Genetically Modified Foods

ByThomas Confrey

World Hunger on the Rise

Happening since the Neolithic Revolution

Three Common Methods◦ Selective Breeding◦ Combing/Hybridizing Species◦ Exploiting Natural Mutations

History of Genetic Modification

Modern genetic modification involves tranfer of DNA

Cisgenesis – genes transferred from similar species

Trangensis- genes transferred from dissimilar species

New Techniques using DNA

Food allergies are a problem for many Americans. (e.g. Soy, peanuts, seafood, etc)

New genetically modified species means infinitely more proteins

Usually, allergies are only discovered after an individual has a violent reaction.

Predicting allergies is nearly impossible

Risks from GMF

GM Plants designed to keep bugs/animals away

GM Plants take up more chemicals including heavy metals

Risks Cont’d: Toxic Crops

Chemical companies often design new pesticides and herbicides, as well as, genetically modified plants, which are “immune” to them.

New pesticides or herbicides can seep into surface and ground water

Environmental Issues

Attitudes towards GMF

Necessary◦World hunger is out of control

Unnatural ◦Stems from moral/ethical dilemma

•An Option•Opinion of the US government

•Dangerous•Risks outweigh any benefits

Slippery Banana?

Currently Genetically Modified foods do not need special labels

FDA

FDA Approved GMO Foods

Genetically Modified Foods are not going away

Could be used to eliminate artificial dyes, preservatives and steroids

Still need more research and long-term testing/risk assessment

Fertilizer is a major problem

Conclusion

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but FDA's Evaluation Process Could Be Enhanced. (2002) Retrieved November 20, 2009, from GAO: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d02566.pdf

Harvest of Fear. (2009). Retrieved November 2, 2009, from PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/harvest/exist/arguments.html

References

How to feed the world. (2009, November 19). Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Economist: http://www.economist.com/opinion/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=149...

LaFranchi, H. (2009, November 15). On eve of UN food summit: 20 best ways to feed the hungry. Retrieved November 25, 2009, from The Christian Science Monitor:http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/1115/p02s01-usfp.htm?print=true

Morales, A. (2009, January 29). 'GM Crops' Part of Food Crisis Solution, U.K. Says. Retrieved 11 21, 2009, from Bloomberg:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&sid=aYDn4... News & Events Genetically Engineered Foods. (1999, October 19). Retrieved 11

19, 2009, from FDA: http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Testimony/ucm115032.htm Prescott, V. E. (2006). Genetically modified plants and food hypersensitivity

diseases: Usage and implications of experimental models for risk assessment. Pharmacology & Therapeutics , 374-383.

Risks of Genetic Engineering. (n.d.). Retrieved November 21, 2009, from Union of Concerned Scientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/imp...

References Cont’d

Roundup Ready Soybeans. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2009, from Union of Concerned Scientists: http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts /imp..

Saher Marieke, M. L.-K. (2006). Attitudes towards genetically modified and organic foods. Appetite , 324-331.

Salzano, G. a. (2009, October 16). World's Hungry Pass 1 Billion as Wealth Increases: Chart of the Day. Retrieved November 23, 2009, from Bloomberg: http://www.bllomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20670001&sid=a_2tiW..

Schouten, Henk J, Frans A Krens, and Evert Jacobsen. Cisgenic plants are similar to traditionally bred plants: International regulations for genetically modified organisms should be altered to exempt cisgenesis, European Molecular Biology Organization. 2006 August; 7(8): 750–753

World goes for GM crops to tackle food crisis. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2009, from Commodity Online: http://www.commodityonline.com/printnews.php?news_id=13405

References Cont’d