Genetically Modified Food Essay

Genetically engineered (GE) food refers to any product containing or derived from GMOs. Most recently, biotech companies have inserted herbicide-resistance genes into wheat, fish genes into strawberries, human genes into fish and pharmaceuticals like birth control into corn. Genetically modified food refers to the origin of food from genetically modified organisms, produced by genetic engineer.

History: Scientists first discovered that DNA can transfer between organisms in 1946. The first genetically modified plant was produced in 1983, using an antibiotic-resistant tobacco plant. In 1994, the transgenic Flavr Savr tomato was approved by the FDA for marketing in the US – the modification allowed the tomato to delay ripening afterScientist experimenting food picking.

In the early 1990s, recombinant chymosin was approved for use in several countries, replacing rennet in cheese-making.

In the US in 1995, the following transgenic crops received marketing approval: canola with modified oil composition (Calgene), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) corn/maize (Ciba-Geigy), cotton resistant to the herbicide bromoxynil (Calgene), Bt cotton (Monsanto), Bt potatoes (Monsanto), soybeans resistant to the herbicide glyphosate (Monsanto), virus-resistant squash (Monsanto-Asgrow), and additional delayed ripening tomatoes (DNAP, Zeneca/Peto, and Monsanto).

In 2000, with the creation of golden rice, scientists genetically modified food to increase its nutrient value for the first time. Advantages of Genetically Modified Food Figure – Naturally grown food Genetic modification can produce larger, hardier, tastier, and more nutritious foods. For example, Strawberries are sweeter, less acidic flavor; Soybeans have higher protein content, making them more nutritious for livestock and humans. Better production in lesser time, thereby providing food for more people.

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Have an increased resistance to spoilage with a better shelf life thus can be transported long distances better shelf life.

They are potentially non-allergenic. Provides medicine and vitamin deficiency. For instance, scientists have discovered Golden rice containing to support deficiency of vitamin A causing blindness for half of the world population who live on rice. Naturally grown food consumed by a kid Provide more resistance to diseases. Nowadays, plants can be genetically modified to be better able to survive abiotic extremes, such as frosty temperatures, heat waves, droughts, and poor soil chemistries. Provides an increased production of eggs, milk and meat.

More economical to the farmer in terms of production of food. Provides improved health of the population and thereby reduces the economic burden. GE Saves the wild animals. Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Food Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods most concerns about GM foods fall into three categories: environmental hazards, human health risks, and economic concerns.

Environmental hazards: According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is a very real risk of out-crossing, which refers to the transfer of engineered genes (transgenes) from genetically modified crops to conventional, cultivated plants or to related crop species in the wild. This may happen by means of wind, insect pollination, or other transfer. The foreign genes can cross with and contaminate these other species, resulting in a hybridization of the genetically modified crop plant with a non-GMO plant. This could radically alter entire ecosystems if the hybrid plants thrived.

Out-crossing can also have an indirect effect on food safety and security, as the contaminated species make their way into the food chain. Human health risks: Perhaps the number one health concern over GM technology is its capacity to create new allergens in our food supply. Allergic reactions typically are brought on by proteins. Nearly every transfer of genetic material from one host into a new one results in the creation of novel proteins. Genetic engineering can increase the levels of a naturally occurring allergen already present in a food or insert allergenic properties into a food that did not previously contain them. The foreign genetic material in a host can cause other genetic material in that host to behave erratically.

One consequence of over expression, for example, can be cancer. Nutritional problems can also result from the transfer.. GM crops have been linked to health problems as diverse as reproductive damage, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes. GMO is not supported by many institutions Economic concerns: Bringing a GM food to market is a lengthy and costly process, and of course agro-biotech companies wish to ensure a profitable return on their investment. Many new plant genetic engineering technologies and GM plants have been patented, and patent infringement is a big concern of agribusiness. Yet consumer advocates are worried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that small farmers and third world countries will not be able to afford seeds for GM crops, thus widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor.

Genetically modified food (GMF) will play an important factor in coming years for full filling the demand of increasing population of worlds as the food productions are not increasing as much as the population. In addition to that, GMF foods are more economical and full of nutrients covering the daily need of an individual which cannot be provide by naturally produced food Though, GMFs have faced some crisis by different institution. Though, we cannot deny it’s important as it can prove to be a life saving option for countries in Africa, which natives are facing malnutrition and protein deficiency. Therefore, GMOs should be seen as an alternative food rather than primary food category unless more research and development in this field is conducted.

Bibliography

1.  http://www. care2. com/greenliving/health-risks-of-eating-gmo-foods. html#ixzz2c2VlMEok
2.  http://www. naturalnews. com/029869_GMOs_dangers. html#ixzz2c2TE1wcs
3. http://www. naturalnews. com/029869_GMOs_dangers. html#ixzz2c2Ss2Bp7
4.  http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food_controversies 5. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food