Genetically modified organism | Example | Advantages
| Disadvantages
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Bacteria | E. coli can be genetically modified to produce human insulin and the human growth hormone. | The use of microorganisms, such as bacteria can help to treat individuals with health conditions. | Genetically modified organisms often encode antibiotic resistance markers as part of the engineering process. This can be dangerous if the bacteria are transferred outside of the lab. |
Soya beans
| Soya bean yield is often reduced by pests. Scientists have genetically modified the soya bean plant to contain a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis that encodes a toxin (Bt). This toxin will infect and kill pests. | This increased the yield of soya bean plants and it has since been applied to other crops. Genetically modifying the crops avoids the need of broad-ranging insecticides that might kill useful organisms. | The Bt toxin affects monarch butterflies. There is concern that their population size may decrease. However, this has not happened yet. |
Soya beans were genetically modified to be resistant to a specific herbicide. | The land where the soya beans grow can be treated with herbicides to kill any weeds and leave the soya beans unaffected. | There is a risk that the herbicide resistance gene could pass to the weeds as produce a 'superweed' variety. However, this has not occurred.
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Golden RiceTM | Rice has been genetically engineered to contain a beta-carotene gene from daffodils. | Beta-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A. The lack of beta-carotene can lead to blindness. By genetically modifying rice, a common staple food, more people in developing nations will get the nutrients they need. | There were fears that farmers would have to purchase expensive seeds each season. However, this has not been the case. |
Plantain | Africa Harvest is a biotechnology company in Kenya. They have genetically engineered plantains to contain more zinc. | Zinc is an important nutrient as it is a common enzyme cofactor and it regulates insulin secretion. Meat is the common source of zinc. However, in areas where people do not eat a lot of meat, genetically modified plantains can provide this important nutrient. | Some people worry that eating genetically modified crops is dangerous to their health. These claims lack evidence. |
Pathogens | Viruses can be genetically modified to be avirulent. They can then be used in vaccine production and gene therapy. | These viruses, despite being avirulent, have antigens on their surface. This means that they can still trigger an immune response but they will not cause an active infection. | It is rare but some viruses may reactivate and cause illness. In gene therapy, incorrect insertion of the gene into the genome can increase the risk of cancer. |
Mice | Mice are commonly genetically modified for use in scientific research. | Genetically modified mice have provided invaluable insight into the function of certain genes. | Some people oppose the use of animals in medical and scientific testing. However, there are strict regulations in place to protect the welfare of these animals. |
Goats
| Hereditary emphysema is caused by an alpha antitrypsin deficiency. Goats can be genetically modified to express this human protein in their milk. | The protein is too large for a bacterium to produce. Transgenic mammals therefore provide a protein that can be used to treat human illness. | There is also opposition regarding the use of animals in research and concerns for their welfare.
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Goats have been genetically modified to produce the spider silk protein in their milk. | Silk is a very strong material that can be very useful for humans. It can be used in medical stitches and bullet proof vests. |
