What are Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s)?
A GMO has been defined as an organism, with the exception of human beings, in which “the genetic material has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination.” While this definition of a GMO effectively highlights the fact that the DNA is altered in a way that does not occur naturally, the definition should not be confused with the fact that the introduced DNA will is not synthesized completely de novo. Genetic material derived from natural sources is spliced together in ways that allow for the expression of gene sequences that have a desired effect. A good example of this involves the plan to express a portion of the dengue virus genome itself to activate an anti-dengue anti-viral immune response in mosquito cells.
