What are GMOs Formed From?
DNA
DNA is deoxyribonucleic acid that carries genetic information. It forms from a long strand of nucleotides. These nucleotides are formed from a base pair (Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, or Cytosine), a phosphate group, and a sugar called deoxyribose. The organic base pairs are formed differently, and Adenine and Thymine can bond together, and Guanine and Cytosine can bond together. Adenine is made from carbon, nitrogen, and hydrogen atoms (chemical formula is C5H5N5). Thymine is made from carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen (chemical formula is C5H6N2O2). Guanine is made from carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen (chemical formula is C5H5N5O). Cytosine is made from carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen (chemical formula is C4H5N3O). Adenine and Guanine are purines (have a two ring form), and Thymine and Cytosine are pyrimidines (have a one ring form).
How DNA is Related to GMOs
To create a GMO scientists first have to find the section of DNA that they are looking for (also known as the transgene), one that will improve the organism in the way they want. Then they cut that part of the DNA, which is a gene (genes lead to proteins which control traits), out using an enzyme (also known as a protein) called restriction endonuclease. They get the DNA from what is known as a host cell. The restriction endonuclease can cut double stranded DNA in several different ways. One way is called a blunt end and cuts the strands evenly. Another way is called sticky ends, which is cut with the same restriction endonuclease so they can be inserted correctly, and one strand is longer than the other. Then scientists isolate the DNA strand and replicate it, meaning they unzip that part of the DNA and the complimenting organic bases are added to recreate that strand. The DNA strand is transferred into an organism, causing it to make a different protein, and proteins control an organism's traits.