Besides the \"not natural\" for genes to cross the species barrier, many people

Question

Besides the "not natural" for genes to cross the species barrier, many people worry about genetically modified food Producing organisms that might escape into the natural environment where they could Conceivable compete with other organisms and cause problem. Is this also an important concern for research projects almost at evolving self-replicating RNA populations? Which is more likely to survive if they escaped into the natural environment the genetically engineered modern organisms of the self-replicating RNA populations? Explain

Explanation / Answer

To begin with one must be aware of the distinction between a GMO and a self-replicating RNA.These are two separate entities.

A GMO or genetically modified organism is an organism with an altered and engineered genome so as to favor the expression of desired physiological traits or the production of desired biological products. This is in practice from quite a lot of time. Though surrounded by many controversies it more of a good then to be bad.

A self-replicating RNA on the other hand is a relatively new technique primarily developed to produce an RNA molecule that has a functional activity and can also replicate on its own without the help of other proteins and components. Production of a self-replicating RNA will also help us in attaining a better understanding of the RNA world hypothesis.

As everything comes with its set of pros and cons, so will be the production of self-replicating RNA. However proper testing and detailed scientific analysis prior to its commercialization can overcome this minor issue of self-replicating RNAs to be a threat.

However when questioning the sustainability, the genetically modified organism is more likely to survive than the self-replicating RNA as GMOs have been in practice from a long period of time whereas self-replicating RNAs are still in their pioneering phase. Also in the primitive times RNA was hypothesized to be the genetic material but in the modern world it’s the DNA that is responsible for heredity and RNA acts as an intermediate. Hence the GMOs are more likely to survive in the natural environment compared to self-replicating RNAs.

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