GM Crops: Boon or Bane

JSM Genetics & Genomics

Central Mini Review

*Corresponding author Rajiv Ranjan, Department of Botany, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed University), Dayalbagh, Agra-282005, India, Email:

GM Crops: Boon or Bane

Submitted: 01 October 2016

Rajiv Ranjan* and Mrinalini Prasad

Accepted: 11 December 2016

Department of Botany, Dayalbagh Educational Institute (Deemed University), Dayalbagh, Agra, India

Published: 16 December 2016 Copyright © 2016 Ranjan et al.

Abstract Genetically modified organism is outcome of modern biotechnology in which foreign gene is inserted to the host organism to get desired trait. Several agricultural crops are genetically modified to acquire resistance to abiotic/biotic stress, improving nutritional quality, production of pharmaceuticals etc. In current short review, authors have covered brief history, areas, products, benefits and risk of transgenic crops.

INTRODUCTION Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is an organism where in the genetic material is altered in such a way to get the required quality. Such technology is called ‘gene technology’ or ‘genetic engineering’ or ‘recombinant DNA (Deoxy ribonucleic acid) technology’ and the resulting organism is said to be ‘genetically engineered’, ‘genetically modified’ or ‘transgenic’. Genetic Engineering is the process of isolating gene(s) from the genome of one organism and incorporate the same gene into the genome of another organism is known as Genetic Engineering. In nature, exchange of genes occurs only between closely related species. The modified organism passes the new gene onto its progeny. These methods are now being applications in agriculture, horticulture, forestry; environmental remediation, medicine, and forensic science [1-3]. History of Genetic Engineering 1967- A new variety of potato called Lenape potato was useful for making potato chips. After two years, this new potato variety developed a toxin called solanine. Than after it was withdrawn from the market by the USDA [4]. • 1977- The first commercial product was synthetic insulin.

• 1979- Scientists started at Cornell University, New York first study on recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST), a synthetic growth hormone for cows. This hormone, when injected to dairy cows, increased their milk producing capacity. • 1983- Rsearchers in the United States, West Germany, and Belgium found a method of creating transgenic plants by using a pathogenic bacterium (Agrobacterium tumefaciens) and also introduced a marker gene for kanamycin resistance to select the transformed cells [58].

• 1988- This technique has been used to slow ripening characteristic of tomatoes [9]. • 1990- First genetically engineered foods (rennet used in making cheese) produced by Pfizer Corporation’s.

OPEN ACCESS

Keywords • GMOs • DNA • Crops • Genetics

• 1993- FDA gave approval for rBST in dairy cows.

• 1994- FDA gave approval for Calgene Corporation’s Flavr Savr Tomato [10]. • 1996- The cloning of farm animals in Scotland from fetal and embryonic cells [11].

• 1996- The first staple crops maize (corn), rape (canola), soybean and cotton. • 1997- The cloning of farm animals from adult mammalian cells [12,13]. • 1998- Introduction of so-called ‘terminator seeds’ [14].

• 1999- The use of the ‘gene gun’ or ‘biolistic gun’ technique (instead of Agrobacterium) [15,16]. • 1999- 100 million acres worldwide are planted with genetically engineered seeds. • 2000-Vitamin A-enriched golden rice was developed.

• 2003Bt-toxin resistant caterpillar-cum-moth, Helicoverpa zea, is found feasting on GMO Bt cotton crops. • 2014- Monsanto patented the “Roundup”

TRANSFORMATION METHOD

Transformation system allows for stable integration of DNA into the host genome without structural alteration and the whole process comprises of basic steps as follows [17]:

Find an Organism of desired trait  Isolate the gene sequence that Code for the desired trait  Insert the gene sequence into the genome of the plant cell  Allow the genetically engineered  cell to grow into a plant  Allow the Plant to propagate  A vector can carry DNA. The vector can be a gene gun, viruses and bacteria also can be utilized to transfer gene (Table 1). Plant transformation depends on the totipotency of (certain) plant cells/tissue. In order to obtain transgenic plants it is essential that such totipotent cells should be transformed.

Cite this article: Ranjan R, Prasad M (2016) GM Crops: Boon or Bane. JSM Genet Genomics 3(3): 1019.

