A GMOs Story.
GMOs have been developed for a wide variety of applications, including crops, industrial processes, and medical research. One of the most well-known companies involved in the development and commercialization of GMOs is Monsanto. Monsanto is a multinational agrochemical and agricultural biotechnology corporation that has been involved in the development and marketing of several genetically modified crops.
One of the key contributions made by Monsanto to the GMO industry is the development of the Cry1Ac gene. The Cry1Ac gene codes for a protein that is toxic to some insect pests. Cry1Ac works by binding to specific receptors in the gut of susceptible insects, which leads to the formation of pores in the insect’s gut membrane. This causes the insect to lose essential nutrients and eventually die. This protein has been incorporated into a number of genetically modified crops, including Bt corn, Bt soy, and Bt cotton.
Bt corn, for example, has been genetically modified to express the Cry1Ac protein to protect the crop from insect damage. The protein is toxic to the European corn borer, which reduces the amount of insect damage to the crop and increases crop yields. Bt soy and Bt cotton have similarly been modified to express the Cry1Ac protein to protect against insect pests.
Another notable GMO crop is golden rice. Golden rice is a genetically modified rice that has been engineered to produce beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A. The goal of this modification is to combat vitamin A deficiency in developing countries, which can lead to blindness and other health problems.
The Flavr-Savr tomato is another example of a genetically modified crop. The Flavr-Savr tomato was genetically modified to have a longer shelf life and to stay fresh longer after being harvested. AquaBounty Salmon is another genetically modified salmon that has been engineered to grow faster than non-modified salmon. This has however led to concerns about the potential ecological impact of releasing genetically modified salmon into the wild.
In Kenya, the concerns are about the potential impact of GMOs on biodiversity. The introduction of genetically modified crops could lead to unintended consequences, such as the transfer of modified genes to wild relatives of crop plants, leading to the creation of superweeds or the disruption of local ecosystems.