Genetic modification is a special set of gene technology that alters the genetic machinery of such living organisms as animals, plants, or microorganisms. Combining genes from different organisms is known as recombinant DNA technology and the resulting organism is said to be ‘Genetically modified (GM)’, ‘Genetically engineered’ or ‘Transgenic’. (Emerysgt & Emerysgt, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3179796/,’ n.d.)
We have been engineering the perfect products for years and may not have totally realized it. Plants have been diced and spliced together to create the best fruits and vegetables. From the sweetest sweet corn to watermelon without seeds. The same can be said for the pint sized bundles of joy, dogs. The best temperament, coat, eyes, ears, and stance. The best dogs possessing these traits are bred to produce the finest specimens for the kennel club show. Even flowers are included in this showing of personal selection. The prettiest, most fragrant and with the most vibrant colors seem to dress up yards across America. Each of these plants was created by choosing only the best.
Early farmers chose only the most productive plants to build their crop. Seeds from the best producing plants were cultivated and replanted in order to produce a high yield. Now, instead of farmers picking the best plants, scientists are picking the best traits. Scientists chose genes. Those genes produce the best of the best.
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DNA (Deoxyribose Nucleic Acid) was discovered by Meischer in 1868. However, other scientists believed genetics were found in protein. In 1944, Oswald claimed DNA carried genetic information. His claims were validated in 1952. The following year, Watson and Crick noted that the DNA shape was a double helix. This is when genetic engineering accelerated.
“Gene transfer technology is simply a sophisticated version of a cut-and paste operation.” (‘Biotech and Genetic Engineering – Learn.genetics.utah.edu,’ n.d.) A gene that has been identified in an organism as the “desired gene”, it can be removed from the organism of origin and implanted into the host gene. Once this is done, the organism can grow with the newly introduced gene and pass that gene on from generation to generation.
There are several reasons to use genetically modified foods. The first is to create foods that would not need outside pesticides to keep insects and other animals away. What if a gene can be introduced into an apple that would deter birds and other insects from eating the fruit; not only would the farmer reap the benefits of a larger crop but the consumer would also benefit as the cost would be lower. This can also help in countries where cops are not abundant. Learning which crops can survive in these areas can also assist the country in finding the genes that will help the crop survive in extreme sun, high winds, low moisture and even desert conditions. Each modified crop could help a country escape its poverty level. ‘A biotechnology company introduces a new strain of tomato plant that produces a natural pesticide, making it resistant to the beetle. By switching to this new strain, you could avoid both the beetle and the chemical pesticides traditionally needed to fight it.” (‘Biotech and Genetic Engineering – Learn.genetics.utah.edu,’ n.d.)
Genetically modifying food can seriously injure those who may be allergic to certain foods. Those who have an allergy to eggs, dairy, nuts, or wheat could suffer an allergic reaction from genetically modified foods. Many genetically modified foods have a protein of some sort that was introduced and may contain a protein of one the above allergy causing culprits. This could cause an allergic reaction to an unsuspecting person.
A case for genetically modified foods occurred in Hawaii in the 1990s. Hawaii’s papaya crops were devastated by a virus called ring spot. There is no cure for the deadly ring spot virus. However, by using genetic engineering, a gene was found that was resistant to the virus. Once this was introduced into the genes in the papaya population, the papaya’s flourished. Almost all of Hawaii’s papaya population originated from the genetically engineered plants. The introduction of this virus resistant plant was able increase the production of papaya’s in Hawaii.
Genetically modified food can be modified, so they no longer possess the properties that cause allergies. They can also be modified so they grow faster especially in areas where the growing season is shorter, such as Alaska. These foods can grow in climates they would never have been able to survive in before. Whether it is due to drought, excessive heat or excessive rainfall. Many modified foods can grow in places they have never grown before. Genetically modified foods can also grow without pesticides and can develop a resistance to insects. Many engineered foods can be modified so they are higher in vitamins and minerals.
