GM Revolution

Humans have been cropping traditionally for thousands and thousands of years. When genetic engineering was introduced, it has brought many new exotic traits species to the world and safe time during the cropping process.

The whole idea of genetic engineering started from a bug having the potential to use it’s foreign genes into plants. From them, geneticists developed several of crop types. From the beginning to now, they are modified to be resistant to pest or any other harmful causes. Some include soya, wheat, walnuts, potatoes ,peas, and etc. According to the article, “GM Organisms” by John Pickrell, it states “The bacterial gene Bt is one of the most commonly inserted. It produces an insecticidal toxin that is harmless to people.” Does that mean that humans agree to the idea of genetic engineering? Does it have any side effects on people slowly?

Some plants were genetically engineered to improve flavors, allergen-free, and hardiness. According to the article, geneticists have created no-tear onions and novel caffeine-free coffee plants. How can we imagine what will be next? Will any thing in the world be natural anymore?

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/gm-food/dn9921

GM Organism's Future

As we all know, the most common GM organisms are crop plants. But technology nowadays has broaden GM organisms from crop plants to different forms of life. Examples from previous posts: glow in the dark animals, bacteria to prevent HIV, pigs having spinach genes, and goats that produces spider silk.

According to the article, “GM Organisms” by John Pickrell, mentions genetic modified tomatoes appeared in British during the 1996, but a different GM tomato appeared in the United States during the 1994. Although it has been a decade, but the genetic modified food issues didn’t arouse until the 1999. Because there were studies that genetic modified potatoes might be toxic to the rats in the laboratory. There were many critics for the news, especially from a biochemist Arpad Pustzai in Scotland.

There are very little genetic modified crops in Europe nowadays. Because there was an anti-GM food campaign in United Kingdom after the critics from Pustzai aroused. But in the end, it pushed forth trade disputes with the U.S. Therefore, GM crops are very rare in Europe. They have strict labeling laws and regulations. “Several UK government reports have offered qualified support for GM crops and produce, though they argue that the economic benefits of the technology are currently small.” Some African nations rejected international food aid to oppose engineered crops.

In contrary, United States do not require to label the food. Other places that do not require labeling include India, China, Canada, Argentina, Australia, and some other places.

http://www.newscientist.com/channel/opinion/gm-food/dn9921

Can We Really Trust GM Food?

The article on the following link was written by Arpad Pusztai in June 2001. In the article, he discusses the health effects of GM food and also shows results of GM food tests on animals. The author feels that information regarding GM food are scarce. The author mentioned that GM food has the chance to cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics and create allergies for certain people.

A GM tomato test was performed on rats. The rats between control group and GM-fed were not a big different, however, after two weeks, seven out of forty rats died for unspecified reasons. Also, rat’s digest ability was decreased after GM corn. Unfortunately, this was a poorly designed study, further questions were not valid.

There were many disputes about GM food, however, many studies are showing risks of GM food instead of actual harm. For example, even if GM food is harmful to animals, it doesn’t mean it’s harmful to human, or many health organizations have allowed and tested the safeness of GM food.

http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/pusztai.html

GM Tomatoes

Genetically-modified tomatoes were introduced in February 1996 in United Kingdom by J. Sainsbury and Safeway Stores. The modified tomatoes were first grown in America, then developed at Nottingham University and at Zeneca Seeds in United Kingdom. J. Sainsbury and Safeway Stores labeled clearly on the cans, “made with genetically modified tomatoes.” They used publicity to broadcast their products. Along with the modified products, they also provide non-GM products. They also had information help lines regarding the products. They did not hide the fact that their products were genetically modified. They allowed the consumers to choose which type of product they’d rather buy.

http://www.ncbe.reading.ac.uk/NCBE/GMFOOD/menu.html

Health Effects of GM Food

1. In 1989, Showa Denko, third largest chemical company is Japan, had to pay $2 billion dollars for settlement because dozens of Americans died and thousands were harmed by a genetically altered version of L-tryptophan – food supplement. (Mayeno and Gleich, 1994).
2. In Brazil 1996, nut genes were mixed with soybeans by a company called Pioneer Hi-Bred. A near death allergic reaction occurred to certain people. The people had a severe bee sting reaction.
3. In 1994, FDA allow rBGH, growth hormone, to be injected into cows. But scientists “warned the resulting increase of IGF-1, a potent chemical hormone, is linked to 400-500% higher risks of human breast, prostrate, and colon cancer. According to Dr. Samuel Epstein of the University of Chicago, it "induces the malignant transformation of human breast epithelial cells."
4. Injection of rBGH in cows “causes a increase in birth defects and shorter life spans.”
5. Journal of Medicinal Food (Dr. Marc Lappe, 1999) showed that certain genetically modified food lowered nutrition. It also said milk from cows with rBGH has higher level of bacteria and fat.

