Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering (GE) is the modification of an organism's genetic composition by artificial means,
often involving the transfer of specific traits, or genes, from one organism into a plant or animal of an
entirely different species. When gene transfer occurs, the resulting organism is called transgenic or a
GMO (genetically modified organism).

Genetic engineering is different from traditional cross breeding, where genes can only be exchanged
between closely related species. With genetic engineering, genes from completely different species can
be inserted into one another. For example, scientists in Taiwan have successfully inserted jellyfish genes
into pigs in order to make them glow in the dark. F

What are genes?

All life is made up of one or more cells. Each cell contains a nucleus, and inside each nucleus are strings
of molecules called DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Each strand of DNA is divided into small sections called
genes. These genes contain a unique set of instructions that determine how the organism grows,
develops, looks, and lives.

During genetic engineering processes, specific genes are removed from one organism and inserted into
another plant or animal, thus transferring specific traits.

GE Crops
Nearly 400 million acres of farmland worldwide are now used to grow GE crops such as cotton, corn,
soybeans and rice. FIn the United States, GE soybeans, corn and cotton make up 93%, 88% and 94% of
the total acreage of the respective crops. FThe majority of genetically engineered crops grown today are
engineered to be resistant to pesticides and/or herbicides so that they can withstand being sprayed with
weed killer while the rest of the plants in the field die.
GE proponents claim genetically engineered crops use fewer pesticides than non-GE crops, when in
reality GE plants can require even more chemicals. FThis is because weeds become resistant to
pesticides, leading farmers to spray even more on their crops. FThis pollutes the environment, exposes
food to higher levels of toxins, and creates greater safety concerns for farmers and farm workers.
Some GE crops are actually classified as pesticides. For instance, the New Leaf potato, which has since
been taken off grocery shelves, was genetically engineered to produce the Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)
toxin in order to kill any pests that attempted to eat it. The actual potato was designated as a pesticide
and was therefore regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), instead of the Food & Drug
Administration (FDA), which regulates food. Because of this, safety testing for these potatoes was not as
rigorous as with food, since the EPA regulations had never anticipated that people would intentionally
consume pesticides as food. F

Adequate research has not yet been carried out to identify the effects of eating animals that have been
fed genetically engineered grain, nor have sufficient studies been conducted on the effects of directly
 consuming genetically engineered crops like corn and soy. Yet despite our lack of knowledge, GE crops
are widely used throughout the world as both human and animal food.

GE Animals
Scientists are currently working on ways to genetically engineer farm animals. Atlantic salmon have been
engineered to grow to market size twice as fast as wild salmon, Fchickens have been engineered so that
they cannot spread H5N1 avian flu to other birds, Fand research is being conducted to create cattle that
cannot develop the infectious prions that can cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy (aka mad cow
disease). FAt this point, no GE animals have been approved by the FDA to enter the food supply.
FGenetic engineering experiments on animals do, however, pose potential risks to food safety and the

environment.
In 2003, scientists at the University of Illinois were conducting an experiment that involved inserting cow
genes into female pigs in order to increase their milk production. They also inserted a synthetic gene to
make milk digestion easier for the piglets. Although the experimental pigs were supposed to be
destroyed, as instructed by the FDA, 386 offspring of the experimental pigs were sold to slaughterhouses,
where they were processed and sent to grocery stores as pork chops, sausage, and bacon. F
University of Illinois representatives claimed that the piglets did not inherit the genetic modifications made
to their mothers, but there was still a clear risk to the people who purchased products made from the 386
piglets. Since no genetically engineered animal products have ever been approved by the FDA, the pork
products that reached supermarket shelves were technically illegal for human consumption. As a result of
the accident, the FDA sent letters in May 2003 to all land-grant universities, reminding researchers that
their work "may require" licensing under the animal drug law. F

What are the concerns over GE food?

Many concerns have been raised over the inadequate testing of the effects of genetic engineering on
humans and the environment. Genetic engineering is still an emerging field, and scientists do not know
exactly what can result from putting the DNA of one species into another. The introduction of foreign DNA
into an organism could trigger other DNA in the plant or animal to mutate and change. FIn addition,
researchers do not know if there are any long-term or unintended side effects from eating GE foods. F
Critics of genetic engineering believe that GE foods must be proven safe before they are sold to the
public. Specific concerns over genetic engineering include: F
 Allergic reactions. There are two concerns regarding allergic reactions. The first is with known allergens.
For example, if genes from nuts are inserted into other foods, it could cause severe reactions in people
with nut allergies. Therefore, there is concern that people with known allergies will not be aware that the
genetically engineered food they are eating contains substances to which they are allergic. The second
concern is that new allergies might be created, since new combinations of genes and traits have the
potential to cause allergic reactions that have never existed before.
 Gene mutation. Scientists don't know if the forced insertion of one gene into another gene could
destabilize the entire organism, and encourage mutations and abnormalities.
 Antibiotic resistance. Almost all GE foods contain antibiotic resistance marker genes that help producers
know whether the new genetic material was transferred to the host plant or animal. GE food could make
disease-causing bacteria even more resistant to antibiotics, which could increase the spread of disease
throughout the world.
 Loss of nutrition. Genetic engineering may change the nutritional value of food. F
 Environmental Damage. Insects, birds and wind might carry genetically altered pollen to other fields and
forests, pollinating plants and randomly creating new species that would carry on the genetic
modifications.
 Gene pollution cannot be cleaned up.
Once released into the environment, genetically engineered organisms cannot be cleaned up or recalled.
So, unlike chemical and nuclear contamination, which can at least be contained, genetic pollution cannot
be isolated and separated from the environment in which it is spreading