Genetically Modified Food: The Benefits and the Risks
Background Genetically modified foods or genetically modified food for a short, well under many different names, including the transgenic foods, genetically modified food or food to go biotechnology. So what are genetically modified food? Although various individuals and groups have different definitions of genetically modified food can generally regarded as foods that “are made from plants whose genome has evolved through a process called recombinant DNA technology, genetic engineering will be produced to define the plant a desirable property. ” The modification is done usually in the laboratory using molecular techniques or genetic engineering, although others claim that plants can be produced through conventional breeding and GM foods should be considered. The first genetically modified food crop, a tomato developed by Monsanto, has been submitted for approval to the FDA in August 1994 and came to market in the same year. From 9 September 2008 have completed a total of 111 biotech foods in the U.S. FDA “consultation process” on bioengineered foods. In addition to tomatoes, the range of products include soybeans, corn, cotton, potatoes, flax, canola, pumpkin, papaya, radicchio, sugar, rice, watermelon, and wheat. According to estimates by the Grocery Manufacturers of America, 70-75 percent of all processed foods available in the U.S. grocery stores may ingredients from genetically modified plants contain. Breads, cereals, frozen pizza, are hot dogs and lemonade just a few of them. “The benefits of genetically modified food. Support for genetically modified foods come from different areas: academics, economists, and understandably, from the agricultural and food industries. Genetically modified foods can combat world hunger. The world population has reached an all-time high of over six and a half billion. About 20% of them are suffering from poverty and hunger. That GM foods may be to stop the hunger one of the noblest motives behind the development of genetically modified food. GM foods are supposedly easier to grow and get higher yields. In poor parts of the world, higher returns can save millions of lives and bring much needed economic benefits. In a review, says Terri Raney of the United Nations “… The economic results so far show that farmers in developing countries can benefit from transgenic plants …” GM plants are better. GM plants are designed to be stable and not robust than their counterparts changed. They should be resistant to drought, diseases and pests. The Hawaiian papaya industry, for example, only managed to survive a virus epidemic after the introduction of resistant transgenic varieties. GM foods have you with us for hundreds of years. The diversity of the many plants that we see today, was formed by natural and artificial plants and traditional intersections that lasted thousands of years. The paprika is in different shapes, colors and tastes, from the very spicy hot sweet types. That is why we have more than 1000 different types of tomatoes have. Genetically modified foods can fight malnutrition. In a world suffering from malnutrition, to genetically modified food answer to the need for more nutritious foods. To cite one example, the Swiss research effort on rice strains that contain large amounts of beta-carotene and iron, to create in order to counter vitamin A and iron deficiency. Malnutrition can refer to both malnutrition and poor diet. People in the rich and developed countries have more than enough to eat, but not the right diet needed them healthy. For this reason, researchers at the EU-funded project have developed FLORA strains of fruit and vegetables with improved antioxidant content. Through genetic engineering FLORA oranges have higher than normal, flavonoids and phenols. The FLORA purple tomatoes three times the antioxidant anthocyanins than normal tomatoes. GM foods are good for the environment. The damage to the environment that insecticides such as DDT is known to bring about. The use of synthetic fertilizers in the agricultural led to the eutrophication of rivers and lakes in the world. GM foods in less use to translate from pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers, and therefore less pollution. Genetically modified foods can help medicine. Genetically modified foods are in the production of pharmacological products in the so-called “medical molecular farming: production of antibodies, biopharmaceuticals and vaccines used in edible plants.” FLORA stands for flavonoids and related phenolics for healthy living with recommended oral antioxidants “and she sees herself as” a player in the future of medicine. ” Already in 2005, reported Indian researchers the potential use of transgenic bananas in the implementation of vaccines against hepatitis B. In the same year, the biotech company GTC Biotherapeutics in Framingham, Massachusetts has developed a herd of genetically modified goats, the milk that a human anticoagulant called anti-thrombin containing produce. Genetically modified foods are safe. The creators of GM plants are to insure fast that GM foods are safe and no threat to human health. GM plants are of three bodies: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA regulated), and the U.S. FDA. “The FDA ensures that foods are produced from these plants safe for humans and animals to eat, the USDA makes sure that the facilities are sure to grow, and the EPA ensures that pesticides are introduced into the plant safe for human and animal nutrition and the environment. While these agencies act independently. “According to the U.S. FDA,” bioengineered foods are no risks to consumers, who are from traditional food … We make sure there are no dangers such as an unexpected allergen or toxic substance in the food, or that the food is not in any way that would affect its nutritional value is changing. “The issues against genetically modified food. Opponents of genetically modified foods can scientists, environmentalists, consumer groups and, of course. In addition, many celebrities are openly anti-GM, setting examples to the public. The best-known and outspoken skeptic GM is Charles, England’s Prince of Wales. GM foods are for profit. After their opponents have been genetically modified food for profit and nothing else. They cite the multinational giant Monsanto, a pioneer in research and GM owns the infamous Roundup crops. Companies like Monsanto are unlikely in the GM business for purely noble reasons. GM foods are not regulated. The use of genetically modified food in the world is almost an unregulated free-for-all activity. Going by the U.S. FDA’s consultation process in particular, on a voluntary basis. Anti-GM-advocacy groups and concerned scientists are asked for more controls and regulations. There are also reports of GM crops field trials escape and find their way into the natural environment, thousands of miles away. In 2006 there was rice, the genes from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt the infamous) contained the road to European supermarkets, which is a big outcry. The bacterial gene rendered the rice resistant to insects and the transgenic rice was an experimental facility that is not yet approved for human consumption. Genetically modified food could harm the environment. GM foods have affected their environment, and some of these effects could be harmful in fact. The effects are particularly clear in other organisms in the environment. There are concerns, for example, how can cross-pollination with pollen from GM crops to non-GM plants. Development of resistance is another important issue. In China, for example, researchers used antibiotic resistance marker genes, the resistance of transgenic rice strains derived. There are concerns that the marker genes are made of naturally occurring intestinal bacteria and lead to more resistant pathogenic strains. Other studies also point to possible effects on wildlife such as insects that occur closely with the GM plant in interaction. One of the most famous incidents was alleged that the pollen of transgenic Bt maize plants with insecticidal gene markers are adversely affecting monarch butterflies in North America. Although experts say that the butterflies from Bt were safe, the environmentalists not met. GM foods can be detrimental to human health. The main concerns about negative effects of GM food on health, the transfer of antibiotic resistance, toxicity and allergenicity. Using genetic change, new compounds in the plants that we know almost nothing. These compounds may take the form of allergens and little-known proteins whose effects on human health are difficult to predict. In the food chain, this may also have been influenced by the animals fed GM crops and slaughtered for human use. GM foods are no better. Western Europe is a stronghold of anti-GM movement. A European study last year said that organic food – which is not solely-GM-are definitely better and more nutritious than their non-organic counterparts. Which way are we going? The risks and benefits of genetically modified foods are to be settled not an easy question. There is an urgent need to increase food production and genetically modified food seem in the best position to this need into account. In the short term, genetically modified foods are likely to be the solution to food shortages. Currently there is not enough scientific evidence to support the possible risks of genetically modified food. However, it can be speculated, as in most things, new and innovative, long-term benefits and side effects only. The responsibility should act on the scientists, health authorities and industry, accountable and as transparent as possible.