Ranjan et al. (2016) Email:

Central Table 1: GM areas (in hectare). Country

Area (ha)

Biotech Crops

Argentina

24330000

Soybean, maize, cotton

Bangladesh

12

Eggplant

Australia

700000

Brazil

42200000

Burkina Faso

454,124

Bolivia

1000000

Canada

11615000

China

4000000

Costa Rica

38

Chile

Colombia

10000 99000

Cuba

3000

Egypt

10000

India

11600000

Czech Republic Honduras Mexico

Myanmar Pakistan

Cotton, canola, carnation

Cotton, Maize, soybean Soybean Cotton

Canola, maize, soybean, sugar beet

Maize, soybean, canola

Cotton, tomato, poplar, petunia, papaya, sweet pepper Cotton

Cotton, soybean

2850000

Cotton

Cotton

3836000

Soybean, maize, cotton

Portugal

8542

Maize

Romania Slovakia

831000 441

South Africa

2900000

Sudan

10764

Spain USA

Uruguay

Maize

771

131538

73418000 1.4

Maize

Maize

Cotton, maize, soybean Maize

Cotton

Soybean, maize, cotton, canola, squash, papaya, alfalfa, sugar beet, potato

Transformation without regeneration and regeneration without transformation are of limited value. In general cultured cell or protoplast, meristem cells from immature embryo or organ, cell in mature embryo, shoot and flower meristem, pollen and zygote are commonly used for production of transgenic plant. Several methods are reported for transformation as follows-

Agrobacterium mediated transformation

It has been extensively utilized for transfer of foreign DNA into both dicot and monocot plant. T-DNA of Ti plasmid containing gene of interest of Agrobacterium gets integrated into genome of host plant (Table 2).

Chemical method

In this method direct DNA untake by protoplast can be JSM Genet Genomics 3(3): 1019 (2016)

It involves injection of DNA, employing needles with diameters greater than cell diameter. DNA is injected into the stem below the immature floral meristem, so as to reach the sporogenous tissue, leading to the production of transgenic plants.

Gene gun

It is based on the use of short electrical impulses of high field

Cotton, soybean

Paraguay

Philippines

Macroinjection

Cotton

Maize

200000 318000

This method is used where plant regeneration is a big problem. Here specially designed micro manipulator is employed for microinjecting the DNA. It involves injection of DNA, using micropipettes with 0.5-10 μm diameter tip. In this technique, the recipient cells are immobilized on a solid support like slide and cover slip (Table 3).

Maize

Maize

29000

Microinjection

It is also known as micro projectile or ballistics method where in heavy micro particles (tungsten or gold) coated with the DNA of interest is accelerated into living plant cell. So that they can penetrated cell wall of intake tissue.

Maize

1754

stimulated by chemical like polyethylene glycol (PEG). PEG at high concentrations (15-25%) precipitate DNA and stimulate there uptake by endocytosis without any gross damage to protoplast.

Electroporation

Table 2: Herbicide and Insecticide developed through the GM technology. Applicable Trade name Common name Function Company crops Cotton, Round Up Glyphosate Herbicide soybean, Monsanto corn Corn, Liberty Glufosinate Herbicide AgrEvo canola Acibenzolar-S- Antifungal, Several Actigard Methyl (benzoantibacteNovartis crops thiadiazole) rial MAC (Molt (Diacyl hydraSeveral Rohn & Accelerating Insecticide zine) crops Haas Compound) Trimethyl sulfoSeveral Touchdown Herbicide Zenecca nium crops salt of glyphosate Protoporphyrin Several Acuron Insecticide Norvatis Oxidase Inhibitor crops Bollgard Protein Insecticide Corn Monsanto Bacillus thuringBt toxin Insecticide Corn Monsanto iensis protein PhoSeveral Photoharbdus Insecticide Dow torharbdus crops Cotton, RhoneBromoxynil Bromoxynil Herbicide canola Pulenc Several Sulfonyl urea Sulfonyl urea Herbicide Dupont crops DeKalb, Toxic plant proDeKalb™ Insecticide Corn Genetics, tein Corp. Corn, American, Star™ Imidazolinone Herbicide canola Cyanamid

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Central Table 3: Potential benefits from GM technology [20]. Benefits of GM technology

References

Increase in food availability

Jackson, 1991; Moffat, 1992; Rudnitsky, 1996; Schardt, 1994

Improved shelf-life and organoleptic quality of foods

Improvement in nutritional quality and health benefits Improved protein quality

Increase in food carbohydrate content

Improvement in quality and quality of meat, milk and livestock

BIO, 1998; Thayer, 1994; Walters, 1994

Ames, 1998; BIO, 1998; Clinton, 1998; Elliot, 1999; Nguyen and Schwartz, 1999; Smaglik, 1999 BIO, 1998; De Lumen et al., 1997; Haumen, 1997; Kitamura, 1995; Roller and Hallander, 1998 BIO, 1998; Liu, 1999; Starke et al., 1996

