Genetically Modified Organisms
GMOs
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are made through genetic technologies instead of the selective breeding of organisms. In the U.S., much of the corn we eat is a GMO. This section explains how this corn is made, and why.
Learning Objective: Describe the types of genetically modified organisms that have been produced, the techniques used, and rationales.
Genetic technologies, including gene editing, are being used to modify a variety of organisms. Typically GMOs are created to solve significant medical and food supply issues. However, as the GMOs video will show, some GMOs are produced for other uses, including the pet trade.
An introduction to GMOs, including engineered animals.
Watch this video; you can select the closed captioning “cc” option if you would like to see the text.
An indicator of how established genetic engineering is becoming is the presence of GMOs in pet stores, including several transgenic fish species. “GloFish” is a trademarked name. GMOs can be patented and their sales restricted.
These are our “Glofish” transgenic danios that contain jellyfish (or coral) genes that enable them to glow bright colors. When you cross them, the resulting offspring are a mix of the two parental colors. For example, a red parent and a yellow parent produce orange offspring. This is not the old “blending theory,” this is co-dominance, both alleles direct the production of a large amount of pigment.
Engineering species like trout may produce larger fish faster, or fish that tolerate a wider range of hatchery and environmental conditions.
A lingering question about GMOs is whether they should be released into the wild, with potential for gene flow with both wild and artificially selected species.
The next section provides an overview of fish, including their shared structures.
Check your knowledge – GMOs
Review your notes. Can you provide examples of GMOS, including the techniques used in their production? If so, move forward to the next page.
Learning Objective:
Describe the types of genetically modified organisms that have been produced, the techniques used, and rationales.
Go back to the Gene Editing Page
Go forward to the Fish Page
Visualizing Data Contents
Complete all five of these sections before taking the quiz and submitting your media piece.
This Module
8: Why does it look like this?
This Guide
8C: Visualizing Data
Products Information
8C: Quiz & Media
