Genetically Modified Organisms And Human Health

Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material, otherwise known as DNA. Since biochemists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer pioneered genetic engineering in 1973, the process has grown to have numerous applications such as medicine production, for example insulin (Mckinley). However, a main topic of concern is the application of genetic engineering on foods that we eat everyday. By modifying the genetic "blueprint" of crops, it is possible to improve many aspects of agriculture. But with any sort of scientific discovery that allows humans to act as Mother Nature, genetically modifying organisms has been a very controversial topic. Yet our society continues to grow, and the need for the benefits of genetically modified foods continues to grow. Genetically modifying foods should be permitted in our society because it allows larger yields of crops to be produced, produces foods with higher nutritional values, and reduces our global ecological footprint.

In order for a person to make a smart logical decision regarding a pro or anti-GMO position one must understand what a GMO is. A plant that is genetically modified and then the Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of one plant is forced into another kind of plant to be considered a GMO. This process takes place in a laboratory. It is not limited to just plants. Animals can also be modified. Viruses, insects, bacteria, humans, and animals can all supply the foreign DNA. Some researchers also refer to the process as Genetic Engineering(GE) (10 Reasons”).

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of genetic modification in foods grown for human consumption. Many opponents suggest that genetically modified (GM) foods can affect human growth and development, increase allergic reactions in persons with allergy sensitivity or cause allergies to develop in healthy people. Proponents of using genetically modified organisms to alter and improve foods claim that there are no health risks to humans and that GM foods are subjected to stricter guidelines and testing than “naturally” grown food. They also claim that genetic modification of food is necessary to produce more drought tolerant, insect and disease resistant crops that can sustain the earth’s growing human population. A recent survey conducted suggests that public opinion is evenly divided on whether or not GMOs should be used in foods for human consumption. This paper looks to discuss the pros and cons of GMOs in food and the reported effects, if any, on human growth and development.

The origin of GMOs started in 1982 by an experiment done by the United States Department of Agriculture, in which they changed the genes of a tomato plant. Commercial use of Genetically Engineered crops began in 1996 (Fernandez-Cornejo et al. pg 7). While developing Genetically Modified Organisms, scientists and researchers characterized the types of Genetically Engineered crop traits into

In 1982 the very first genetically modified plant was produced, this plant was an antibiotic resistant tobacco plant. The very first trials

Introduction/Thesis Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are an organism whose genome has been engineered in the laboratory in order to favor the expression of desired physiological traits or the production of desired biological products according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. In grocery stores in the United States, as much as 70 percent of the processed food may contain genetically modified organisms. The same cannot be said for the European Union, who has much tighter regulations regarding the planting and end use of genetically modified (GM) foods. There is a worldwide debate over the safety and benefit of genetically modified organisms and whether they should be allowed on the dinner table.

What are GMOs? GMO stands for genetically modified organism, an organism that has had its genes or genetic makeup changed or alter in some way in a research lab. Two ways that scientist accomplish this is through either gene cloning or protein engineering (Phillips, Teresa p.1). Tampering with the genetics of any species, particularly one that we consume into our bodies has unknown effects that have not been completely research enough. We do not know how genetically modifying the foods we eat will affect our own inner bodies and genes. Big research and food companies, such as Monsanto, have put their own bottom-line, or greed, above our health and we are unwittingly being

Clive J (1996) Global review of the field testing and commercialization of transgenic plants: 1986 to 1995. The International Service for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech Applications. http://www.isaaa.org/kc/Publications/pdfs/isaaabriefs/Briefs%201.pdf. Retrieved on 17 July 2010

In recent years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have made a significant change in our diet with the introduction of genetically altered foods, which have essentially affected human health as well as local communities. Anthropologists tells us that homo sapiens were hunter gatherers. Their “evolved behaviors helped them respond to the challenges of survival in unstable environments shifting them to live an agricultural lifestyle” (Homo Sapiens. Smithsonian ). Over the millennia, agriculture has made a huge gain in efforts to serve human preferences by domesticating crops and animals to improve production and make them resistant to diseases and pests. Genetic modification evolutionized domesticated crop plants in each crop generation. During this time, agriculture began to arise through applications of modern scientific breeding. Crop plants were the center of seminal research in genetics and scientist main focus. (Cereal Foods World 2007).

Producers have been manipulating DNA in the reproduction of their products before Gregor Mendel founded the modern understanding of genetics. Thus, genetically modified organisms -GMOs- are simply more advanced hybrids. The World Health organization defines GMOs as organisms in which their genetic information has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally (Blair, 2015). The controversy regarding genetically modified organisms has been prevalent not only in the agricultural community, but academic conversation as well. Although many organizations and individuals claim genetically modified organisms are malicious to human health as well as the environment, they are indeed the basis for healthy, sustainable agriculture that not only provide a quality product for the consumer, but a safe and nutritious product as well.

The goal of most genetic engineering is to increase crop yield and to improve the nutritional content or taste of food. (Powell). Efforts to increase crop yield and nutritional content stem from concerns over feeding an ever-increasing world population (Yang). The first successful GMO was created in 1973, and since then science has developed many techniques which allow for the genetic engineering of a variety of crops ("GMOs: Good or Bad for People and the Environment?"). There are four basic steps to create a GMO: identify a trait of interest to be inserted into the organism, isolate the trait of interesest, insert the desired gene into the organism and finally propagate the newly made GMO (Powell). The process of inserting the genetic trait is of special interest in the context of health risks. The most common method of delivering a new genetic trait to an organisms’ DNA is by way of proteins from various bacteria which “invade the seeds and alter plants by inserting pieces of their own DNA into a plants’ genome.”. Cells are treated with heat or electricity to force them to accept the new genetic material (Powell). Many concerns have been raised over this popular method regarding how this changes the nutritional content of the organism and allergies that may be created as a reaction to the bacterial

    The development of recombinant DNA techniques have allowed desired genes to be inserted into a plant genomes resulting in plants that are totally different to the parent plant. The first genetically modified plant-antibiotic resistant tobacco and petunias-were produced in 1983, but it was until 1994 that US markets saw the first genetically modified species of tomato, approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Since then, several transgenic crops have received FDA

First, how genetically modifying plants stated. The scientific study of genes began in the 1860s when Austrian monk Gregor Mendel systematically crossed varieties of garden peas. The First time genetically modify started in the wild it was with grasses. Farmers been doing it since domestic agriculture began. The agriculture actually started be for recorded history. In conclusion, genetically modify started a long time ago before ancient time.

According to Woosley (2012), genetic engineering as we know it today relied on our knowledge of DNA. DNA was discovered by Russian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky in 1935. In 1973 a student at Stanford came up with revolutionizing idea that DNA could be man-made (rDNA). In the 1970’s-80’s a conference was held to create guidelines for the safe use of genetically modified DNA and a genetics engineer gained a patent on a living organism, a bacterium that eats crude oil (Woosley, 2012). In 1982 the first GMO was approved by the FDA; Humulin, insulin which is produced by genetically engineered E. coli bacteria (Woosley, 2012).

Much of the public concern surrounding the safety of GMOs stems from the process of actually creating them. This is admittedly not a natural process, which is a surefire way to raise critic’s eyebrows in doubting their safety. However, there is no evidence that supports these myths. The Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops, The National Academy of Science, and the Board on Agriculture and Natural Recourses all agree after extensive testing and observation that there is no additional harm in the consumption of GMO food. The research conducted in animal studies, as well as chemical analysis of the crops, show no indication that GMOs are negatively affecting human health. The next allegation hurled at GMOs is that they may have