Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per.

1/4

Genetically Modified Foods

Many people all over the world are trying to answer or figure out their opinion on the question: Are genetically modified foods beneficial or harmful? Genetically modified foods are most definitely harmful. First of all, they are not good for the environment. Second, they are not very beneficial or good for peoples health either; GMOs both cause and trigger many of the illnesses that affect the Western World. Lastly, bio-tech companies are not following or meeting federal requirements, and their GM food is unsafe. Although they provide more food than plants and crops that are not genetically modified, the risks and present danger of these foods is greater. The process of creating genetically modified foods can be long, tedious, and very complicated. The genes and DNA greatly influence an organisms traits as well. Although it can be considered long, tedious, and quite complicated, the modern way (how we do it now) could be considered quick and easy. This idea is not new, however, people used to breed different species or variations of the same species to get a certain trait that they are looking for, all done by trial and error. GMOs are also known as transgenic organisms, meaning they have genes from more than one organism or source (Chaudry, np). Genetic engineering is a process in which a specific gene in the DNA of an organism is cut out by a specific enzyme . Enzymes have the ability to cut apart and glue together certain sequences of nucleotides in the DN A. Restriction endonucleosis, another name for enzymes, act as scissors to cut out the desired

Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per. 1/4

gene; enzymes are sensitive towards specific nucleotide sequences and can only cut the DNA at certain parts (Chaudry, np). They cut specific sequences out of the DNA and plasmids. For example, EcoR1 searches for and can cut A and T regions of DNA (OConnor, np). Afterwards, an expression cassette is made. An expression cassette is the additional DNA surrounding the desired gene and allows the cell to know where the gene of interests promoter (beginning) and terminator (ending) are (Chaudry, np). Once the gene is cut out, it is put in the same environment as a plasmid, circular bacteria DNA, and in this case, taken out of the bacteria where it is inserted into the plasmid. The plasmid and gene of interest join together at corresponding ends (As with Ts and Cs with Gs) and are glued together with another enzyme. Then the plasmid with the new gene is placed (reinserted) into the bacteria where the bacteria just keep producing. Millions of copies are made. Then, when enough copies are made, the plasmids are taken out of the bacteria and separated to find the ones with the gene of interest. They are then placed into the DNA (cells) of whatever organism is to carry it or is being tested on, also known as the host cell, and inserted into the genome (Chaudry, np). All this is done by recombinant DNA technology (molecular cloning of DNA) (OConnor, np).Genetic engineering greatly changes the properties of an organism as well. For example, crops can have nutrients added, taste better, and reduced growing time (Chaudry, np). They have new and enhanced characteristics, all of which have both positive and negative impacts. In summary, genetic engineering is a complicated process that has been developing for many, many years. Genes and DNA can greatly influence an organisms traits. A gene is a segment of DNA that contains the information on how to create specific proteins. Proteins are what do the

Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per. 1/4

majority of the work in our body. They dictate bone structure, make up muscles (ligaments and tendons, too), defend the body against invading pathogens, and tell cells how to function. If there is an error in the gene, a specific protein might not be able to be created, which could potentially be very dangerous. In this case a disorder will develop. The DNA is the blueprint of an organism. It dictates how the organism looks: how many legs it has, the color of its skin/fur, bone structure, etc. If the DNA were to have an error it might not be too bad, but on the other hand it could be very dangerous as well. In brief, an organisms genes and DNA can influence its traits in many ways. Genetically modified foods are not good for the environment. These GMOs are causing cross-contamination (and cross-breeding) between themselves and non-GMOs. This creates super weeds and other environmental risks. Already, they have contaminated up to 80% of the non-GMO plants in the U.S.; they just cant be contained. Genetically modified crops and plants cause harm to other organisms as well. They contain herbicides and pesticides, and because of this, animals and other organisms that eat that plant will become sick and, if eaten, will cause that animal to get sick, disrupting a whole ecosystem. This can happen with just one plant. Also, because they contain pesticides and herbicides, insects (and weeds) might become resistant to the toxins produced by the GM crops and plants and then they could damage crops without anyone or anything to stop them; and it would be our fault since we were the ones who put the chemicals in our food. To conclude, genetically modified foods are unsafe, especially when it comes to the environment.

Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per. 1/4

Did you know that genetically modified foods both cause and trigger many of the illnesses that affect the Western World today? Therefore, GMOs are unsafe and dangerous when it comes to peoples health. It is important to realize that these GM foods cause various medical diseases: gastrointestinal disorders, tumors, various types of cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimers disease. These illnesses occur and develop gradually in the body because of the GM foods and other products. Also, these products slowly erode the bodys cellular systems. One of the reasons why GM foods cause these illnesses is the herbicides which make people more susceptible to disease (DNEWS, np). Third, in the process of becoming a genetically modified food, these plants nutrient content is adversely changed. This is one of the reasons the EU is against GMOs. They once said that they didnt want it in their countries, and that they prefer organic foods which are much healthier. They believe that the risk of GMOs to peoples health and the environment outweighs the benefits; and that only the multinational bio-tech companies benefit while squeezing out traditional farmers (Jones, 1). Eight EU nations have completely banned GM foods. When a survey was conducted in Europe, 69% of those surveyed found risk in GMOs (Freedman, 82). As can be seen, genetically modified foods are a major risk to our health. There are many risks bio-tech companies are taking that could involve peoples health. To start, they are introducing allergens and toxins to food. If they were to put a shellfish or nut gene in an everyday crop, what would happen to those of us who are allergic to nuts and shellfish? GM foods arent labeled, so no one would know until one day their deadly allergy occurs and they die. In addition, by putting antibiotics in crops, we are allowing disease-causing

Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per. 1/4

bacteria to become accustomed and immune to our antibiotics (Britt, 36). So, eventually we will run out of medicine to fight off diseases and infections. To add to that, insects and other pests can become immune or resistant to our herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals that would kill them and weeds off (Britt, 36). When adding a new gene to the genome, the genome will react to that gene; it is not a stable environment, therefore, the inserted gene can be transformed in a few ways in the present or generations later, according to David Williams, a cellular biologist who specializes in vision (Freedman, 80). David Schubert, head of the Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies says that *The gene+ can go forward, backward, at different locations, in multiple copies, and they all do different things, (Freedman, 85). To sum up, bio-tech companies are taking risks they most definitely should not, seeing as they endanger those who come in contact with them. Bio-tech companies are not following federal rules and regulations, causing the GM foods to be unsafe; at least not voluntarily. They have adversely changed the nutrient content of the crops all over the world both for better and worse (mostly worse). This makes the food not as nutritional and healthy in the long term effects. To add onto that, bio-tech companies have introduced allergens and toxins to food, which has created many health problems (Jones, 2). Also, they have created super weeds through cross-contamination (Britt, 36; Jones, 2). To add to that, every single study they have done comes out safe. Although, these studies have resulted in the fact that GMOs are safe, many people have developed negative reactions to them, such as illnesses. They have done hundreds of studies (DNEWS, np) and none come out as unsafe; there should be at least some studies that call them unsafe. Isnt that at least a little

Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per. 1/4

suspicious? On the other hand, researchers, mainly the French, have done studies of their own and hundreds of their studies have come out as unsafe (DNEWS, np). French researchers have done a two-year experiment on 200 rats (100 males and 100 females) which is the most comprehensive GMO safety assessment ever conducted (Philpott, 13). They studied the effects of eating the Monsanto Roundup-Ready corn and how it affected the rats. In the end, just about all negative health effects occurred 90 days in. The French researchers say, severe adverse health effects [occurred], including mammary tumors and kidney and liver damage, leading to premature death. 50-80% of females had large tumors instead of the normal 30%; in males liver congestion and necrosis were 2.5-5.5 times larger than the control group and for kidney disease, it was 1.3-2.3 times higher. About 50% of males and 70% of females died sooner than they should have (prematurely) instead of the normal 30% of males and 20% of females. Hansen, a longtime critic of GMOs, says that Thats suggestive that theres something going on and that should be further research, (Philpott, 13). All in all, bio-tech companies are creating extremely unsafe foods and are making tons of money at our expense. In conclusion, genetically modified foods are a danger to the environment and many peoples health. It causes many of the diseases that plague us, and those bio -tech companies that make them are gaining tons of money at our expense. GM foods are incorrectly tested and, even if they were correctly tested, errors can show up generations later. As a result, millions of people can tell that GM foods are endangering us and our environment. Two million people from 52 countries protesting against Monsanto, a major GM food company, cannot be

Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per. 1/4

wrong (DNEWS, np). Genetically modified foods may help us in some ways, but the risks and harm they have done and could do outweigh the benefits.

Trinity Flynn 11-14-13 Per. 1/4

Works Cited
Britt, Darice. "Genetically Modified Foods Explained." Genetically Modified Foods Explained. N.p., 5 Apr. 2012. Web. 30 Aug. 2013. Chaudry, Arshad. . GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS | The Science Creative Quarterly. Aug. 2004. Web. 01 Nov. 2013. <http://www.scq.ubc.ca/genetically-modified-foods/>. Freedman, David H. "Are Engineered Foods Evil?" Scientific American (2013): 80-85. Web. Jones, Trey. "Genetically Modified Foods (Biotech Foods) Pros and Cons." WebMD. WebMD, 2003. Web. 3 Sept. 2013. Mather, Robin. "How to Avoid GM Food." Mother Earth News (2013): 13. Print. O'Connor, Stephen, Dr. "Are GMOs Useful." Adams Middle School, Guilford, CT. 13 Nov. 2013. Lecture. Philpott, Tom. "Longest-Running GMO Study Finds Tumors In Rats." Mother Earth News (2013): 13. Print. What's the Deal With Genetically Modified Foods. Perf. Lacey Green. Youtube. DNews, 2 June 2013. Web. 23 Sept. 2013. <youtube.com/watch?/v=OWSCs78GI9M>.