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Genes are found in every living cell on special molecules called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). |
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Genes contain nucleic acid codes for cells to produce specific molecules. |
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Genes are cut from DNA using biological “scissors” called restriction enzymes. They are spliced into DNA using biological “glue” called DNA ligase. |
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Once a cell has its new DNA, every time the cell duplicates, the new cells will have the same altered DNA. |
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By splicing new genes into the DNA of bacteria, scientists can turn them into factories for making valuable natural chemicals. One protein made like this is interferon, a natural body chemical which protects humans against certain viruses. |
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The first GM food was the ‘Flavr Savr’ tomato, created by Calgene Inc., US in 1994. |
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The ‘Flavr Savr’ tomato, the first commercialized GM food crop, was genetically modified to slow down the softening process of the fruit which could help increase its shelf life. |
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In 2012, 170.3 million hectares of biotech crop was planted across 30 countries around the world. (Source, ISAAA 2012) |
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Seedless grapes and watermelons sold at your local supermarket are not genetically modified but are produced through selective breeding of plant hybrids. |
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The first ever GM product to be commercialized is recombinant human insulin Humulin by Eli Lilly & Co.'s. This product has been used by patient suffering from diabetes mellitus around the world since 1982! |
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Golden Rice was produced through the genetic modification of Oryza sativa rice to synthesise the pre-cursor of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, in edible parts of the rice plant. |
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The Golden Rice project, featuring rice genetically modified with beta-carotene, was initiated with the goal to help children suffering from Vitamin A deficiency. |
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Biotechnology has helped produce many drugs now currently administered to patients. One example is Humulin, recombinant human insulin, used to treat people suffering from diabetes. |
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Climate changes contribute to the decline in crop yields. Biotechnology can mitigate adverse climatic effects by genetically altering crops to survive in harsher conditions. |
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Genetically modified fluorescent fishes named GloFish are able to fluoresce under natural light. Some colours that GloFish exude are bright red, green, orange-yellow and blue. |
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GloFish, a GM fish that exhibit fluorescence, was developed in Singapore by Prof Gong Zhiyuan from the National University of Singapore. |
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There is ongoing research to genetically modified cows so that they will give out (burp or fart!) less methane, a potent greenhouse gas. |
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Scientists are developing climate-resistant crops to adapt to the effects of the climate change. Climate-resistant crops such as drought-resistant wheat can help to boost wheat production in times of drought. |
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Gene modification technology is widely used in a variety of research such as biomedical sciences, pharmaceutics and agriculture. |
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Gene modification technology has allowed some soybean crops to produce more oleic acid, a healthy monounsaturated fat. |
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A GM or transgenic crop is a plant that has its genetic material altered through the use of gene modification technology. |
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A GM organism is an organism which has its genetic material altered through the use of gene modification technology. |
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If a crop has two or more novel traits that have been introduced through the use of modern biotechnology, it will be called a “stacked genes” or “stacked” crop. |
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A plant crop can exhibit new traits ,other than its own, from having more than two or more genes introduced into it. These plant crops are referred to as “stacked gene crops” or “stacked crops”. |
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GM crops have been commercialised since the early 1990s. |
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The first genetically modified organism (GMO) produced is a transgenic Escherichia coli cell which has been transformed with antibiotic resistant genes. |
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Gene technology has been applied in areas such as medicine, agriculture, research and industry since the early 1970s. |
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Scientists sometimes remove a specific gene from a mouse, to study its physiological and molecular effects in the animal model. These mice are known as knockout mice. |
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Knockout mice are derived from gene modification processes. |
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Purple carnations are not naturally occurring. They are created by gene technology. Likewise for certain purple roses which is known to be “blue” to growers. |
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Scientists at the Cambridge University are looking into developing glowing trees to illuminate the streets of the future. |
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