Future Innovations of GMOs
It is believed that GMOs will be developed to help produce different bioproducts like biomaterials, biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, bioplastics, and biodiesal to name a few (DaSilva, 2002). Genetic techniques are used to identify and manipulate the genes for biologically active components of food crops, like natural toxins (for example, potato glycoalkaloids), antinutrients (for example, trypsin inhibitors), and allergens, like certain nut proteins. The future prospect is to develop foods that do not have these undesirable components ("NCBI", 1999). Genetic modification and other biochemical techniques are also being used to understand the biochemistry of fruit and vegetables ripening and deterioration. Efforts are being made to use genetic modification on fruits and vegetables to help with their preservation without using preservatives.
The Development of Bioproducts
Biomaterials
Biomaterials are materials used in the medical area. A major priority for these materials is biocompatibility with the host tissues to which they will be applied. An example of this is transplant organs. There is a greater number of individuals worldwide needing a transplant than there are transplant organs. Solving this shortage could be found in the use of GMOs to synthesize biomaterials, by using trangenic animals ("Cancer Gene Therapy Lab" 2008).
Pharmaceuticals
Conventional methods of producing mass quantities of protein drugs and vaccines is time consuming and expensive. With the implemetation of GMOs, like transgenic yeast or bacteria, production of those drugs and vaccines could be reduced in time and cost ("Cancer Gene Therapy Lab", 2008).
Biofuels
GMOs could also be invovled in the reduction of fossil fuels because of the growing the consideration to use biofuels as opposed to fossil fuels. The demand for alcohol to replace petroleum is pushing scientists to study certain species of yeast that might be able to produce alcohol. GM yeast could have higher alcohol tolerances and produce a greater amount of ethanol than non-GM yeast.
Biomaterials are materials used in the medical area. A major priority for these materials is biocompatibility with the host tissues to which they will be applied. An example of this is transplant organs. There is a greater number of individuals worldwide needing a transplant than there are transplant organs. Solving this shortage could be found in the use of GMOs to synthesize biomaterials, by using trangenic animals ("Cancer Gene Therapy Lab" 2008).
Pharmaceuticals
Conventional methods of producing mass quantities of protein drugs and vaccines is time consuming and expensive. With the implemetation of GMOs, like transgenic yeast or bacteria, production of those drugs and vaccines could be reduced in time and cost ("Cancer Gene Therapy Lab", 2008).
Biofuels
GMOs could also be invovled in the reduction of fossil fuels because of the growing the consideration to use biofuels as opposed to fossil fuels. The demand for alcohol to replace petroleum is pushing scientists to study certain species of yeast that might be able to produce alcohol. GM yeast could have higher alcohol tolerances and produce a greater amount of ethanol than non-GM yeast.
References
1.) (2008, Mar 28). GMO applications. Cancer Gene Therapy Lab. Retrieved from:
http://bio349.biota.utoronto.ca/20079/20079bio349jerry1/index_files/Page3204.html
2.) DaSilva, Edgar. (2002). GMOs and Development. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology. Retrieved from:
http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/content/issues/01/index.html
3.) Science, medicine, and the future of genetically modified foods. (1999, Feb 27). NCBI. Retrieved from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1115027/
http://bio349.biota.utoronto.ca/20079/20079bio349jerry1/index_files/Page3204.html
2.) DaSilva, Edgar. (2002). GMOs and Development. Electronic Journal of Biotechnology. Retrieved from:
http://www.ejbiotechnology.info/content/issues/01/index.html
3.) Science, medicine, and the future of genetically modified foods. (1999, Feb 27). NCBI. Retrieved from:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1115027/