Genetically Modified

Apple

Presented by: Theresa Paula Dela

Rosa
Julie John Cadiente

Genetically modified apple (Arctic Apple)

What are Arctic apples?
Developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. in Canada
through a process of genetic engineering and precision
breeding.
Also called non browning apples, are a suite of trademarked
apples that contain a non browning trait.
when the apples are subjected to mechanical damage, such
as slicing or bruising, the apple flesh remains its original
color
Specifically, gene silencing reduces the expression of
polyphenol oxidase (PPO), thus preventing the fruit from
browning. It is the first approved food product to use that
technique.

 Legal Approvals
petitioned for regulatory approval for two apple
varieties in Canada from the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada
US from the Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS), part of the United
States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
In 2012, a field test application was approved to
conduct a 20-acre study of the apple in the state
of Washington.
The apples were approved by the USDA in
February 2015
and by the FDA in March 2015
becoming the first genetically modified apple
approved for US sale

More about Arctic Apples

Why apples are brown?
1. Primary or enzymatic browning
2. Secondary browning- due to fungi and
bacteria

Primary browning
.Phenolic compounds reacts with oxygen
.By Polyphenol oxidase (PPO)
. (PPO) interact with phenols
.End product is melanin

Solving the issue of apple browning

Anti browning treatments

Calcium ascorbates (40% of processing
cost)
Sulfites (causes allergies)
Browning is varied among apples due a
lot of factors

 How to judge the fruits true

quality
Disguise old or damaged fruit?
Arctic apples eventually rot just
like other apples, and will show
browning that results from fungal
or bacterial infection. And since
Arctic varieties show meaningful
discoloration like this, but wont
show superficial browning and
bruising, Arctic apples make it
easier to judge the true quality of
the fruit!

PPO Silencing
CSIRO in Australia mapped genes
associated with PPO
Grape sport, Bruces Sport that didnt
go brown
Developed the concept to address
browning in potato
OSF silenced the gene in potato in
1997, expanded the tech in apples

 Apple-to-apple transformation
silenced apples PPO genes using genes
isolated from apples.
Arcticapples produce less than 10
percent of the PPO
GEN-03 is inserted into the parent
cultivars DNA.
A promoter (CaMV) and terminator
(nophaline synthase A. tumefaciens)
gene sequence start and end of the
transformation process.
precise, targeted gene modification that
silences the PPO enzyme but does not
change any other aspect of the cultivar.

Issues and Controversies

these foods are as safe and nutritious as their
conventional counterparts. (FDA)
Label is currently not required
Consumers might stay away from all apples
including non gmo
Risk of contamination (open pollination)
Gene-silencing biotech has not been field tested
PPO genes are part of a family of 10 or 11 closely
related genes. OSF target only 4 genes.
PPO fight pest and stress resistance
Arctic apples might be vulnerable and require more
pesticide use

THE END IS NEAR