Wilburn 1

Ross Wilburn
Mrs. Stemen
Biotech
4 February 2015
How do they create genetically modified foods, are GM foods good for humans or are
they deadly, whats the process of protein synthesis? In order to find out these answers well take
a look on both sides to exploit and solve these questions.
Are GM foods good for the human race, they could be very bad for mankind. The
reasoning behind this is that some of these foods can cause many genetic alterations. Women that
are pregnant should watch out for Gm foods because they can be adversely effective toxins that
are in these altered foods. Studies have showed that certain Gm foods can cause big problems to
rats. Some rats that have been tested on while pregnant, usually their babies die before birth,
ones that survive are extremely small and have problems getting pregnant in the future.
But there are also many advantages in the plants that are modified. These plants can gain
the advantage like herbicide tolerance. Herbicide is used to get rid of weeds that could be
effecting the growth of crops. The reason why its so helpful to have herbicide tolerance is
because the herbicide can also cause the crops to die along with the weeds. Another bonus is a
nutrition factor. In third world countries not all but a lot grow rice because its affordable. But
rice doesnt have vitamin A, without vitamin A people could go blind from not having it on a
monthly basis. Researchers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute for Plant
Sciences have created a new type of rice that has vitamin A. Its called Golden rice. They have
offered it to any third world country that wants this new type of rice.

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DNA extraction is one of the 1 out of 5 steps of Genetic engineering process. To work
with DNA, the scientists extract it from the organism they desire to use. The next step is Gene
cloning. During the extraction, the DNA from the organism is extracted. They use the genes the
pulled out and make thousands of copies. In the third step, they Design the gene. This step begins
by designing this gene to work in the new organism they want to put it in. this is done in a test
tube by splicing the gene with enzymes and replacing gene regions that have been separated. The
second to last step to Genetic engineering process is called Transformation. Since plants have
multimillion cells, it would be implausible to insert a copy of the transgene into every cell. So
tissue culture is used to breed masses of undifferentiated plant cells, called callus. These cells
will receive the new transgene. This gene is now inserted into some of the cells using different
techniques. One of the common methods is the gene gun. The goal of these methods is to put in
the new genes created in gene design and put them in the nucleus. The new plant cells are then
put in another plant that has multiple types of other cells. Then they wait in tell the start
producing seeds and then there job is done and they start giving them to plant breeders for the
final step. The final step is backcrossing breeding.
Protein synthesis is the process of turning DNA into protein. Within in protein synthesis
the DNA makes a DNA copy and turns it into RNA. The RNA stands as a messenger or mRNA.
mRNA migrates into the cytoplasm and makes its way to the R.E.R. (Rough Endoplasmic
Reticulum.) In the R.E.R. the mRNA translates its self into tRNA, and then goes down the
protein chain. Where the tRNA gets its matching amino acid.
If there is any more questions go and see the hyperlinks at the bottom. Gm foods can be
bad or good but they could someday cure the worst diseases in the world.

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Works Cited:
AgBiosafety at UNL - Biotech Basic The Preocess of Plant Genetic Engineering." AgBiosafety
at UNL - Biotech Basic The Preocess of Plant Genetic Engineering. N.p., n.d. Web. 05
Feb. 2015.
"Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?" Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or
Helpful? N.p., n.d. Web. 01 Feb. 2015.