GMOs on a Population Level
Allergies
One of the most debated topics surrounding genetic modification is the fear of new allergic reactions. Since the genes of one species are put into another, the concern is that people who are allergic to species A may now develop an allergy to species B, as species B now contains DNA from species A. In other words, people will have allergic reactions to things that they have never been allergic to before because it has been modified with another organism. Just as well, since genetically modified foods most often go unlabeled in grocery stores and customers are unaware of the new genes and products that go into their groceries, with the popularity of processed foods and the abundant use of corn and soy, two of the top GMOs, in such foods, the fear is that consumers will have allergic reactions to a wide range of products. The biggest fear with allergies is the possibility of a severe allergic reaction to a GMO product, which could result in death. Because of these risks and the fact that genetic modification is a fairly new science, many argue that industry scientists are essentially using humans as guinea pigs in their genetic modification experiments (Smith, 2007).
Toxicity
Most plants produce substances that are toxic to humans; however, most plants that humans eat have low enough toxin levels not pose any threat. The concern with GMOs is that with the addition of foreign genes, their toxin production levels could increase to harmful levels. During the insertion of the foreign gene, the original genes could be damaged, causing an increase in toxin production. Or, the new gene could interfere with a metabolic pathway, inducing stress on to the plant, causing an increase in toxin production. It is important to note that this has not been observed in transgenic plants, but it has been observed in conventional breeding methods. For example, potatoes conventionally bred for increased disease resistance have produced higher levels of glycoalkaloids, a natural occurring toxin common to the Solanaceae family of plants (Hails, 2009).
Hunger
As for how GMOs affect humans, proponents use the argument of world hunger. GMOs increase crop yield and can offer crop varieties that resist pests and disease and farm crops on land that would otherwise prove to be unsuitable for farming due to drought, barren soil, or soils with an excess of salt or high levels of iron (Ackerman, 2002). Genetic modification also allows farmers to quickly and effectively grow crops, and because genetic modification yields more crops, they can be sold much cheaper, making valuable, nutritious food sources available to more of the population.
Gene Flow and Biodiversity
Two major concerns of transgenic crops are negative effects to gene flow and preservation of biodiversity. Some ecologists believe the most harmful environmental impact of transgenic crops is their affect on gene flow. Gene flow is when cross-pollination integrates segments of DNA from one organism into the genome of another. This can occur between organsims of the same species or between organisms of different species. It occurs naturally in the environment. Ecologist are concerned with what could be crossed from a transgenic organism to its natural counterpart, or other non-related organisms in the surrounding envrionment. When genes of transgenic crops leave their field into another similar niche, or an organism's specific environment, they will compete (Emory). The genetic modifications of transgenic crops will give them a competitive advantage and jeapordize the health and longevity of the non-transgenic crops. Biodiversity has two components: 1) it is the number of different species in an area, and 2) it is a measure of the diversity within a species (i.e. genetic diversity). Transgenic crops are monocultures, or fields planted with genetically similar organisms (corn fields and rice fields are common examples), however, unlike non-transgenic crops, transgenic crops came from one genetically modified source plant. Monocultures are generally susceptible to insect or fungus invasion because they lack diversity. So, even though transgenic crops may be resistant to insects, pests, or herbicide, without a strong biodiversity their longterm resistance, health, and sustainability could be up for speculation.
One of the most debated topics surrounding genetic modification is the fear of new allergic reactions. Since the genes of one species are put into another, the concern is that people who are allergic to species A may now develop an allergy to species B, as species B now contains DNA from species A. In other words, people will have allergic reactions to things that they have never been allergic to before because it has been modified with another organism. Just as well, since genetically modified foods most often go unlabeled in grocery stores and customers are unaware of the new genes and products that go into their groceries, with the popularity of processed foods and the abundant use of corn and soy, two of the top GMOs, in such foods, the fear is that consumers will have allergic reactions to a wide range of products. The biggest fear with allergies is the possibility of a severe allergic reaction to a GMO product, which could result in death. Because of these risks and the fact that genetic modification is a fairly new science, many argue that industry scientists are essentially using humans as guinea pigs in their genetic modification experiments (Smith, 2007).