http://www.cqs.com/50harm.htm

Stats Update

Knowing that foods that are combined with genes from different organisms are called genetically modified food, they can also be named genetically engineered or transgenic. Some current genetically modified products in the market today include vaccines and medicines, food ingredients, and food in general.

Transgenic crops are very common in developed countries. In 2003, six countries grew 99% of the global transgenic crops. They include “the United States (63%), Argentina (21%), Canada (6%), Brazil (4%), and China (4%), and South Africa (1%).”

In 2003, 167 million acres of land planted transgenic crop by 7 million farmers. The main crops were soybeans, corn, and canola. Other crops include sweet potato that’s resistant to a virus that could destroy African harvest, rice with iron and vitamins added to it, and other plants that will survive under severe weather.

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml

Pros and Cons of GM Food

There are many negative and positive concerns for GM Food. The following list will allow you to realize the benefits of GM Food and the debate of it. Genetic Modified Foods has many positive effects to crops, animals, environment, and the society as well. However, there are also negative effects in terms of safety to human health, access and intellectual property, ethic values, labeling conflicts, and the society as well.

PROS

"Crops -

• Enhanced taste and quality
• Reduced maturation time
• Increased nutrients, yields, and stress tolerance
• Improved resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides
• New products and growing techniques

Animals -

• Increased resistance, productivity, hardiness, and feed efficiency
• Better yields of meat, eggs, and milk
• Improved animal health and diagnostic methods

Environment -

• "Friendly" bioherbicides and bioinsecticides
• Conservation of soil, water, and energy
• Bioprocessing for forestry products
• Better natural waste management
• More efficient processing

Society -

• Increased food security for growing populations

CONS

Safety -

Potential human health impact: allergens, transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, unknown effects Potential environmental impact: unintended transfer of transgenes through cross-pollination, unknown effects on other organisms (e.g., soil microbes), and loss of flora and fauna biodiversity

Access and Intellectual Property -

• Domination of world food production by a few companies
• Increasing dependence on Industralized nations by developing countries
• Biopiracy—foreign exploitation of natural resources

Ethics -

• Violation of natural organisms' intrinsic values
• Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species
• Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa
• Stress for animal

Labeling -

• Not mandatory in some countries (e.g., United States)
• Mixing GM crops with non-GM confounds labeling attempts

Society -

• New advances may be skewed to interests of rich countries "

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml

WE WANT REAL FOOD!

In December 2006, the FDA, an organization that’s responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health” announced that meat and milk from cloned livestock are safe for human to consume.

There action had brought to many people’s concern regarding the risks behind cloned foods, and ethical concerns of the animals. FDA also stated that it is not required to label cloned food, so consumer should be aware that from now on, we will not know whether we are consuming experimental foods and will not be able to avoid it.

“Numerous opinion polls show that the majority of Americans do not want food from animal clones and are opposed to cloning on moral or ethical grounds.“ There were also studies on the risks of cloned foods; however, no long-term food safety studies have been done. Statistics shows that over 90% of cloning attempts to fail, and the cloned animals tend to have more health problems and higher mortality rates than sexually reproduced animals.”There wasn’t enough studies done to be sure that cloned livestock are safe to eat, and the worst is that it is harder for us to avoid cloned food. To ensure our safety, and if interested, please take actions by sending a letter regarding this issue to FDA.

http://www.truefoodnow.org/ - click to take action

http://www.fda.gov/opacom/morechoices/mission.html

GLOW IN THE DARK PIGS!

Other than genetically modified foods, there are also animals that have been changed by injecting genes in them. One of the few animals that show genetic results is pigs. From the picture, we see that glow in the dark pigs exist in the world nowadays.

