GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS

Nick YeagerScientist

GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS. The term Genetically modified organism

comes from plants or crops created for human consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. The plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits.

GENETICALLY MODIFIED CATS

Think of modifying a cat, this cat could be infused with the DNA of a lion for survival instincts, a tiger for jumping, and a cheetah for speed, this cat would be like a super cat having only the desired qualities of the best cats of the wild while having the stomach of a housecat and only eating cat food.

GMO Genetic engineering is the most

effective way to make plants with the right traits very rapidly. Plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert the gene into a different plant, the new GMO will gain drought tolerance as well. Not only can genes from any plant be used but genes from non-plant organisms as well.

GMO’S Some of the 40 plants included in these

are; Tomatoes, Cantaloupes, Soybeans, Sugarbeets, Corn, and Cotton. Not all of these plants are available in the supermarket. Although most plants in stores is not genetically modified the vegetable oil and cereals contain a small percentage of genetically modified ingredients.

GMO ADVANTAGES Some advantages of having GMO’s are

Pest Resistance, Herbicide tolerance, Disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought tolerance, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, and phytoremediation.

NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF GMO’S

Unintended harm to other organisms, Reduced effectiveness of pesticides, gene transfer to non-target species. Human hazards include; allergenicity, and many other unknown effects on human health.

ECONOMIC CONCERNS Getting GM food to the market is a

lengthy and costly production and the agribiotech companies wish to ensure a profit in return, most genetically engineered plants have been patented, though consumers are worried that the patented plant seeds will skyrocket in price.

LAWYERSierra Hanes

LAWS Since December 2002, the law in

Australia requires that food labels must show if food has been genetically modified or contains genetically modified ingredients, or whether GM additives or processing aids remain in the final food product.

National authorities pass a risk assessment on all the genetically food on the market.

LAWS The USA In 1986 it was determined that

there was no need to make new laws to regulate genetically modified food

Genetically modified food has to follow the same US laws as the health, safety, efficacy, and environmental impacts of similar products derived by more traditional methods.

LAWS Food regulatory authorities require that GM foods

receive individual pre-market safety assessments prior to use in foods for human consumption. The assessments have to have this information:

1. Information on how the GM plant was developed

2. nucleic acid data that characterizes the genetic change

3. composition and nutritional data of the novel food compared to the original non-modified food

4. potential for new toxins5. and potential for being an allergen

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA)

A huge part in the regulation of GMF. It ensures that the food and drugs for

both humans and animals are safe.

ARE GM FOODS REGULATED NATIONALLY?

In some countries GM foods are not regulated yet.

Although, countries with the provisions for GM foods also regulate GMO’s in general, taking into account health and environmental risks.

CONAGRA ConAgra was a company that has been

sued due to selling a line of Wesson oils that were advertised as 100% natural and later found that they were using genetically modified ingredients in the oils.

Doing that violated California’s false advertising and unfair competition laws and business codes.

THESE ARE THE LAW THE AGENCIES REVIEW WHEN DETERMINING THE SAFETY OF GM

FOODS. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act

(FIFRA) (EPA); The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) (EPA); The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) (FDA and

EPA); The Plant Protection Act (PPA) (USDA); The Virus-Serum-Toxin Act (VSTA) (USDA); The Public Health Service Act (PHSA)(FDA); The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA)

(FDA) The Meat Inspection Act (MIA)(USDA); The Poultry Products Inspection Act (PPIA) (USDA); The Egg Products Inspection Act (EPIA) (USDA); and The National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).

ETHAN CLARKSociologist

What do the people think? More than 650 meetings were held

around the country.

Out of 37,000 people, 54% said they never want to see GM crops grown in the country

18% said they would find the crops acceptable if there was no risk of cross- contamination.

The other 13% said they wanted more research.

What the critics are saying Critics say that the problem with the

idea of GM crops being grown is the company’s that will be growing them will only be concerned about gaining a profit and will not care if the food is hazardous.

All critics mainly agree on these three main concerns: environmental hazards, human health risks, and economic problems.

People’s quotes on GM crops Craig Cormick, from the federal

government agency Biotechnology Australia, said “Research indicated that only half of Australia would accept GM food”.

Professor Philip James said "The perception that everything is totally straight forward and safe is utterly naive. I don't think we fully understand the dimensions of whatwe're getting into."

People’s quotes on GM crops Dr Geoffrey Clements says "The genetic

modification of food is intrinsically dangerous. It involvesmaking irreversible changes in a random manner to a complex level of lifeabout which little is known. It is inevitable that this hit-and-missapproach will lead to disasters. It must disrupt the natural intelligenceof the plant or animal to which it is applied, and lead to health-damagingside-effects."

Conclusion In conclusion, more people in the world

are against GM foods. The reasons for this are because of environmental risks, health risks, and economic risks.