Genetically Modified Organisms and Food

Plant Biotechnology for food and feed. April 12th, 2011. http://www.fda.gov/food/biotechnology/default.htm (accessed April 13th, 2011). Umezawa T, Fujita M, Fujita Y, Yamaguchi-Shinozaki K, Shinozaki K. "Engineering drought tolerance in plants: discovering and tailoring genes to unlock the future." PubMed, 2006: 22-113. United States Department of Agriculture.

One way that genetically modified foods are hurting our environment is that process can involve the exchange of genes between two totally different species. People are actually putting scorpion toxin into corn and fish antifreeze into tomatoes (De Greef). These changes in the plants make the plant able to with stand the attack of pests and weather, but it is still possible that the plant’s DNA will cross and make bad toxins. If a farmer plants a crop that has the resistance to herbicides, drought, cold, and pests those plants can eventually cross with weeds and then the farmer will end up with weeds that are resistant to everything too. Then the scientists will end up having to make the plants stronger to fight off the weeds, then the weeds will get stronger, and the cycle will keep on going.

30) Many Americans do not know that genetically modified foods are a staple of United States agriculture. Genetically modified foods are harmful to the human body because: they harm internal organs, cause birth defects in babies, and can potentially lead to cancer. Genetically modified foods, also known as “GMO’s” “is the manipulation of DNA by humans to change essential genetic makeup of plants and animals.” (Mather, Pg. 42) New technology allows scientists to remove the genetic material from one plant species and insert them into another plant species, thus creating a new gene quality. This allows plants to produce pesticides and herbicides.

Introduction The use of genetically engineering in agriculture and food production has an impact, not only on the environment and biodiversity, but also on human health. Therefore, thorough biosafety assessment requires, not only an evaluation of environmental impacts of genetically engineered organisms, but also an assessment of the risks that genetically engineered food pose for the health of consumers. Let us take deeper look at some of the aspects related to genetically engineered foods. What is Genetic Engineering? Genetic engineering is a laboratory technique used by scientists to change the DNA of living organisms.

9 July 2013. Web. 19 Feb 2014. Phillips, Theresa. “Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DNA Technology.” nature.com.

Web. 13 May. 2014. Premanandh, Jagadeesan. “Global consensus--need of the hour for genetically modified organisms (GMO) labeling.” Journal of Commercial Biotechnology.

Conclusion Many debates are still being held by environmental agencies, food and drug control institutions and other scientific research organizations and specialists on the viability of using genetically modified foods in general. The general opinion is that the safety standards should be considered before a genetic modification is made. This is by comparing the risks of such a modification to the opportunity cost of maintaining the unmodified version. Several measures should be taken to ensure that certain effects of genetically modified foods are under control, for instance the creation of super weeds through cross pollination between Bt corn and crop weeds can be averted by using control regions where farmers plant unmodified corn in fields next to the Bt corn or planting of sterile male Bt corn to prevent the spread of pollen to crop weeds.

Genetically modified foods are “foods produced from organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering.” Moving genes for antibiotic resistance from one type of bacteria to another was discovered and the antibiotic that was implemented into the bacteria the gene in it became resistant to the antibiotic too. This allowed gene manipulation, not just in bacteria but, plants and animals and these are by far more complex. Therefore, genes that have that have traits like pesticide resistance, disease immunity, or advantageous rates of growth and can be put right into a plant's or animal's DNA. When the gene is put in the object it creates a genetically modified organism or GMO with a specific desired trait. A huge amount of scientists and doctors have concerns about GMO and the health threats they pose.

The invasion of the mutant crops! Is it possible to grow Genetically modified crops (GMOs) in a way that prevents gene transfer from GMOs to conventional crops? In 1994, the first FDA approved GM (genetically modified) food hit grocery stores in the United States; the Flavr Savr tomato had modified genes that would allow it to stay fresh on the shelves longer (Woolsey). That was the beginning of what has become a prominent farming method in the United States. GMO crops can be designed to resist herbicides like Round Up, so that produce crops can be indiscriminately sprayed and only the weeds are destroyed.

2 Nov. 2011. Sheldon, Ian. “Food Principles: Regulating Genetically Modified Crops After The 2006 WTO Ruling.” Brown Journal Of World Affairs 14.1 (2007): 121-134.Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.