Genetically Modified Food

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Have you ever eaten genetically modified food?

Can you tell the difference between a

genetically modified organism and a non-GM organism?

Do GM foods taste any different?

Could they?

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Before Reading Any Further

What is the first impression you get when you hear genetically modified foods?

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Is it
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Whats scarier is not knowing the facts!

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GMO FOODS
Genetically modified foods (GM foods or GMO foods) are

foods derived from genetically modified organisms, (GMOs). Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques.

Genetic engineering techniques :

These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change.

Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms

include selective breeding; plant breeding, and animal breeding, and somaclonal variation. 4/15/12

 Also called genetically modified

organisms (GMO).

Involves the insertion of DNA from one

organism into another OR modification of an organisms DNA in order to achieve a desired trait.

+
Arctic fish DNA straw berry

A strawberry resistant to frost

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What is DNA?
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DNA is molecule of life. It contains all of

instructions (genes) required to make an organism.

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Teosinte
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Method
''Genetic modification involves the

insertion or deletion of genes. In the process of cisgenesis, genes are artificially transferred between organisms that could be conventionally bred. In the process of transgenesis, genes from a different species are inserted, which is a form of horizontal gene transfer.
In nature this can occur when
4/15/12 exogenous DNA penetrates the cell

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SOME OF THE GM CROPS

Food Soybeans Properties of the genetically modified variety Resistant to glyphosate or glufosinate herbicides Modification Herbicide resistant gene taken from bacteria inserted into soybean

Corn, field

Resistant to glyphosate or New genes, some from the glufosinate herbicides. Insect bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis, resistance via producing Bt proteins, added/transferred into plant some previously used as pesticides in genome. organic crop production. Vitaminenriched corn derived from South African white corn variety M37W has bright orange kernels, with 169x increase in beta carotene, 6x the vitamin C and 2x folate Bt crystal protein gene added/transferred into plant genome

Cotton (cottonseed Pest-resistant cotton oil)

Squash (Zucchini) Resistance to watermelon, cucumber Contains coat protein genes of and zucchini yellow mosaic viruses viruses Sweet Peppers Alfalfa Resistance to virus Resistant to glyphosate or glufosinate herbicides Contains coat protein genes of the virus New genes added/transferred 4/15/12 into plant genome

Hawaiian papaya

Variety is resistant to the papaya ringspot virus

Variety is resistant to the papaya ringspot virus

Tomatoes

Variety in which the production of the enzyme polygalacturonase (PG) is suppressed, retarding fruit softening after harvesting Resistance to certain pesticides, high sucrose content. Resistance to glyphosate, glufosinate herbicides

A reverse copy (an antisense gene) of the gene responsible for the production of PG enzyme added into plant genome New genes added/transferred into plant genome

Sugar cane

Sugar beet

New genes added/transferred into plant genome

Rice

Golden Rice: genetically modified to contain beta-carotene (a source of vitamin A)

Current version of Golden Rice under development contains genes from maize and a common soil microorganism [22]. Previous prototype version contained three new genes: two from daffodils and the third from a bacterium

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WHY GM CROPS FOUND NECESSARY

Allows a much wider selection of traits for

improvement: e.g. not only pest, disease and herbicide resistance (as achieved to date in plants) but also potentially drought resistance, improved nutritional content and improved sensory properties
It is faster and lower in cost Desired change can be achieved in very

few generations
Allows greater precision in selecting

characteristics

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 Improved agricultural performance (yields) with less

labour input and less cost input

Benefits to the soil of notill farming practice Reduced usage of pesticides and herbicides Ability to grow crops in previously inhospitable

environments (e.g. via increased ability of plants to grow in conditions of drought, soil salinity, extremes of temperature, consequences of global warming, etc.) texture, etc.)

Improved sensory attributes of food (e.g. flavor, produce a non allergenic GM peanut (University of Arkansas) and a non

allergenic

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Humanitarian:
Pest resistance Herbicide resistance Cold tolerance Drought tolerance

Potential Benefits
Improved farming

Cheaper food More food

Reducing world hunger and improving world health

Increased nutrition Edible vaccines

Environmental: reduced use of herbicides and chemicals in farming.

