Starting at the beginning, although our ancestors did not have any knowledge of DNA, let alone genetics, they influenced the DNA of other organisms by selective breeding. Unknown to most, it is believed the first artificially selected organism was not a plant, but a dog about 32,000 years ago. It was not until around 7800 BCE that artificial selection was used on wheat. Artificial selection is still around, but when people refer to GMOs nowadays they are referring to the modern altering of genetics in an organism to achieve a desired trait.
In 1973, Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer engineered the first, successful, genetically engineered organism. They had developed a method in which a specific gene could be cut out of one organism, and …show more content…
By the 1950s crop yields were being affected, and by the 1990s every region had been infected resulting in production dropping over 50%. So, in the late 1980’s, the University of Hawaii began developing a papaya resistant to the Papaya Ringspot Virus. Certain viral genes, that encode the capsid proteins, were transferred from the virus to the papaya genome. The capsid proteins cause, basically, an immune response, from the papaya plant. The new plant is now insusceptible to the viral infection. In 1999, the first papaya plants insusceptible were grown commercially in Hawaii. Ten years later, over 90% of papaya are genetically …show more content…
Most of the studies have tried to prove that the virus is transmitted through seeds but several studies have failed.With that being said, to prevent the virus stated above from happening, we genetically engineer the papayas. By genetically engineering the papayas, whether people agree with it or not, we are able to somewhat positively impact many people in the society. Not only are we able to prevent the papayas from getting the Ringspot Virus, we are also able to extend shelf life, allowing farmers to have the ability to expand their produce to sell in places that they could not reach
In 1973, Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer engineered the first, successful, genetically engineered organism. They had developed a method in which a specific gene could be cut out of one organism, and …show more content…
By the 1950s crop yields were being affected, and by the 1990s every region had been infected resulting in production dropping over 50%. So, in the late 1980’s, the University of Hawaii began developing a papaya resistant to the Papaya Ringspot Virus. Certain viral genes, that encode the capsid proteins, were transferred from the virus to the papaya genome. The capsid proteins cause, basically, an immune response, from the papaya plant. The new plant is now insusceptible to the viral infection. In 1999, the first papaya plants insusceptible were grown commercially in Hawaii. Ten years later, over 90% of papaya are genetically …show more content…
Most of the studies have tried to prove that the virus is transmitted through seeds but several studies have failed.With that being said, to prevent the virus stated above from happening, we genetically engineer the papayas. By genetically engineering the papayas, whether people agree with it or not, we are able to somewhat positively impact many people in the society. Not only are we able to prevent the papayas from getting the Ringspot Virus, we are also able to extend shelf life, allowing farmers to have the ability to expand their produce to sell in places that they could not reach