transgenesis, or introducing genes of interest from another

variety or organism into the plant.

Three main objectives are pursued by using this technology. First, it is

expected to get varieties resistant to pests and diseases -for example,

currently used and marketed maize varieties resistant to pests such as

corn stalk borer. Secondly, use of transgenic plants is aimed at

developing varieties with improved nutritional properties (eg, higher

content of vitamins). Finally, transgenesis in plants is also studied as a

means to develop plant varieties able to act as bio-factories and produce

substances of medical, biomedical or industrial interest in quantities easy

to be isolated and purified.

 

III. CHAPTER II

1. What are Genetically modified organisms (GMO)?

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created

through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also called genetic

engineering, or GE). A GMO plant has been genetically altered using genetic

engineering techniques, and is commonly found in crops such as corn,

soybeans, cotton and canola. In general, these plants are modified to express a

resistance to herbicide, which can be beneficial to farmers, allowing for less

work so more crops can be harvested.

It is also argued that GM foods can provide a solution to global food problems

and make farming and processing more affordable and efficient. On the other

hand, we should not only concerned about the possible human health

implications, but changes in food composition could have a dire effect on the

environment and biodiversity. It is also sometimes called "transgenic" for

transfer of genes.

Over 80% of all GMOs grown worldwide are engineered for herbicide tolerance.

As a result, use of toxic herbicides like Roundup has increased 15 times since

GMOs were introduced. GMO crops are also responsible for the emergence of

“super weeds” and “super bugs:’ which can only be killed with ever more toxic

poisons like 2,4-D (a major ingredient in Agent Orange). GMOs are a direct

extension of chemical agriculture, and are developed and sold by the world’s

biggest chemical companies. The long-term impacts of GMOs are unknown,

and once released into the environment these organisms cannot be recalled.

1.1. Benefits of GM foods

Crops are more productive and have a larger yield.

More capable of thriving in regions with poor soil or adverse climates.

More environment friendly as they require less herbicides and pesticides.

Better adaptation of plants to more deplorable living conditions.

Increased production of food with a substantial saving of resources.

Acceleration in the growth of plants and animals.

Ability of foods to be used as drugs or vaccines for the prevention and

treatment of diseases.

1.2. Disadvantages of GM foods:

However, despite the advantages they can bring to whom consume, many

experts and organizations oppose the commercialization of GM foods, primarily

for damage to the environment and health, for example:

Increased toxic substances in the environment.

Loss of biodiversity.

Soil contamination.

Herbicide-resistant and pesticide-resistant crops could give rise to super-

weeds and super-pests that would need newer, stronger chemicals to

destroy them. Possible poisoning due to allergies or intolerance to

processed foods.

Irreversible and unpredictable damage in the plants and animals.

2. THE SITUATION OF TRANSGENIC IN PERU

Peru is one of the 10 megadiverse countries representing 70% of the planet's

biodiversity in ecosystems, species, genetic resources and cultural diversity.

Being the center of origin and diversification of the global importance of

agricultural species such as tomato, potato, sweet potato, chili, cotton, beans

and squash, among others. It is estimated that Peru has about 17,000 species

of plants, of which 5,356 are endemic.

By geographical, ecological and cultural characteristics, a possible release of

transgenic crops in Peru have serious risks of genetic contamination of local

varieties and wild relatives through gene flow, resulting in the displacement and

loss of production of varieties local. Furthermore, the release of transgenic

crops in Peru affects agricultural exports of conventional and organic products.

IV. CONCLUSIONS

The creation of transgenic foods is an irreversible phenomenon, although

there are questions to which research, analyzes, discussions and

agreements that have occurred in the course of its short history have not

been able to respond.

It can’t ignore the impact of this new technology and is an obligation to

inform the public of its wide possibilities and their possible risks; should

work with full transparency and information to consumers.

From research to commercialization, including the necessary legislation,

with a bioethical and scientific approach will allow GM foods become one

more way to help increase food availability worldwide.

V. CONTROVERSY

There is controversy over GMOs, especially with regard to their use in

producing food. The dispute involves buyers, biotechnology companies,

governmental regulators, non-governmental organizations, and scientists. The

key areas of controversy related to GMO food are whether GM food should be

labeled, the role of government regulators, the effect of GM crops on health and

the environment, the effect on pesticide resistance, the impact of GM crops for

farmers, and the role of GM crops in feeding the world population.

There is broad scientific consensus that food on the market derived from GM

crops poses no greater risk than conventional food. No reports of ill effects have

been proven in the human population from ingesting GMO food.

VI. REFERENCE

1. Connecticut General Assembly (2013). “Learned Societies and National

Academies Endorsing Safety of Genetically Modified Crops.” , from

http://www.cga.ct.gov/2013/KIDdata/Tmy/2013HB-06527-R000305-

Scientific%20Bodies%20Afffirming%20Safety-TMY.PDF

2. Fleming, Jeremy (Updated October 30, 2013). “No risk with GMO food,

says EU chief scientific advisor.” EurActiv Network. , from

http://www.euractiv.com/innovation-enterprise/commission-science-

supremo-endor-news-514072

3. Theresa Phillips, Ph.D. (Write Science Right) © 2008 Nature Education.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic Crops and

Recombinant DNA Technology.

http://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-

organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-and-732

4. https://biotechspain.com/es/tema.cfm?iid=colores_biotecnologia