Chapter CHST5, Problem 1RQ

How do genetically modified organisms compare with organisms created through selective breeding?

Summary Introduction

To review:

Comparison between genetically modified organism and organism created through selective breeding.

Introduction:

In order to create an organism with a specific and desirable characteristic, two approaches could be used; one is the conventional approach of selective breeding, while other is the approach uses biotechnology and it is a genetic modification.

Explanation of Solution

The comparison can be drawn as under:

Genetic modification	Selective breeding
1) Use of technology to generate a different variety by genetic manipulation.	1) An organism showing a distinct characteristic is selected and breed with another organism to create a new variety with all the desired characteristics.
2) The genes of an organism are directly modified and manipulated by using biotechnology.	2) It is an indirect method of genetic modification; technology is not used in this process.
3) The gene of interest or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is artificially inserted and expressed in the organism to create a different phenotype.	3) An organism carrying a phenotype of breeder’s interest is selected, no artificial means of DNA insertion is carried out.
4) Recombinant DNA technology and genetic engineering procedures are used for this.	4) Advanced techniques are not required for this, it is done through natural reproduction.
5) Insertion of a gene can be done randomly or it can be targeted specifically within the genome.	5) The expression of the gene in a hybrid is always random; it cannot be controlled.

Conclusion

Thus, it can be concluded that genetic manipulation can be brought by two ways in which one approach uses the direct insertion of DNA (genetic modification of organism), while the other relies on selecting organism according to the phenotype and conducting breeding experiments.