Broxon 1

Abby Broxon
Mrs. Stemen
BioTech
6 February 2015
GMOs
There are many ways to genetically modify organisms. In order to modify an organism
you need to understand everything about DNA, including protein synthesis. GMOs are risky
because of how theyre made.
DNA is made in the S phase of interphase during protein synthesis. During protein
synthesis, in the nucleus, the DNA is copied into an RNA molecule. The RNA molecule gets sent
to the cytoplasm, mRNA enters the cytoplasm. The mRNA helps bring the components for
protein synthesis together. The mRNA interacts with a ribosome. The tRNA attaches to the
mRNA, and the other tRNA is loaded with an amino acid. The first tRNA binds to a start codon,
the amino acids carried by the two tRNAs bind together with the help of the ribosome and using
ATP. This is repeated until a complete protein is formed. Protein synthesis is very important to
know when modifying DNA.
Why is protein synthesis important to know? Its easier to understand DNA structure if
you know how it was made. Knowing the DNA structure makes it easier to modify the DNA.
The way DNA is formed, DNA has two parts, DNA and RNA. What DNA is made of is also
important to know. DNA is made of sugar, phosphate, and a base. The sugar in DNA is called
deoxyribose. Also, each strand of RNA is matched with an amino acid, but it only matches with
an amino acid that fits with the RNA.

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There are lots of different methods to modify DNA. A popular method to modify DNA is
by taking a gene from an organisms DNA and putting it in another organisms DNA. How its
done is by putting a bacterium in a solution, choosing a gene, and putting it into a plasmid and
then putting that in the solution. The solution is heated and the plasmid merges with the
bacterium. Then a new gene is created and can replicate itself.
GMOs can be good and bad. Some pros and cons about GMOs. GMOs are good
because they make more than the original version. GMOs food quality is also improved. They
improve them by adding more vitamins and nutritious things that our bodies need. GMOs are
bad because when they replace a gene with a different gene it could be a gene that someone is
allergic to. GMOs could also be toxic and create new diseases.
Its important for GMOs to be labeled. GMOs should be labeled because the food might
have a gene that someone is allergic to. Because of how GMOs are made its possible that
GMOs can cause cancer.
GMOs are made by taking a gene from an organism and putting it in another organisms
DNA and putting that in a solution with a bacterium. Proteins are made by copying the DNA into
an RNA molecule, mRNA binds to an rRNA and the two tRNAs bind together. GMOs are good
and bad because they are made with more nutrition, but they can cause allergies and new
diseases. Since GMOs can have a gene that someone is allergic to, GMOs are risky.

process of protein synthesis- www.proteinsynthesis.org/ last modified June, 23, 2013

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how genetic engineering is done- Murnaghan, Ian (www.geneticallymodifiedfoods.co.uk)

pros and cons of genetically modified foods- Murnaghan, Ian

(www.geneticallymodifiedfoods.co.uk)