Toxicity
Most plants produce substances that are toxic to humans; however, most plants that humans eat have low enough toxin levels not pose any threat. The concern with GMOs is that with the addition of foreign genes, their toxin production levels could increase to harmful levels. During the insertion of the foreign gene, the original genes could be damaged, causing an increase in toxin production. Or, the new gene could interfere with a metabolic pathway, inducing stress on to the plant, causing an increase in toxin production. It is important to note that this has not been observed in transgenic plants, but it has been observed in conventional breeding methods. For example, potatoes conventionally bred for increased disease resistance have produced higher levels of glycoalkaloids, a natural occurring toxin common to the Solanaceae family of plants (Hails, 2009).
Hunger
As for how GMOs affect humans, proponents use the argument of world hunger. GMOs increase crop yield and can offer crop varieties that resist pests and disease and farm crops on land that would otherwise prove to be unsuitable for farming due to drought, barren soil, or soils with an excess of salt or high levels of iron (Ackerman, 2002). Genetic modification also allows farmers to quickly and effectively grow crops, and because genetic modification yields more crops, they can be sold much cheaper, making valuable, nutritious food sources available to more of the population.
Gene Flow and Biodiversity
Two major concerns of transgenic crops are negative effects to gene flow and preservation of biodiversity. Some ecologists believe the most harmful environmental impact of transgenic crops is their affect on gene flow. Gene flow is when cross-pollination integrates segments of DNA from one organism into the genome of another. This can occur between organsims of the same species or between organisms of different species. It occurs naturally in the environment. Ecologist are concerned with what could be crossed from a transgenic organism to its natural counterpart, or other non-related organisms in the surrounding envrionment. When genes of transgenic crops leave their field into another similar niche, or an organism's specific environment, they will compete (Emory). The genetic modifications of transgenic crops will give them a competitive advantage and jeapordize the health and longevity of the non-transgenic crops. Biodiversity has two components: 1) it is the number of different species in an area, and 2) it is a measure of the diversity within a species (i.e. genetic diversity). Transgenic crops are monocultures, or fields planted with genetically similar organisms (corn fields and rice fields are common examples), however, unlike non-transgenic crops, transgenic crops came from one genetically modified source plant. Monocultures are generally susceptible to insect or fungus invasion because they lack diversity. So, even though transgenic crops may be resistant to insects, pests, or herbicide, without a strong biodiversity their longterm resistance, health, and sustainability could be up for speculation.
References
1.) Traxler, G. (n.d.). The gmo experience in north & south america-where to from here?
Retrieved from: http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/stconf/event5/GTraxler.pdf
2.) Ackerman, J. (2002, May). Altered food, GMOs, genetically modified food
Retrieved from: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/food
how-altered.html
3.)Brookes, G., & Barfoot, P. (2006). Global impact of biotech crops: Socio-economic and
environmental effects in the first ten years of commercial use
Retrieved from: http://www.agbioforum.org/v9n3/v9n3a02-brookes.htm
4.) Emory, U. Gmo and environment: Once a gene's in where does it go?
Retrieved from: http://www.scienceandsociety.emory.edu/GMO/Environment.htm
5.) What effects could genetically modified crops have on the environment?.
Retrieved from: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/gmo/3-genetically-engineered-food/5-gene-flow.htm
6.) Smith, J. (2007, May) Genetically Engineered Foods May Cause Rising Food Allergies
Retrieved from:http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5296.cfm
7.) Genetically modified or sustainable agriculture? GREENPEACE. Retrieved from:
http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/campaigns/EU-farmers-ditch-GM-crops/
8.) Hails, Rosemary. (2009, Sept). Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified
organisms (GMOs). Wiley Online Library.
