Gene editing may involve deletion, insertion, silencing or repression. The resulting organism from gene editing is called subgenic. The type of genetic engineering that the public is most likely familiar with is transgenic.
This is where a gene is moved from one non-closely related species to another. Cisgenic changes to DNA would also be possible through conventional breeding, while transgenic changes to DNA are not possible via conventional breeding.
Ag BioTech. Landrigan, M. Now on Twitter. Image credit: Shutterstock. A diagram showing the effect of selectively breeding for height in plants. Image credit: Genome Research Limited. Purebred dogs like the Labrador Retriever were originally established through many generations of inbreeding. Image credit: PetsNerd. The Labradoodle is a crossbred dog resulting from breeding a Labrador with a poodle. GMOs are organisms that have had their characteristics changed through the modification of their DNA.
In biology, evolution is the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations and relies on the process of natural selection. The genotype of the GMOs is modified with the help of genetic engineering to highlight some of its features, to obtain new ones, to reduce or eliminate some of the unwanted hereditary characteristics.
The third group of changes is often subject of criticism and denial because in natural conditions it is extremely rare the so-called horizontal gene transfer is possible but is observed at a very low frequency.
Examples of GMOs are wheat modified with a scorpion gene to be drought-resistant, strawberries modified with bacterial genes for longer shelf life, rice modified with daffodil genes to produce beta-carotene, etc. Selective breeding is breeding of plants or animals in order to selectively develop particular characteristics in the offspring by selecting males and females with the desired characteristics for reproduction.
An animal breed and plant variety are artificial, man-made variations of the same species of animal or plant. In selective breeding, the breeder aims to retain only those characteristics of the breeds and varieties which are of interest and may be inherited. Various forms of selective breeding have been used since the dawn of human society. Unintentional selective breeding was carried out since the Neolithic Era.
Later the unintentional selective breeding has become intentional, and in the meantime, many breeds and varieties have been created. Selective breeding aims to enhance certain target characteristics of the species. For example, in the selection of watermelon seeds needed for sowing for the next season, farmers always prefer to harvest seed of the largest and sweetest fruits.
In the intentional selective breeding, the breeder sets a goal and draws up a plan to achieve it. The plan includes several important points:. Through selective breeding were obtained cows with high-quality milk, different breeds of dogs and horses, numerous varieties of fruits, vegetables, cereals, fiber, and ornamental plants. Selective Breeding: Selective breeding is breeding of plants or animals in order to selectively develop particular characteristics in the offspring by selecting males and females with the desired characteristics for reproduction.
GMO: The results of genetic engineering are detectable rapidly. At present, no gene therapy has been approved for use however recent clinical trials, such as those looking at inherited forms of blindness, have shown promise.
Gene therapy has been successful in dogs and trials in humans show encouraging results, with significant restoration of vision in one patient [8]. Stem cells from the umbilical cord of a saviour sibling can be used to treat a child with a disease.
This has been successfully carried out to cure a child of the fatal Diamond-Blackfan anaemia, a blood disorder. However, opponents fear that this technology will lead to the occurrence of designer babies, those that have been screened as embryos to select for desirable traits and to reduce the likelihood of disease.
The University of Otago is pioneering a three-year international investigation into how New Zealand should respond to these emerging genetic technologies [9]. The first report by the Human Genome Research Project into pre-implantation genetic diagnosis [10] concluded that it was medically safe. However, the issue of genetic modification in humans is littered with moral and ethical issues and will need to be tightly regulated.
The Bioethics Council [11] in New Zealand advises the government on the ethical and cultural issues of emerging biotechnologies. What legislation is there for GM organisms? Overall, the government is supportive of GM, if implemented with caution and correct risk management. The Royal Commission report on GM can be viewed here [12]. It governs genetic modification and its application to living things, a summary of this legislation is provided from the Ministry for the Environment [13].
The Animal Welfare Act [14] oversees the welfare of all animals in NZ, not just those being used in research.
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