There are three glows in the dark pigs that exist in Taiwan today. “The pigs are transgenic, created by adding genetic material from jellyfish into a normal pig embryo” stated Chris Hogg. “In daylight, the researchers say the pigs' eyes, teeth and trotters look green. Their skin has a greenish tinge.” Although the three pigs are green from the inside out, including their heart and internal organs, mentioned the researchers, they are no different than any other pigs. In the past years, fluorescent pigs have been created by injecting modified genes in them. But this is the first time where pigs are green and glow.

Researchers are now using the pigs to study human diseases. Because their genetic material shows up to be green, so it is easier for the scientist to spot and track its development.

view a video of the pigs on this site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/4605202.stm

Questions On Genetic Modified Food

GM food has been a wide-known topic for many years. Many people have questioned the consequences of it. The questions below are some common questions on genetic modified foods that relates to our everyday life.

"Q. Why are GM foods produced?

GM foods are developed – and marketed – because there is some perceived advantage either to the producer or consumer of these foods. This is meant to translate into a product with a lower price, greater benefit (in terms of durability or nutritional value) or both. Initially GM seed developers wanted their products to be accepted by producers so have concentrated on innovations that farmers (and the food industry more generally) would appreciate.

The initial objective for developing plants based on GM organisms was to improve crop protection. The GM crops currently on the market are mainly aimed at an increased level of crop protection through the introduction of resistance against plant diseases caused by insects or viruses or through increased tolerance towards herbicides.

Insect resistance is achieved by incorporating into the food plant the gene for toxin production from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (BT). This toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for human consumption. GM crops that permanently produce this toxin have been shown to require lower quantities of insecticides in specific situations, e.g. where pest pressure is high.

Virus resistance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from certain viruses which cause disease in plants. Virus resistance makes plants less susceptible to diseases caused by such viruses, resulting in higher crop yields.

Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. In situations where weed pressure is high, the use of such crops has resulted in a reduction in the quantity of the herbicides used.

Q. Are GM foods assessed differently from traditional foods?

Generally consumers consider that traditional foods (that have often been eaten for thousands of years) are safe. When new foods are developed by natural methods, some of the existing characteristics of foods can be altered, either in a positive or a negative way National food authorities may be called upon to examine traditional foods, but this is not always the case. Indeed, new plants developed through traditional breeding techniques may not be evaluated rigorously using risk assessment techniques.

Q. How are the potential risks to human health determined?

The safety assessment of GM foods generally investigates: (a) direct health effects (toxicity), (b) tendencies to provoke allergic reaction (allergenicity); (c) specific components thought to have nutritional or toxic properties; (d) the stability of the inserted gene; (e) nutritional effects associated with genetic modification; and (f) any unintended effects which could result from the gene insertion.

Q. What are the main issues of concern for human health?

Allergenicity - As a matter of principle, the transfer of genes from commonly allergenic foods is discouraged unless it can be demonstrated that the protein product of the transferred gene is not allergenic. While traditionally developed foods are not generally tested for allergenicity, protocols for tests for GM foods have been evaluated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and WHO. No allergic effects have been found relative to GM foods currently on the market.

Gene transfer - Gene transfer from GM foods to cells of the body or to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract would cause concern if the transferred genetic material adversely affects human health. This would be particularly relevant if antibiotic resistance genes, used in creating GMOs, were to be transferred. Although the probability of transfer is low, the use of technology without antibiotic resistance genes has been encouraged by a recent FAO/WHO expert panel.

Outcrossing - The movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related species in the wild (referred to as “outcrossing”), as well as the mixing of crops derived from conventional seeds with those grown using GM crops, may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security. This risk is real, as was shown when traces of a maize type which was only approved for feed use appeared in maize products for human consumption in the United States of America. Several countries have adopted strategies to reduce mixing, including a clear separation of the fields within which GM crops and conventional crops are grown.

Q. Why has there been concern about GM foods among some politicians, public interest groups and consumers, especially in Europe?