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How are animals targeted?

The microinjection

method uses a fine needle to inject a solution of DNA into a developing embryo.

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How are plants targeted?

Agrobacterium that normally normally infects plants with disease is used to infect plant with gene of interests or
A particle gun is used to
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shoot small bits of metal coated with the gene into the plant.
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How common are GMO foods?

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Labeling of GM foods is not mandatory unless if there is a health or safety concern (Health Canada/Canadian Food Inspection Agency) 4/15/12

HARMFUL EFFECTS
Environment:

Unintended environmental impacts include harming non target and/or beneficial species in the case of crops with engineered insecticidal properties, as well as the development of new strains of resistant pests. Additionally there is concern that pollen from genetically engineered herbicide resistant crops could reach wild, weedy relatives of the crop and create so called super weeds. This is of particular concern in the U.S. with crops such as canola and squash.
Health:

At present, there is no evidence to suggest that GM foods are unsafe. However, there are no absolute guarantees, either. Unintended health impacts from GMOs concern allergens, antibiotic resistance, decreased nutrients, and toxins. 4/15/12

Allergens

Because protein sequences are changed with the addition of new genetic material, there is concern that the engineered or modified organism could produce known or unknown allergens. A recent National Research Council committee report on GMOs recommended the development of improved methods for identifying potential allergens "specifically focusing on new tests relevant to the human immune system and on more reliable animal models.

Antibiotic resistance

Plant genetic engineers have frequently attached genes they are trying to insert to antibiotic resistance genes. This allows them to readily select the plants that acquire the new genes by treating them with the antibiotic. Sometimes these genes remain in the transgenic crop that has lead critics to charge that the antibiotic resistance genes could spread to pathogens in the body and render antibiotics less effective. However, several panels of antibiotic resistance experts have concluded that the 4/15/12

Decreased nutrients

Because the DNA of genetically engineered plants is altered, there is concern that some GMOs could have decreased levels of important nutrients, as DNA is the code for the production of nutrients. However, it must be noted that nutritional differences also have been documented with traditionally bred crops.
Introduced toxins

Residual toxins resulting from 4/15/12 introduced genes of the bacteria Bacillus

HEALTH RISKS

In 1998 : potatoes genetically modified to contain lectin had adverse intestinal effects on rats.

The experiment modified potatoes to add a toxin (snowdrop lectin), but the experiment failed to include a control for the toxin alone or a control for genetic modifications alone (without added toxin); therefore, no conclusion could be made about the safety of the genetic engineering.

Photo:

showing stunted growth the larger rat, 19days old, is from the control group; the smaller rat, 20 4/15/12old, is days

 In 2009: three patented crops

(Mon 810, Mon 863, and NK 603) developed and owned by Monsanto cause liver, kidney, and heart damage in mammals.
In the mid 1990s: Pioneer Hi-

Bred tested the allergenicity of a transgenic soybean that expressed 4/15/12 a Brazil nut seed storage protein in

Human exposure to pesticides associated with GM foods

A 2011 study, the first to evaluate the

correlation between maternal and fetal exposure to pesticides associated with genetically modified foods and to determine exposure levels of the pesticides and their metabolites, revealed the presence of pesticides associated with GM foods in both non-pregnant women and pregnant women and their fetuses
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Potential Environmental Hazards

Reduced effectiveness of pesticides as insects become resistant to engineered toxins. Loss of biodiversity
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Harm to other organisms Pollen from Bt corn was shown to cause high mortality rates in monarch butterfly larvae(9). BUT follow-up studies have shown that the exposure levels in the fields are negligible(10).

