The characteristics of living things are largely determined by DNA. Plants, animals, or bacteria whose DNA had been altered by molecular techniques are termed genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

With the advancement of biotechnology, scientists have developed special biochemical scissors and glue which enables them to “cut” and “paste” specific segments of DNA (called genes) from one living thing to another. The newly introduced DNA brings new characteristics to the resultant GMO.

Genetic modification is being applied to develop new benefits, such as in creating crop plants with greater resistance to pests, or in creating bacteria which produce pharmaceutical products.

Diagram 1 below is a simple representation of how an originally pest-susceptible plant can be genetically modified to carry a bacterial gene which makes it pest-resistant.

Both conventional breeding and genetic modification are methods for intentional manipulation of an organism’s heritable traits. To illustrate the differences, we take the example of producing drought-resistant corn.

To make an originally susceptible corn variety resistant to drought, conventional breeders can cross the susceptible corn variety with its resistant wild cousin. Offsprings exhibiting drought-resistance (i.e. the desired quality) are then selected and crossed with its resistant parent (backcrossing). The offsprings are subjected to several more generations of backcrossing and selection before a new variety of corn stably exhibiting drought-resistance can be achieved.

As conventional breeding involves the transfer of many thousands of genes randomly, the outcomes are often difficult to predict and it typically takes many years before an organism with the desired characteristics can be produced. Conventional breeding is also dependent on genetic compatibility of donor and recipient organisms. Breeders may not be able to cross distantly-related species, or the resultant offsprings may not be viable.

Genetic modification, on the other hand, is a more precise method. As we can see from Diagram 1, it involves the identification, isolation, and introduction of specific gene(s) from donor to recipient organisms. Genetic modification also permits the transfer of genes between totally different organisms, for example from a turnip to a cereal grain or from a bacterium to corn. The first use of this was in the 1980s, where E.coli bacterium was genetically modified to carry human insulin gene. As a result of this technology, high quality insulin can now be produced cheaply for diabetic patients.

GMOs can be valuable in many ways. Medical, agricultural, and aesthetic applications of GM animals and microorganisms are detailed under other FAQ subsections.

The regular consumer may be more interested in knowing more about the benefits of GM foods. To date, all GM foods available commercially are derived from so-called “first generation” GM plants which have been bioengineered for agronomic benefits such as pest- and herbicide-resistance.

Proponents of pest-resistant GM crops say that the application of GM technology limits the need for spraying of pesticides and that this can have a beneficial impact on the environment.

Increased crop yields, coupled with reduced production costs (from less need for pesticide spraying etc), can help increase the profit margin of farmers. According to ISAAA’s 2006 Review on the Global Status of Commercialized Biotech/GM Crops, 90% or 9.3 million of biotech crop farmers were small, resource-poor farmers from developing countries whose increased income from biotech crops can contribute to alleviation of their poverty.

While the "first generation" GM crops do not have direct consumer benefits, some people believe that genetic modification provides a solution to the problem of global malnutrition. Scientists have developed “second generation” GM plants with enhanced nutritional contents. Although none of these have yet been commercialized, several are in the pipeline for regulatory approval. A good example will be “Golden Rice” that is rich in pro-vitaminA. The WHO estimates that up to half a million children go blind each year because of vitamin A deficiency. With this in mind, some people sees “Golden Rice” as having the potential of reducing childhood blindness in developing countries.

The Genetic Modification Advisory Committee (GMAC) was established in Singapore in April 1999 to oversee and advise on the R & D, production, use, handling and release of GMOs in Singapore, ensuring that these are done in compliance with international standards.

As a non-regulatory advisory committee, GMAC works very closely with the regulatory authorities (the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority, Ministry of Health, NParks etc) to ensure that appropriate regulation of gene modification and its products is in place.

Genetic modification can be as safe as traditional breeding. When crossing two plants using conventional breeding techniques, breeders mix thousands of genes in order to acquire one or a few genetic traits.

To remove unwanted traits, breeders spend many years back-crossing the new plant varieties repeatedly with plants whose genetic components are well known. This slowly dilutes the impact of all those unwanted genetic traits that came along with the few beneficial traits.

Genetic modification brings to traditional plant breeding the ability to move specific gene(s) instead of having to move thousands at one time.

This could prevent the introduction of unwanted traits and thereby offers a more predictable, and arguably safer method to produce plants with desirable traits.

Where legislation and regulatory institutions are in place, there are elaborate steps to precisely avoid or mitigate these risks. It is the obligation of the technology innovators (i.e. scientists), producers, and the government to assure the public of the safety of the novel foods.

GMAC has drawn up guidelines for safe production, handling, and utilization of GMOs. We work very closely with the regulatory authorities to ensure that the potential benefits of biotechnology can be realized while keep risks to a minimum.