Since the first introduction on the market in the mid-1990s of a major GM food (herbicide-resistant soybeans), there has been increasing concern about such food among politicians, activists and consumers, especially in Europe. Several factors are involved. Consumers frequently ask, “what is in it for me?”. Where medicines are concerned, many consumers more readily accept biotechnology as beneficial for their health (e.g. medicines with improved treatment potential). In the case of the first GM foods introduced onto the European market, the products were of no apparent direct benefit to consumers (not cheaper, no increased shelf-life, no better taste). The potential for GM seeds to result in bigger yields per cultivated area should lead to lower prices. However, public attention has focused on the risk side of the risk-benefit equation. Consumer confidence in the safety of food supplies in Europe has decreased significantly as a result of a number of food scares that took place in the second half of the 1990s that are unrelated to GM foods. This has also had an impact on discussions about the acceptability of GM foods. Consumers have questioned the validity of risk assessments, both with regard to consumer health and environmental risks, focusing in particular on long-term effects. Other topics for debate by consumer organizations have included allergenicity and antimicrobial resistance. Consumer concerns have triggered a discussion on the desirability of labelling GM foods, allowing an informed choice. At the same time, it has proved difficult to detect traces of GMOs in foods: this means that very low concentrations often cannot be detected.

Q. What is the state of public debate on GM foods in other regions of the world?

The release of GMOs into the environment and the marketing of GM foods have resulted in a public debate in many parts of the world. This debate is likely to continue, probably in the broader context of other uses of biotechnology (e.g. in human medicine) and their consequences for human societies. Even though the issues under debate are usually very similar (costs and benefits, safety issues), the outcome of the debate differs from country to country. On issues such as labelling and traceability of GM foods as a way to address consumer concerns, there is no consensus to date. This has become apparent during discussions within the Codex Alimentarius Commission over the past few years. Despite the lack of consensus on these topics, significant progress has been made on the harmonization of views concerning risk assessment. The Codex Alimentarius Commission is about to adopt principles on premarket risk assessment, and the provisions of the Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety also reveal a growing understanding at the international level. Most recently, the humanitarian crisis in southern Africa has drawn attention to the use of GM food as food aid in emergency situations. A number of governments in the region raised concerns relating to environmental and food safety fears. Although workable solutions have been found for distribution of milled grain in some countries, others have restricted the use of GM food aid and obtained commodities which do not contain GMOs.

Q. What further developments can be expected in the area of GMOs?

Future GM organisms are likely to include plants with improved disease or drought resistance, crops with increased nutrient levels, fish species with enhanced growth characteristics and plants or animals producing pharmaceutically important proteins such as vaccines. At the international level, the response to new developments can be found in the expert consultations organized by FAO and WHO in 2000 and 2001, and the subsequent work of the Codex ad hoc Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology. This work has resulted in an improved and harmonized framework for the risk assessment of GM foods in general. Specific questions, such as the evaluation of allergenicity of GM foods or the safety of foods derived from GM microorganisms, have been covered and an expert consultation organized by FAO and WHO will focus on foods derived from GM animals in 2003."

credit to: http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/

What is Government’s Role on GM Food?

In many places, governments are performing different action toward GM Food. Since April 2001, Ministry of Health and Welfare in Japan declared that testing of GM Foods is mandatory. Some other places like Brazil “have banned GM crops entirely, and the Brazilian Institute for the Defense of Consumers, in collaboration with Greenpeace, has filed suit to prevent the importation of GM crops.” Also, “Europe now requires mandatory food labeling of GM foods in stores, and the European Commission (EC) has established a 1% threshold for contamination of unmodified foods with GM food product.”

However, India’s government does not have any policy on GM foods as yet because there are no GM crops or products available. But India is supportive of transgenic plant research because they feel that the benefits of GM food will help ease the problem of poverty, famine, and over populated.

In United States, there are three government agencies that research and have authority over GM foods. They include: EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture). The “EPA evaluates GM plants for environmental safety, the USDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to grow, and the FDA evaluates whether the plant is safe to eat.”

http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php

What's GM Foods?

Genetically Modified Foods have been available since the 1990s. GM foods (Genetically Modified Foods) are food produced from a GMO (genetically modified organism.) Basically, GM foods are foods that consist of genetic materials that have been modified in the laboratory into an organism to bring out its useful and satisfying traits of the organism. The genes will customize the organisms in many ways, ranging from its appearance to its behavior, or by its nutritional content.

Genetically Modified Foods has aroused many environmental organizations and interest groups to study and protest its effects. Even governments around the world are trying to establish a plan to help sustain the effects of GM plants. However, different government are responding in different was, depending on their region’s climate and political, social, and economic terms.

http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php