One huge fault in genetically modified foods is how it effects the human body. Many believe the engineered foods introduce so many extras that the body can no longer fight of disease. The body becomes immune to traditional medicine and antibiotics. Many of those belonging to religious groups believe “tampering with mother nature” will only result in tragedy. There is also the possibility that the genes introduced to the plants could be delivered unexpectedly by cross pollination. This could allow super weeds to form. These weeds could then turn into a weed that cannot be exterminated by spraying as it would be resistant. The weed would also be resistant to the plant eating insects. This would cause farmers to need to use a larger dose of weed killer on plants which would then be delivered to the consumer. This would increase the amounts of pesticide and/or herbicide on the product.
Another effect of genetically engineered foods becomes the food cycle. Many of the pests that dine on some of these plants could lose their primary food source. Losing a food source could cause the insect numbers to decrease quickly. This decrease could have a huge impact on the predators that eat these insects. The cycle would continue, and the largest of the predators would suffer the most. If the bottom of the food chain is depleted or becomes extinct, the rest of the food chain will suffer and more animals or plants will also become extinct.
One huge benefit of genetically modified foods is how fast they can reach maturity. Many plants can take years to become mature enough to produce fruit. Accelerating the maturity of a plant can increase the amount of fruit produced by decreasing the number of months or years it would take that plant to reach production maturity. “The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that the world will have to grow 70 percent more food by 2050 just to keep up with the world population growth.” (Siegel, ‘The Truth About GMOs: Are They Safe? What Do We Know?,’ n.d.)
One of the UC Berkely agriculture and environmental economists, Zilberman, said the use of genetically modified foods has lowered the price of food and increased productivity in many areas. Zilberman also said it decreases the money farmers have to spend on pesticides as many genetically modified food do need as much pesticide as before. All of these decrease costs to the farmer, increases productivity, decreases costs to the consumer and could help with reduce the number of people dying of hunger. (Ayres, ’13 Vital Pros and Cons Of GMOs,’ n.d.)
Many of these foods can now be grown in areas where they could not survive before. Now by modifying certain genes, plants can survive in rougher climates.
“It has been estimated that 70% of all processes foods in the United States contain at least one genetically modified ingredient – usually a product of soy plants.” (n.d.) Many of the manufacturers use genetically modified foods. The United States does not have laws that require companies to clearly mark on their labels if genetically modified foods are used in the production of the food being purchases. One of the biggest drawbacks of not putting the modified ingredient on the label would be for religious purposes or allergies. There are some religions that do not like certain kinds of foods. If these foods are modified and not clearly put on the label, the individual could be going against their own religion and not know it. Another issue would be for those who have allergies. Since soy plants are used the most in modified foods, if an individual is allergic to soy, then the outcome could be deadly.
I believe that there needs to be some way to help boost the production of food in regions where there is limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables. There are several place in desert regions where food is scarce and fruits and vegetables will not survive the high heat days and cold nights. The two extremes would kill many plants. There are many plants and trees which can be modified to work in these areas. If there are plants that can be modified then the poorer areas would have more access to food which would decrease loss of life in these areas.
References
- Ayres, C. (n.d.). 13 Vital Pros and Cons Of GMOs. Retrieved February 19, 2019, from https://vittana.org/13-vital-pros-and-cons-of-gmos
- Biotech and Genetic Engieering – learn.genetics.utah.edu. (n.d.). Retrieved February 19, 2019, from https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GKgK8DDyMaUb9HZ6CepD0Lr-xI7-1RabqxtDXgq3bmY/edit?usp=sharing#!
- Emerysgt, R., & Emerysgt, R. (2016, November 04). Https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3179796/. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@rleeemerysgt/https-www-ncbi-nlm-nih-gov-pmc-articles-pmc3179796-e82537ceef10
- Siegel, K. (n.d.). The Truth About GMOs: Are They Safe? What Do We Know? Retrieved February 19, 2019, from https://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/truth-about-gmos
