Frankenplants: Friend or Foe?

Science has advanced to the point where it is capable of adjusting the genetic makeup of organisms. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) range from crops to bacteria but they all have one thing in common, they are not strictly natural. Many people fear GMOs simply because they do not understand them, but is this fear justified? To answer this question, we must first understand GMOs. To genetically modify an organism, scientists put a tumor inducing plasmid with a gene of interest into a cell. From there, the cells will replicate and create an entirely new and unique organism. In this lab, we will use a technique to identify GMOs. First, we will use a mortar and pestle to break open the cell walls of the plant. Then, using a 99 degree Celsius water bath, we will break open the cell membrane and the nuclear membrane of the cell. Just outside the nucleus are enzymes called DNAse that protect the cell from viral infections. However, this enzyme will also attack the DNA we are trying to extract so we must use instagene matrix beads to kill them and protect the DNA. After doing a DNA Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), we will do electrophoresis of the PCR products. Based on the bands that show up on the gel, we will know if the plants we tested contain a T.I. plasmid which is found in 85% of cells. To prevent erroneous data, we will also test to see if the plants contain plant fiber, which all plants do. This way, if a band does not show up in either the T.I. lane or the plant fiber lane, we can assume the lab failed instead of that it is not a GMO. While there are many benefits of GMOs such as increased resistance to insects, frost, or disease, there are also many risks attached to them. People fear for the evolution of "superbugs" that could become resistant to all pesticides and destroy crops. Some people also have allergies to some proteins put into GMOs. Although there are many pros and cons to GMOs, nobody can be sure at this point in time of what the repercussions could be from these enhanced organisms.