laura l. cone kaplan university hw220 april 24, 2012
TRANSCRIPT
“Range of tools, including traditional
breeding techniques, that alter living
organisms, or parts of organisms, to
make or modify products; improve
plants or animals; or develop
microorganisms for specific
agricultural uses,” (USDA, n.d.).
Agricultural biotechnology includes
genetic engineering.
Genetic Engineering
– “Manipulation of an organism’s genes by
introducing, eliminating, or rearranging specific
genes using the methods of modern molecular
biology…” (USDA, n.d.).
Genetic Modification
- “The production of heritable improvements in
plants or animals for specific uses, via either
genetic engineering or other more traditional
methods,” such as cross-breeding (USDA, n.d.).
Plants have been modified so they will be less likely to
succumb to disease.
Plants are able to deter pests due to a protein that acts as an
insecticide enabling farmers to use less pesticides (Schlenker,
2011).
Genetically modified plants are often made to withstand
extreme weather conditions or variances.
Some plants have been genetically modified to increase
nutrients that have been shown beneficial to or lacking in a
population’s diet.
Milk produced by cows who have been injected with the bovine growth hormone (rBST), which is naturally occuring in the cow. However, by injecting the cow with it as well, the cow can produce up to 10% more milk (Mather, 2012).
Other plant foods that are possibly genetically engineered include sweet corn, peppers, squash, zucchini, rice, sugar cane, rapeseed (for canola oil), flax, chicory, peas, and papaya (Mather, 2012).
About 60% of processed foods include ingredients that have been genetically modified (Mather, 2012).
Introduction of proteins that may be harmful to humans (Agricultural Biotechnology Risk Analysis Research Task Group (ABRART, 2007)
The transfer of genetic material to non-intended hosts.
Plants may become invasive.
Bacterial resistance to antibiotics
Could create more nutritious foods, by causing the organism to contain more of the healthful nutrient, or less of unhealthful factor.
Could possibly enhance the tastes of certain foods
Create medicinal foods to be used as vaccines or medications (MedlinePlus, 2010).
Increase the supply of food with a longer shelf life while reducing the cost and
Create faster growing plants (MedlinePlus, 2010)
“Produce foods with desirable traits, i.e. potatoes that absorb less fat when fried,” (MedlinePlus, 2010)
May be useful for areas that are susceptible to environmental extremes and have a lack of access to food
Agricultural biotechnology has evolved
greatly over the last two decades.
It affects you, as a consumer, every
day. Each time you go to the grocery
store to purchase food, you may or
may not be buying genetically
engineered or modified food.
Agricultural practices have deviated a
great deal from decades ago. The
heirloom vegetables and Daisy the cow
are no longer the norm.
Unfortunately, foods that have been
genetically modified or engineered are
not labeled. Unless you purchase
organic, or pressure the government to
label such products, you may well be
buying genetically modified foods.
Agricultural Biotechnology Risk Analysis Research Task Group (ABRART).
(2007). Agricultural biotechnology risk analysis research in the federal
government. Retrieved April 24, 2012 from
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/ods/results.jsp?
TextQuery=nsf07208&search1.x=26&search1.y=4&Current_status=Current
&timeframe=Restrict+timeframe+to%3A&docType=0&docSubtype=0
Food and Drug Administration. (2012). Plant biotechnology for food and feed.
Retrieved April 24, 2012 from
http://www.fda.gov/Food/Biotechnology/default.htm
.
Mather, R. (2012, April/May). The threats from genetically modified foods. Mother
Earth News, 251, 42-51.
MedlinePlus. (2010). Genetically engineered foods. Retrieved April 24, 2012 from
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002432.htm.
Schlenker, E. D. & Roth, S. L. (2011). Williams’ Essential of
Nutrition and Diet Therapy (10th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Elsevier.
Union of Concerned Scientists. (2002). Risks of genetic engineering. Retrieved April
24, 2012 from
http://www.ucsusa.org/food_and_agriculture/science_and_impacts/impacts_geneti
c_engineering/risks-of-genetic-engineering.html#Production_of_New_Toxins.
USDA. (2001.). Glossary of biotechnology terms. Retrieved April 24, 2012 from
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?
contentid=BiotechnologyGlosary.xml&navid=AGRICULTURE
USDA. (2006). The first decade of genetically engineered crops in the United States.
Retrieved April 20, 2012 from
http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/eib11/eib11.pdf.
.