Potential Environmental Hazards

Gene Transfer to non-target species

Herbicide resistant plants and weeds could cross breed and create superweeds

To address this one could:

Create sterile male plants that dont produce pollen Engineer the plants so that pollen doesnt contain the foreign genes Create buffer zones of non-GM crops 4/15/12 around GM crops. The buffer crops

Economic Hazards
Elimination of competition
GM seeds are patented

Suicide seeds
Plants with sterile seeds that are infertile are

created

Farmers are forced to buy seeds every year

However, some companies have reduced

costs or donated GM seeds to impoverished nations.

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Creating a balance
So are GM foods

a good or bad thing?

It depend on

each individual case. government and scientists should be responsible for weighing the benefits against the costs.
Improved Nutrition Resistance to disease Reduced use of chemicals Environmental risks Health risks Economic risks

Consumers, the

HIDDEN THREATS
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Food from Genetically Modified Crops

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Artificial organisms
to artificially create

new living organisms that would never naturally are GE crops occur through breeding. produced using laboratory techniques where genetic material from the cells of one species is transferred into another species

Types of GM Crops
Of economical importance are so far two types:
1. Herbicide resistant

crops

can stand high doses of a specific herbicide in case of Monsantos seeds: Roundup Ready crops

Roundup Ready crops

Roundup Ready soya:

most widely grown GM crop variety of Monsantos broad spectrum glyphosate herbicide other plants.

tolerates applications

Roundup destroys all

Roundup Ready Gene

The glyphosate resistance gene protects food

plants against the broad-spectrum herbicide Roundup, which efficiently kills invasive weeds in the field. The major advantages of the "Roundup Ready system include better weed control, reduction of crop injury, higher yield, and lower environmental impact than traditional weed control systems. Notably, fields treated with Roundup require less tilling; this preserves soil fertility by lessening soil run-off and oxidation.

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Types of GMO (2)

2. Bt crops, such as Bt corn and Bt cotton
these crops have an

inserted gene from the bacteria

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)

which enables them to produce a poison which shall kill the dominant pests corn borer,

Animal feeds
Likewise animal

feeds commonly contain corn and soybean meal from GM crops material was found in milk and meat

Also in Europe GM

Concern: Food Safety

GM food is not labeled

as such

The industry argues GM

crops are substantially equivalent to their conventional counterparts

Consequently no need

for special considerations concerning safety

Label GMO free

Producers ensure
All food developers

and manufacturers are required to ensure the safety and quality of their products. foods have an obligation to ensure that the foods they offer consumers are safe applicable legal requirements

Producers of new

and in compliance with

(US Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act)

How India fits in the picture of GM Crops?

In India, experiments have been

carried out and GM crops like the Golden Rice (which is rich in proteins) have been used. Unfortunately, the GM business is owned by top multinational companies and agribusiness is only for vested interests.
One of the prime fears related to 4/15/12

India Becoming a Dumping Ground for GE Crops

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 As the world wakes up to human

health and environment nuisance from the genetically modified (GM) crops, India is fast turning into a dustbin for the new technology. cotton, genetic engineering experiments are being conducted on maize, mustard, sugarcane, sorghum, pigeon pea, chickpea, rice, tomato, brinjal, potato, 4/15/12 banana, papaya, cauliflower,

In India on the other hand, besides

In future the following goals need to be met and their related challenges overcome:
Agricultural biotechnology must be

made affordable to developing world farmers.

There is a need for larger

investments in research in the public sector.

To garner the level of public interest

and support that can sustain an agricultural revolution, agricultural development must be regarded as 4/15/12

Conclusion
Numerous feeding

trails with rats and several observations by farmers indicate that the novel substances of GM crops are not as harmless as Monsanto and others state. Assessment of the list of risks indicates that GM crops are currently far too risky to be used for food or animal feed.

Conclusion (2)
To some extent: Humanity

has been turned into a pack of guinea pigs*

* somebody or something experimented on: somebody or something used as the subject of an experiment or test.

Conclusion (3)
Producers and

consumers need to be aware of the booming dangers Information concerning products containing GM material is essential In food preparations soya oil, cornstarch and glucose syrup should not be used unless origin is clear.

Thank you!
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