Jacob Diaz

RWS 1302-17424

Secondary Research Literature Review

October 6, 2017

Question:

Can the benefits of genetically modified foods change or support someones ethical standpoint

on the matter?

Dizon, F., Costa, S., Rock, C., Harris, A., Husk, C., & Mei, J. (2015). Genetically Modified

(GM) Foods and Ethical Eating. Journal of Food Science, 81(2). doi:10.1111/1750-

3841.13191

The article, Genetically Modified (GM) Foods and Ethical Eating was written by a team

of scientists, doctors, and nutritionists. To appeal to the emotions of the reader the authors state

that there is a rising issue of weighing the disadvantages of genetically modified foods against

the benefits, especially since genetically modified foods have the potential to help developing

nations in need of economic stimulation and food security. If such benefits do exist, the

responsible use of genetically modified foods should be employed. By stating this there are

effectively saying that there is a way to positively impact malnutrition in developing nations

which could save hundreds of thousands of lives (Dizon and others, 2015). They go on to

explain the science of splicing the genes of plants and combining them with trace amounts of
viruses in order to make them more resistant to diseases. This article does not address my

question directly but it is informing the reader which in turn could end up persuading them.

Ronald, P. (Director). (2015, May 4). Pamela Ronald: The case for engineering our food [Video
file]. Retrieved September 22, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZ2TF8-
PGQ4&t=356s

This video is pushing for the use of genetically engineered foods from and ethical

standpoint. In the video, Pamela Ronald touches on the sensitive subject of children in under

developed countries suffering from malnutrition. Particularly, the 5000 children who go blind

due to vitamin A deficiency, from which more that half will die. She then goes on to explain

how scientist where able to genetically engineer a type of rice to produce -carotene (Ronald,

2015). The fact that genetically engineering rice has the ability to prevent thousands of children

from going blind and possibly saving their lives would appeal to the emotions of many people.

Pamela Ronald also talks about the science behind genetically engineering foods. She explains

how while rice can grow while submerged in water, if it is submerged for to long that it will die.

One of her colleagues and his graduate student were studying an ancient variety of rice while had

the ability to be submerged for to weeks and still grow. They were able to isolate this gene and

when submerged in water this variety of rice grew three time more than the conventional kind.

This video does not address my question directly but is providing information on the topic of

genetically modified foods in order to try and persuade the viewer into agreeing with the use of

genetically modified foods.

Amofah, G. (2014). RECOMMENDATIONS FROM A MEETING ON HEALTH

IMPLICATIONS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISM (GMO). Ghana
Medical Journal, 48(2), 117-119. doi:10.4314/gmj.v48i2.11
 This articles talks about the process and the testing that genetically modified organism go

though before they are deemed to be safe for the public. The article then goes on to list a sizable

list of advantages and concerns with genetically modified foods. They go on to list their

recommendation on moving forward with the use of genetically modified organisms. They state

that there should be labels clearly stating that the product is genetically modified and that all

genetically modified foods should be reviewed by a independent national regulatory board. This

article doesnt address my question directly but explains the process that GMOs must go through

before being approved for public use. By doing this is may bring some comfort in the fact that

not everything can be released to the public without proper testing to make sure the product is

safe.

(2011, June 08). Retrieved October 08, 2017, from

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ts9NLOUJuM

This video goes into depth on the subject of Golden Rice. Golden rice is a that produces

carotene. The speaker of the video, Dr. Gerard Berry talks about the millions of people with

Vitamin A deficiency due to poor diet. Symptoms of Vitamin A deficiency first show up as

tissue damage which can result in blindness and can also affect the immune system which leaves

the person susceptible to other diseases. He states that one cup of golden rice could account for

up to 50% of the daily need of Vitamin A. This video may influence somebodies view by

appealing to their emotions because it explains how genetically modified foods has the potential

to save thousands of lives.

Zhou, D., Wang, C., Li, Z., Chen, Y., Gao, S., Guo, J., . . . Que, Y. (2016). Detection
of BarTransgenic Sugarcane with a Rapid and Visual Loop-Mediated Isothermal
 Amplification Assay. Retrieved October 08, 2017, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4782128/

This article goes into the science behind genetically modifying foods, specifically sugar

cane. It describes how genetically modifying the sugar cane would increase production as well

as insect and disease resistance. They also explain that genetically modifying the sugarcane can

make it more resistant to herbicides which would combat a huge problem in growing the plants,

weeds. This article just furthers the argument of how genetically modifying foods can bring

countless benefits to the human population. By explaining this to people, the article has the

ability to sway the opinion of the public to agreeing with the use of genetically modified foods.

This article does not directly address the question but pushes to persuaded the public by

explaining benefits of genetically modifying organism.

Wong, H. W., Liu, Q., & Sun, S. S. (2015). Biofortification of rice with lysine using endogenous
histones. Retrieved October 08, 2017, from
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4302240/

This article explains how rice is the most consumed grain in the world, but is deficient in

essential nutrients. It then goes on to explain that this causes a major problem for the people in

developing nations who rely on rice as their main source of nutrition. To combat this problem

two proteins were over-expressed in rice seeds to achieve lysine biofortification (Wong and

others, 2014). By explaining that foods can be genetically modified to increase the nutrient levels

of rice, the opinion of the public may to altered to accept genetically modified foods. This article

doesnt directly address my question but would help me by providing information that is positive

and might sway the opinion of people I would survey.

Yuhya Wakasa, Kana Hirano, Atsuo Urisu, Tsukasa Matsuda, Fumio Takaiwa; Generation of
Transgenic Rice Lines with Reduced Contents of Multiple Potential Allergens Using a
Null Mutant in Combination with an RNA Silencing Method, Plant and Cell Physiology,
Volume 52, Issue 12, 1 December 2011, Pages 2190
2199, https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcr151

This article goes into how rice can be a causative of allergens. It goes on to explain The

-amylase/trypsin inhibitors (1416 kDa), -globulin (26 kDa) and -glyoxalase I (33 kDa) are

regarded as major potential allergens of rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed based on specific recognition

by serum IgE from allergy patients. In order to suppress the production of these major allergens

in rice grains, a mutant in the Koshihikari background lacking the 26 kDa allergen (GbN-1)

was used as a host for RNA silencing. A binary vector harboring two RNA interference (RNAi)

gene cassettes for suppression of 1416 kDa and 33 kDa allergens driven by the 13 kDa and 10

kDa prolamin endosperm-specific promoters, respectively, was introduced into the GbN-1

genome by Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (Wakasa and others, 2011). By explaining

how something as simple as genetically modifying rice to not be a causative of allergens could

be beneficial to so many people in developing nation , it may change peoples opinion on

genetically modifying foods. It would be so beneficial to people who are living in developing

countries who may gave an allergy which doesnt allow them to consume rice since it is a cheap

and assessable gain.