Bishop, 1996; Dalrymple, 1998; Rohricht, 1999; Wilmut et al., 1997

Increased crop yield

BIO, 1998; Hadfield, 1996; Jackson, 1991; Jacoby, 1999; Paoletti and Pimental, 1996; Wood, 1995

Bioremediation

Howe, 1997; Gray, 1998; Paoletti and Pimental, 1996

Biological defense against diseases, stresses, pests, Weeds, herbicides, and viruses Positive effect on farming/food product Protection of the environment

GM crops function as bio- factories and source of industrial raw materials Wealth/job creation

BIO, 1998; Hileman, 1999a,b,c; Jacoby, 1999; Liu, 1999; Losey et al., 1999; Thayer, 1999; Wilkinson, 1997; Wood, 1995 Thayer, 1999 BIO, 1998

Block and Langseth, 1994; Del Vechio, 1996; Goddijn and Pen, 1995; Hercberg et al., 1998; Hsu, 1999b; Moffat, 1992; Sloan, 1999 Alliance For Better Foods, 1999; Thayer, 1999

Table 4: Potential risks of GM crops [20].

Risks or concerns

References

Alteration in nutritional quality of foods

Phillips, 1994; Young and Lewis, 1995

Potential toxicity from GM foods

Phillips, 1994

Antibiotic resistance

Potential allergenicity from GM foods

Hileman, 1999a; Phillips, 1994

Billings, 1999; Coleman, 1996; Nordlee et al., 1996

Unintentional gene transfer to wild plants

Hileman, 1999a; Kaiser, 1996; Rissler and Mellon, 1993, 1996

Limited access to seeds through patenting of GM food plants

Lustgarden, 1994b; Koch, 1998

Religious/cultural/ethical concerns

Crist, 1996; Robinson, 1997; Thompson, 1997

Concerns of animal rights group

Kaiser, 1999; Koenig, 1999

Possible creation of new viruses and toxins Threat to crop genetic diversity Concerns for lack of labeling

Phillips, 1994

Koch, 1998; Phillips, 1994

Federal Register, 1992; Hoef et al., 1998

Concerns of organic and traditional farmers Fear of the unknown

strength. Thus impulses increase the permeability of protoplast membrane & facilitate entry of DNA molecules into the cells, if the DNA is in direct contact with membrane (Table 4).

Liposome mediated gene transfer

Liposomes are small lipid bags in which large no. of plasmids are enclosed. They can be induced to fuse with protoplast using devices like PEG and used for gene transfer [18-20].

CONCLUSION

GM crops has a lot of potential to enhance the quality, nutritional value, increase the efficiency of food production, development of new variety, food distribution, waste management etc. Transgenic plants can give biological defense against diseases and pests, thus reducing the need for expensive JSM Genet Genomics 3(3): 1019 (2016)

Koch, 1998

Koch, 1998; Longman, 1999

chemical pesticides, and convey genetic traits that enable crops to better withstand drought, pH, frost and salt conditions. Adequate regulation, constant monitoring and research are essential to avoid possible harmful effects from GM food technology. The nutritional and health benefits of genetic engineering are many more and will be useful to the growing world population which is currently estimated at six billion [21,22], and will probably double by the year 2050, according to the UN.

REFERENCES

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13. Wise J. Sheep cloned from mammary gland cells. Brit Med J. 1997; 314: 623-625. 15. Lesney MS. Genetically modified foods are the fore-runners of designer chemical plants. Int J Genetic Eng Biotechnol. 1999; 8: 28-33.

16. Liu K. Biotech crops: products, properties and prospects. Food Technology. 1999; 53: 42-49. 17. Singh A, Kumar V, Poonam, Gupta HR. Genetically Modified Food: A Review on Mechanism of Production and Labeling Concern. Advances in Plants & Agriculture Res. 2014; 1: 1-8. 18. BIO. Member survey. Biotechnology Industry Organization. 1998.

19. Thayer AM. Transforming agriculture: transgenic crops and the application of discovery technologies are altering the agrochemical and agriculture businesses. Chemical & Eng News. 1999; 77: 21-35. 20. Uzogara SG. The impact of genetic modification of human foods in the 21st century: a review. Biotechnol Adv. 2000; 18: 179-206.

21. Henkel J. Genetic engineering, fast-forwarding to the future foods. FDA Consumer. 1995; 29: 6. 22. Rudnitsky H. Another agricultural revolution: genetically altered seeds hold great promise for seed companies and for the fast growing world population. Forbes Magazine. 1996; 157: 159.

Cite this article Ranjan R, Prasad M (2016) GM Crops: Boon or Bane. JSM Genet Genomics 3(3): 1019.

JSM Genet Genomics 3(3): 1019 (2016)

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