A transgenic product (transgenic organism or genetically modified organism, GMO) is one to which its own genetic information has been altered with the addition of very few genes (usually one) from another organism, usually from another species.
Origin: From the beginning of its existence, man has taken advantage of natural genetic variation to select, by crossing and selection techniques, plant and animal species. In the field of food, it has used microorganisms and enzymes to make numerous products. The application of genetic engineering between species involves very few fundamental changes from traditional techniques; However, it is a revolutionary technology since it allows to identify, isolate and introduce a certain gene or genes in an organism in a direct and controlled way.
Types: There are transgenic products of vegetable, animal and fermented origin (bread, beer, dairy products,….). In the plant world, the incorporation of genes that provide resistance to pests and pathogens, delay in the ripening process, withstand extreme environmental conditions, increase the nutritional value of some food, etc. are studied. But in the animal field, advances are made in a slower way, since changes in animals imply greater ethical and social repercussions.
Personal health: The transgenic foods that have been marketed are not more dangerous to health than the conventional ones from which they come, since any genetically modified food, before obtaining its authorization for its placing on the market, has to pass a series of strict studies, including toxicological tests, to rule out any health risk. It can take 4 to 5 years. Careful studies show that the nutritional content of the food is the same as that of origin and that there have been no increases in any toxic substance or in its allergenic potential.
(Source: ENS)
Here is a brief bibliographic review:
Transgenic: Said of a living organism that has been modified by adding exogenous genes to achieve new properties. Dictionary of the Royal Academy of the Spanish language
They are called transgenicto those living beings that carry new genes, obtained by integrating exogenous DNA fragments into their own genome. These genes are usually introduced by microinjection of purified DNA into the pronucleus of fertilized eggs. If the new genetic material is integrated into the organism's chromosomal DNA, it will be transmitted to the successive progeny as another hereditary load, typical of the manipulated animal. This term was coined in 1981 by molecular biologists J. w. Gordon and FH Ruddle. In fact, these new living beings can be considered as variants of a given species and, in some cases, they are even patented as "something" created directly by man. … Currently, the concept of transgenesis includes all those cases where, prior to the birth of a new living being,Its genetic material has been modified by molecular biology techniques, giving rise to a genotypically and phenotypically different lineage from the starting organism. (López, 2011, p.21)
In 1981, Jon Gordon and Frank Ruddle coined the word transgenicto define the animal variant originated after the introduction of new genes in its genome. Technically, a transgenic organism is considered one that carries these "new genes" in its genome. According to this definition, both a virus to which an exogenous DNA fragment has gotten or a bacterium capable of producing human insulin would be considered transgenic. However, when a scientist speaks of genetically manipulated bacteria or viruses, he usually refers to recombinant organisms, while by transgenic he will refer to higher organisms, basically plants or animals. The word transgenic is indicating a gene transfer. An organism will receive a DNA fragment from another individual which may even belong to another species. By last,Researchers tend to put organisms that are not actually GMOs in the same group of GMOs. The so-called knockout; organisms that have been genetically manipulated but, instead of introducing a new exogenous gene, a specific gene has been blocked, eliminated or mutated, inhibiting the expression of this characteristic. (López, 2006, p.49)
The GM foodthey are foods that contain transgenic organisms - transgenic microorganisms, plants or animals - or have been produced from them. More precisely, foods obtained by genetic manipulation are: (A) organisms that can be used as food and that have been subjected to genetic engineering (for example, genetically manipulated plants that are harvested), (B) foods that contain a ingredient or additive derived from a genetically engineered organism, or (C) foods that have been produced using a genetically engineered processing aid (eg, enzymes). It is common to refer to these types of substances as transgenic foods or recombinant foods. … The production of a transgenic plant essentially consists of two phases. In transformation,the transgene is inserted into a plant cell to be modified. Regeneration consists of obtaining a complete plant from the genetically manipulated plant cell. (Riechmann, p.80)
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In the following playlist (6 videos, 4 hours) you will be able to find positions for and against transgenic products, especially in agriculture, the debate is on the table, we hope that the videos will help you build your opinion.
Bibliography
- ENS, The new biotechnology of transgenic food and products López Guerrero, José Antonio. I know what happened last courses. Editorial Helice, 2006 López Guerrero, José Antonio. What is a transgenic ?: and the mothers who gave birth to it… Sirius Team, 2011. Riechmann, Jorge. Transgenics: the upper and lower part: a critical perspective, Los Libros de la Catarata, 2004.
