GMO technology allows for the genes transfer between organisms. The development of a tomato plant that is resistant to beetle is dependent on a gene whose origin is Bacillus thuringiensis bacterium which is injected into the genome of a tomato plant by scientists. The gene is called Cry1AC whose function is encoding for a protein that poisons pests such as beetle ("Genetically Modified Foods", 2019). The operation involves cutting the gene out after it is identified from the genome of the native organism. It is then cut out and transferred to the vector bearing a marker gene carrying selectable antibiotic. The vector is then replicated onto tungsten coated bacteria combined with the DNA vectors. After coating the particles, they are loaded into the Teflon bullet, and the bullet is put into the gene gun. Once shooting is done, the particles are released with a heightened velocity making them penetrate the cells of the plant and are immediately incorporated into the genome of the plant. Those cells are overlaid on a selective antibiotic media and only those with the antibiotic grows. Lastly, they have transferred the medium that has factors for plant growth. After the new gene is introduced, breeding of the tomato plant is done in mass for new strains development and can be passed from one generation to another.
It is not ethical to carry out genetic engineering on plants because the pollen from such crops may drift to non-GMO foods spreading the characteristics via cross-pollination and this will make consumers unable to decide what they want to purchase. For sure GMOs do make a difference, due to improved yielding since the technology uses both breeding and biotechnology. The plants are also of high quality and disease resistant. Regardless of where they are grown, they will help in feeding the ever-growing population of the world.
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References
Genetically Modified Foods. (2019). Retrieved from
https://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/science/gmfoods/
