Pseudomonas syringae is found naturally in the soil. Sold as Snomax, it is used to make snow at ski resorts. The same bacterium with a gene deletion (Ice-minus) is used to prevent ice formation on plants. Should Snomax and Ice-minus be considered modified organisms and subject to precautions of releasing genetically modified organisms? Explain why or why not.

Question

Biology

Elliot Morales

21 February, 00:45

Pseudomonas syringae is found naturally in the soil. Sold as Snomax, it is used to make snow at ski resorts. The same bacterium with a gene deletion (Ice-minus) is used to prevent ice formation on plants. Should Snomax and Ice-minus be considered modified organisms and subject to precautions of releasing genetically modified organisms? Explain why or why not.

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Ulises Frye · Answer 1

Snomax should not be considered as a genetically modified organism (GMO), but Ice-minus should.

GMOs are defined as any organism whose genes have been altered in order to give it characteristics and functions that are not part of its nature. Since Pseudomonas syringae is a naturally ice-nucleating bacteria, Snomax is in accordance to the organism's nature. However, by deleting its ice-nucleating gene, and turning it into an anti-freeze for crops, the bacteria can be considered as altered.