The Biodiversity and Health Society

FINAL ACTIVITY NO.2

GOLDEN RICE

Growing public awareness of genetically modified (GM) foods. This is a field in food technology
that is new, expanding, and increasing. Food products in "natural" food stores are bearing labels like "NO
GMOs" on them. Soybean, corn, cotton, canola, potatoes, and tomatoes are currently some popular GM
food crops. In the entire world, a third of corn and more than half of soybean crops are genetically
engineered. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and
the Food and Drug Administration have approved the ingestion of more than 40 genetically modified
(GM) food crops for humans or animals (FDA)

The availability of genetically modified (GM) foods has steadily increased as public concern has
grown. GM foods are intended to be resistant to herbicides and high salinity, to increase yields, to
improve esthetic appeal, to be used as vaccines, and to improve nutritional value. Golden rice is a
genetically modified crop designed to increase dietary vitamin A levels. Vitamin A deficiency is a serious
health problem in developing countries, causing blindness and premature death. Rice, a staple food,
generates geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), an early precursor of beta-carotene. To convert GGPP to
beta-carotene, the entire beta-carotene biosynthesis pathway daffodil genes and 1 bacterium gene) was
engineered into rice endosperm. To convert GGPP to beta-carotene, the entire beta-carotene biosynthesis
pathway daffodil genes and 1 bacterium gene) was engineered into rice endosperm. Golden Rice contains
1.6 - 2.0 g beta-carotene per gram of dry rice. The antioxidant beta-carotene is not toxic and can be
stored by the body. Beta-carotene is converted by the body into Vitamin A, which is toxic at high
concentrations. Golden rice has the potential to be a valuable asset in the fight against Vitamin A
deficiency worldwide. There is no evidence that GM foods are dangerous in terms of gene transfer,
toxicity, or pathogenicity. GM foods, on the other hand, have been found to be allergenic. GM foods have
the potential to be beneficial if properly regulated. As a necessary vitamin for the production of pigment
in the retina, vitamin A helps to maintain both healthy daytime and nighttime vision. A lack of vitamin A
can impair vision, which can eventually result in blindness. The mucous membranes and soft tissue,
including the lungs, GI, and urinary tracts, can also become keratinized as a result. As a necessary
vitamin for the production of pigment in the retina, vitamin A helps to maintain both healthy daytime
and nighttime vision. Because rice is a common food in many cultures, golden rice has the greatest
potential to reduce vitamin A deficiency worldwide. Worldwide, rice is a common food. It is consumed
frequently and in large volumes. The husk and natural oil are typically removed from rice during
processing, leaving the rice endosperm (rice grain) for long-term preservation and consumption. To
prevent the rice from going bad while being stored, the oil-rich aleurone layer is removed. The edible
component of rice is the endosperm. Although rice is a common diet in many cultures, it contains few
important nutrients. It is a promising candidate for ectopic synthesis of carotene as a result.

As a result, the entire beta-carotene biosynthesis pathway (two daffodil genes and one bacterium
gene) has been engineered into rice endosperm to convert GGPP to beta-carotene. Dry rice contains 1.6 -
2.0 g beta-carotene per gram (2). The antioxidant beta-carotene is not toxic and can be stored by the
body. Beta-carotene is converted by the body into Vitamin A, which is toxic in high concentrations.
Golden rice has the potential to be an important tool in the global fight against Vitamin A deficiency. In
terms of gene transfer, toxicity, or pathogencity, there is no evidence that genetically modified foods are
harmful. However, genetically modified foods have been found to be allergenic. Genetically modified
foods have the potential to be beneficial if properly regulated.
REFERENCES:
https://med.nyu.edu/departments-institutes/population-health/divisions-sections-centers/medical-ethics/education/high-school-
bioethics-project/learning-scenarios/gmos-the-golden-rice-
debate#:~:text=Golden%20Rice%20Risks&text=Risks%20include%20potential%20allergies%20or,%2C%20without%20the%20consumers'
%20knowledge.
 The Biodiversity and Health Society
FINAL ACTIVITY NO.2

BT CORN

A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is what the Bt-corn is. A genetically modified organism,
or GMO, is a plant or animal that has undergone molecular manipulation to add a small quantity of
genetic material from another creature. The GMOs that are currently available on the market have
genetic characteristics that offer resistance to insecticides, protection against pests, or improved quality.
Bt-potatoes, Bt-corn, Bt-sweet corn, Roundup Ready soybeans, Roundup Ready Corn, and Liberty Link corn
are a few examples of GMO field crops. Foods that have undergone genetic modification come from GMO
crops. For instance, many common meals, including corn meal and tortilla chips, use corn generated by
biotechnology. High fructose corn syrup, another sweetener used in a variety of meals including soda
and baked goods, is also made from corn. Although the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
controls genetically modified foods, it regards Bt-corn as having the same nutritional value as regular
corn.

The genetic material needed to create the Bt protein is not exactly present in Bt-corn hybrids. A
gene must be put together with some additional genetic material in order to provide a trait to a crop
plant. A promoter sequence is part of the added genetic material, and it controls how the new feature is
expressed in the plant. Plant breeders can quickly identify which plants have been altered thanks to a
marker gene. To recognize altered plants, herbicide and antibiotic tolerance promoters are frequently
used. A plasmid or vector sequence that enables quick amplification of the target gene in a bacterial host
before insertion into the agricultural plant may also exist. The protein is quite specific and typically
doesn't damage insects from other orders of insects (such as beetles, flies, bees and wasps). Because they
inflict substantially less harm to insect parasitoids and predators than broad-spectrum pesticides do,
GMOs with the Bt gene are compatible with biological control systems. Food additives must have
premarket approval under federal food law, regardless of whether they are made using biotechnology. If
recombinant DNA-added chemicals are considerably different in structure, function, or quantity from
substances already present in food, the FDA will treat them as food additives. A new food product created
by biotechnology does not, however, need premarket approval if it does not contain ingredients that are
considerably different from those found in the standard diet. The Environmental Protection Agency
regulates products that have been genetically modified to give pesticide properties, such as resistance to
the corn borer. A separate label to alert customers is not yet necessary in the United States for goods that
have undergone genetic modification.

Thus, it may be concluded that as genetic engineering develops, transgenic techniques will only be
one of several tools. In fact, some scientists are now concentrating on altering an organism's genetic
code to produce desirable features. Indeed, for developing countries, where choices must be made in
light of worries about food security, the degree of risks and benefits may vary. Many experts believe that
the hazards of not using genetic engineering outweigh any potential environmental risks of its usage and
further development. To realize future benefits, however, all stakeholders must have access to the tools.
Even though genetic engineering cannot be categorically approved or disapproved, any current scientific
risk does not outweigh potential future risks. Furthermore, corn will continue to be a bellwether crop no
matter where research in the future goes.

REFERENCES:
https://biosecurity.fas.org/education/dualuse-agriculture/2.-agricultural-biotechnology/bt-corn.html
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef130