biosafety issues related to genetically modified organisms
- 1. Presented by PRITY BIOSAFETY ISSUES RELATED TO GMO(Genetically Modified Organisms)
- 2. INTRODUCTION GMOs: Organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated through genetic engineering. 🔬 What is Biosafety? Biosafety refers to the set of precautionary measures, policies, and procedures used to protect human health, the environment, and biodiversity from the potential risks posed by biological agents, especially genetically modified organisms (GMOs), pathogens, or other biohazards. The benefits of GMOs : 1.)Needs less input – Requires fewer herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers, water, and land. 2.)Disease resistance – GM crops can fight deadly viruses, protecting food and industry. 3.)Better nutrition – Crops like Golden Rice giveVitamin A, and GMO soybean oil has more Omega-3 and less trans fat. 4.)Plant vaccines – Some GMOs can be used as edible vaccines to protect against diseases (e.g., transgenic potatoes for diarrhea).
- 3. GENETHICS Transfer gene from one organism to another is “unnatural” The most important practical questions arise from escaping of GMO in to the wild and its consequence. Precautionary Principle: It would be a sensible precaution to thoroughly research all potentially dangerous aspects of the development of GM Fish / Shellfish before rushing ahead with commercial development.
- 5. In May 1999, it was reported that pollen from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) insect resistant corn had a negative impact on Monarch butterfly larvae. This report raised concerns and questions about potential risks to Monarchs and perhaps other non-target organisms Direct effects on non-target organisms.
- 7. ECOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS 🔁 Gene Flow and Genetic Pollution •Horizontal gene transfer: •Transgenes from GM fishes can transfer into wild fish populations through natural breeding if they escape from containment. This is especially risky in species like salmon or tilapia, which have wild counterparts. •Hybridization: •Could result in genetically unstable hybrids that may not survive or could dominate ecosystems with unintended traits. •Example: • Aqua Advantage Salmon (engineered for faster growth) if escaped, may interbreed with wild salmon, affecting migratory behavior, spawning success, and survival of wild populations
- 8. 🌊 Ecological Disruption •Trophic imbalance: • Fast-growing GM fish may consume more food, leading to depletion of lower trophic level species and imbalance in aquatic food chains. •Predator-Prey Alterations: •Transgenic traits may alter behaviors like aggression, mating, or feeding, which can ripple through entire ecosystems. 🌿 BiodiversityThreat •GM fish with superior growth or stress resistance may outcompete native species, leading to loss of endemic or endangered species. •Ecological niche displacement: •GM fish may replace native species in their ecological role, leading to ecosystem instability.
- 9. ️ 🍽️2. Human Health and Food Safety Risks ⚠️Allergenicity •New proteins expressed in GM fish may trigger unexpected allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. •Example: Fish genetically modified with shellfish or insect genes may cause reactions in people allergic to those organisms. ☠️Toxicity •Unintended interactions between transgenes and host genome may produce toxic metabolites, especially if regulatory elements like promoters behave unpredictably. 💊 Antibiotic Resistance Markers •Antibiotic resistance genes are often used as selectable markers during gene editing. •These genes might be transferred to human gut flora or aquatic microorganisms, contributing to the global antibiotic resistance crisis.
- 10. ⚠️Allergenicity GM foods have risk of toxicity/allergineicity. Brazil nut allergy in SOYBEAN. 2S albumin gene from Brazil nut was introduced into Soybean to enhanced methionine. Allergens transferred unintentionally from Brazil nut to GM soybean (Carman, 2004). Investigation with GM soybean revealed immune reaction in people with Brazil nut allergies.Addition of new genetic material may activate toxic pathways.There is a chance of a appearance of novel metabolites in GM foods. Introduction of new proteins with new genes can alter the metabolism of the organisms. Non-immunogenic proteins could become immunogenic/allergenic (Kuiper, et al., 2001).
- 11. 🧭 3. Ethical, Legal, and Societal Concerns 🐠 Animal Welfare •Genetic modifications may lead to malformations, tumors, or behavioral abnormalities in GM fishes. •Triploidy (used for sterilization) may cause stress and deformities due to altered physiology. 🧾 Labeling and Consumer Choice •Lack of mandatory labeling of GM fish in markets means consumers may unknowingly consume GMOs, violating their right to informed choice. 🙏 Cultural and Religious Sensitivities •Some communities oppose GM foods on religious or cultural grounds, especially if genes are derived from animals considered taboo (e.g., pig genes in countries with religious restrictions).
- 12. Labelling of GM and non GM Food With concerns among the public, keeping GM and non GM products separately with appropriate labeling, also through colour codes for illiterate people.
- 13. ⚙️4. Regulatory and Containment Challenges. 🔒 Containment Failure •In open systems like ocean cages, GM fish may escape due to storms, net breakage, or human error. •In India and many countries, fish farms are located near natural water bodies, increasing escape risk. 📜 Weak Regulations •Many developing countries lack specific biosafety laws or enforcement mechanisms for GM aquatic organisms. •Approval processes are often lengthy, opaque, and underfunded. 🧪 Risk Assessment Complexity •Environmental risk assessment (ERA) is difficult because fish are long-lived, mobile, and have complex interactions with aquatic ecosystems. •Requires multi-generational studies, which are expensive and time-consuming.
- 14. ⏳ 5. Unpredictable and Long-term Impacts ❓ Pleiotropic and Epistatic Effects •A transgene may influence multiple traits (pleiotropy), or its expression may be influenced by other genes (epistasis), making outcomes unpredictable. •Example:A growth hormone gene may also affect behavior, immunity, or stress tolerance. 🧬 Genomic Instability •Insertional mutagenesis during gene editing may disrupt essential genes or regulatory sequences in the host genome. 📉 Loss of Natural Gene Pools •GM fish dominating breeding programs may cause erosion of local genetic diversity, reducing resilience to future environmental changes.
- 16. CONCLUSION 1. GMOs as a Modern Solution with Caution Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are highly useful tools for solving many current problems in agriculture, food production, and nutrition.When used wisely, they can improve crop yields, reduce the need for harmful chemicals, and enhance the nutritional value of food. However, careless or unregulated use can pose serious risks to both human health and the environment. 2. Importance of Biosafety and Biosecurity Biosafety plays a crucial role in ensuring that GMOs are developed and used in a safe and responsible manner. It not only protects the people using the technology but also the environment from possible negative impacts.
- 17. CONCLUSION 3. Need for Public Awareness and Ethical Consideration To maximize the benefits of genetic engineering, people must be made aware of the technology, its products, and the safety concerns related to them. Public education and open, respectful discussions are essential to address moral, ethical, and legal concerns. Without proper understanding and trust, GMOs may face opposition and hesitation from society. Therefore, promoting awareness is the key to ethical acceptance and proper usage. 4. Role of Government Policies and Global Efforts Recognizing the risks and benefits of GMOs, many countries are implementing strong regulatory policies and setting up regulatory bodies to monitor GMO research and use. Increasing awareness among scientists, farmers, policymakers, and the general public about biosafety is a positive step.These efforts ensure that genetic engineering technologies are used safely and contribute positively to sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.
- 19. Thank You For your attention