Biotechnology in Genetically Modified Foods - Essay Example

The engineering involves either adding a gene or genes to the plant’s genome or removal of the genes. (Freedman, 2009). The methods used include gene guns, microinjection, electroporation, and agrobacterium. There are advanced methods that are more convenient which are the CRISPR and Talen techniques. (Halford, 2006).

The gene guns technique uses radiation that targets the genes in a cell of a plant. The new DNA is combined with very small particles of tungsten or gold which are then shot into the target plant tissue or cell and all this is subjected to high pressures. The particles enter the cell membranes/cell wall and the DNA enters the nucleus by detaching itself from the metal. This method has been used mainly in the production of maize and corn. The agrobacterium method uses the agrobacteria-organisms that are parasitic and can transfer genes. They insert their genetic materials in a plant to create a convenient environment for themselves. These organisms are used in genetic engineering by removing their DNA and replacing it with the intended gene, allowing the transfer of the gene into plants.

This method has been commonly used to produce tomatoes and potatoes. Electroporation is mainly used in plants whose cells do not contain a cell wall. Here, electric pulses cause the DNA to be put into the target plant cell through pores. Microinjection involves directly injecting a gene into the target plant’s DNA.
The most common food alterations are concentrated mainly in cash crops that have high demand, for example, soybean, corn, and canola seeds. They are altered to make them resistant to diseases and to tolerate herbicides improving their quality.

There are three types of modifications:- the transgenic method involves the transfer of genes from one plant to another or from a bacterium to a plant. These plants are used to make or process proteins that help in making the plant tolerant and resistant to herbicides and diseases. (Parekh, 2004) The corn is genetically altered to help it tolerate some herbicides and produce a protein that kills most insects that may attack it. Soy has also been similarly altered to help it tolerate herbicides.

The other method is the cisgenic method in which the plants are created by genes from species that are closely related or are the same. An example is the potato. The fruits and vegetables for example papaya are genetically modified by crossing genes to make them resistant to a virus that was notoriously called the ringspot virus. (Ruse & Castle, 2002). The last method is the subgenomic method which involves the deletion of the genes. The sugar beets that make sugar are grown with a resistant seed and they are genetically modified by the removal of both DNA and protein. Read More