Retrieved from: http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0003255.html
9.) Genetically Modified Organisms-Harmful Effects. Retrieved from:
http://enhs.umn.edu/current/5103/gm/harmful.html
10.) Dresbach, S. H., Flax, H., Sokolowski, A., & Allred, J. The Impact of genetically modified organisms
on human health. Ohio State University Extension. Retrieved from:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5058.html
11.) Gillam, Carey. (2012, Oct 1). Pesticide use ramping up as GMO crop technology backfires-study.
Reuters. Retrieved from:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/usa-study-pesticides-idUSL1E8L202I20121002
12.) Smith, Jeffrey. Genetically modified food. Vaccine Liberation Army. Retrieved from:
http://vaccineliberationarmy.com/gmo-feed-and-food-for-animals-and-people-bibliography-of-research/
13.) Stevenson, Heidi. (2012, Sept 1). GMO toxins are in nearly all pregnant woman and fetuses. GALA
HEALTH. Retrieved from:
http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-09-17/gmo-toxins-are-in-nearly-all-pregnant-women-fetuses/
14.) Smith, Jeffrey. (2010, Oct 7). GM foods more dangerous for children than adults. Mercola.com.
Retrieved from:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/07/gm-foods-more-dangerous-for-children-than-adults.aspx
Retrieved from: http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/stconf/event5/GTraxler.pdf
2.) Ackerman, J. (2002, May). Altered food, GMOs, genetically modified food
Retrieved from: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/food
how-altered.html
3.)Brookes, G., & Barfoot, P. (2006). Global impact of biotech crops: Socio-economic and
environmental effects in the first ten years of commercial use
Retrieved from: http://www.agbioforum.org/v9n3/v9n3a02-brookes.htm
4.) Emory, U. Gmo and environment: Once a gene's in where does it go?
Retrieved from: http://www.scienceandsociety.emory.edu/GMO/Environment.htm
5.) What effects could genetically modified crops have on the environment?.
Retrieved from: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/gmo/3-genetically-engineered-food/5-gene-flow.htm
6.) Smith, J. (2007, May) Genetically Engineered Foods May Cause Rising Food Allergies
Retrieved from:http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_5296.cfm
7.) Genetically modified or sustainable agriculture? GREENPEACE. Retrieved from:
http://www.greenpeace.org/eu-unit/en/campaigns/EU-farmers-ditch-GM-crops/
8.) Hails, Rosemary. (2009, Sept). Environmental Impact of Genetically Modified
organisms (GMOs). Wiley Online Library.
Retrieved from: http://www.els.net/WileyCDA/ElsArticle/refId-a0003255.html
9.) Genetically Modified Organisms-Harmful Effects. Retrieved from:
http://enhs.umn.edu/current/5103/gm/harmful.html
10.) Dresbach, S. H., Flax, H., Sokolowski, A., & Allred, J. The Impact of genetically modified organisms
on human health. Ohio State University Extension. Retrieved from:
http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/5000/5058.html
11.) Gillam, Carey. (2012, Oct 1). Pesticide use ramping up as GMO crop technology backfires-study.
Reuters. Retrieved from:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/02/usa-study-pesticides-idUSL1E8L202I20121002
12.) Smith, Jeffrey. Genetically modified food. Vaccine Liberation Army. Retrieved from:
http://vaccineliberationarmy.com/gmo-feed-and-food-for-animals-and-people-bibliography-of-research/
13.) Stevenson, Heidi. (2012, Sept 1). GMO toxins are in nearly all pregnant woman and fetuses. GALA
HEALTH. Retrieved from:
http://gaia-health.com/gaia-blog/2012-09-17/gmo-toxins-are-in-nearly-all-pregnant-women-fetuses/
14.) Smith, Jeffrey. (2010, Oct 7). GM foods more dangerous for children than adults. Mercola.com.
Retrieved from:
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/10/07/gm-foods-more-dangerous-for-children-than-adults.aspx