THE HISTORY BEHIND GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS

1865 -Gregor Mendel's publicized his discoveries on the breeding of peas,

which became the foundation of modern genetics.
1935 DNA DiscoveredRussian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky
isolates pure DNA.
1973 Recombinant DNA CreatedThe idea for man-made DNA, or rDNA,
comes from a grad student at Stanford University Medical School. Professor
Herbert Boyer and a few of his biologist colleagues run with it.
1975 Asilomar ConferenceA group of biologists get together with a few
lawyers and doctors to create guidelines for the safe use of genetically
engineered DNA.
1980's to early 1990's China first to put GM crops on sale, namely a virusresistant tobacco and a tomato.
1980 First GMO Patent IssuedA 1980 court case between a genetics
engineer at General Electric and the U.S. Patent Office is settled by a 5-to-4
Supreme Court ruling, allowing for the first patent on a living organism. The
GMO in question is a bacterium with an appetite for crude oil, ready to
gobble up spills.
1983-Four separate groups of scientists create GM plants; three groups insert
bacterial genes into plants and one inserts a bean gene into a sunflower
plant.
1982 FDA Approves First GMOHumulin, insulin produced by genetically
engineered E. coli bacteria, appears on the market.
1988- Transgenic maize is produced.
History continued...
1994 GMO Hits Grocery StoresThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration
approves the Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves. The
delayed-ripening tomato has a longer shelf life than conventional tomatoes.
1995 -1996 Roundup Ready Soybeans (soy beans resistant to glyphosate
herbicide (Roundup)) introduced in the USA.
1996 GMO-Resistant WeedsWeeds resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide
used with many GMO crops, are detected in Australia. Research shows that
the super weeds are seven to 11 times more resistant to glyphosate than the
standard susceptible population.
1997 Mandatory LabelsThe European Union rules in favor of mandatory
labeling on all GMO food products, including animal feed.
History continued...
1999 GMO Food Crops DominateOver 100 million acres worldwide are

planted with genetically engineered seeds. The marketplace begins

embracing GMO technology at an alarming rate.
2003 GMO-Resistant PestsIn 2003, a Bt-toxin-resistant caterpillar-cummoth, Helicoverpa zea, is found feasting on GMO Bt cotton crops in the
southern United States. In less than a decade, the bugs have adapted to the
genetically engineered toxin produced by the modified plants.
2011 Bt Toxin in HumansResearch in eastern Quebec finds Bt toxins in the
blood of pregnant women and shows evidence that the toxin is passed to
fetuses.
2012 Farmer Wins Court BattleFrench farmer Paul Francois sues Monsanto
for chemical poisoning he claims was caused by its pesticide Lasso, part of
the Roundup Ready line of products. Francois wins and sets a new precedent
for future cases.
FUTURE OF GMOs
2014 GMO Patent ExpiresMonsantos patent on the Roundup Ready line of
genetically engineered seeds will end in two years. In 2009, Monsanto
introduced Roundup 2 with a new patent set to make the first-generation
seed obsolete.
Pros 1
Pest Resistance-Scientists can insert specific genes to drive away bugs and
insects
Herbicide Tolerance-Crops can be genetically-engineered to eradicate the
need for herbicide which can reduce environmental damage.
Disease Resistance-scientists can create plants, through genetic engineering,
that are resistant to diseases.
Cold Tolerance-an antifreeze gene from cold water fish can be injected into
plants like potatoes and tobacco.
The antifreeze gene allows plants to form tolerance to cold temperatures.
Drought Resistance-Scientists can manipulate plants through genetic
engineering to allow them to endure droughts and bad soil quality.
Nutrition-GMOs allow for the creation of edible vaccines in the form of
potatoes and tomatoes.
> Insect/Pest Resistance
Plants modified to express insecticidal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis
(referred to as Bt-protected plants) provide a safe and highly effective
method of insect control. Bt-protected corn, cotton, and potato were
introduced into the United States in 1995/1996 and grown on a total of

approximately 10 million acres in 1997, 20 million acres in 1998, and 29

million acres globally in 1999. The extremely rapid adoption of these Btprotected crops demonstrates the outstanding grower satisfaction of the
performance and value of these products. These crops provide highly
effective control of major insect pests such as the European corn borer,
southwestern corn borer, tobacco budworm, cotton bollworm, pink bollworm,
and Colorado potato beetle and reduce reliance on conventional chemical
pesticides. They have provided notably higher yields in cotton and corn. The
estimated total net savings to the grower using Bt-protected cotton in the
United
States was approximately $92 million in 1998. Other benefits of these crops
include reduced levels of the fungal toxin fumonisin in corn and the
opportunity for supplemental pest control by beneficial insects due to the
reduced use of broad-spectrum insecticides. Insect resistance management
plans are being implemented to ensure the prolonged effectiveness of these
products. Acute, subchronic, and chronic toxicology studies conducted over
the past 40 years establish the safety of the microbial Bt products, including
their expressed insecticidal (Cry) proteins, which are fully approved for
marketing. Mammalian toxicology and digestive fate studies, which have
been conducted with the proteins produced in the currently approved Btprotected plant products, have confirmed that these Cry proteins are
nontoxic to humans and pose no significant concern for allergenicity.
On-farm field trials carried out with Bt cotton in different states of India show
that the technology substantially reduces pest damage and increase yields.
The yield gains are much higher than what has been reported for other
countries where genetically modified crops were used mostly to replace and
enhance chemical pest control. In many developing countries, small-scale
farmers especially suffer big pest-related yield losses because of technical
and economic constraints. Pest-resistant genetically modified crops can
contribute to increased yields and agricultural growth in those situations, as
the case of Bt cotton in India demonstrates.
> Delayed Ripening
> Modified Starch
> Modified Oil

> Disease Resistance

> Plants are adaptable to harsh enviroments
> Increase iron content (Similarly, GM rice has also been altered in such a
way to counter iron deficiency. By altering its genome through the insertion
of a gene from the Aspergillus niger fungus, so-called Iron Rice exhibits
increased iron content.13)
Pros 2
> Herbicide Tolerance
The plants, most of which have been modified to resist pests or weed-killing
herbicides, seem to pose minimal risks to human health.
> Virus Resistance
There are three commercialized virus-resistant GM varieties: zucchini,
crookneck squash and the only commercialized GM fruit, papaya. GM papaya
grows solely in Hawaii and was introduced in 1998 to protect the crop from
the devastating ring-spot virus.
In the late 1980s, the University of Hawaii began developing a papaya
cultivar resistant to Papaya Ringspot Virus.
Nonindigenous species have been introduced into the United States
intentionally and unintentionally for centuries; an estimated 50,000 species
in the United States are not native (2). While many nonindigenous species
are regarded as harmless or beneficial, other introduced species, commonly
referred to as invasive species, have spread widely in their nonnative
ecosystems and caused unintended degradation of natural ecosystem
functions and structure
Invasive species are also expensive, costing the United States an estimated
$137 billion annually in direct and indirect effects, and control or prevention
measures (2). Indeed, invasive species have been categorized as one of the
three most pressing environmental problems, in addition to global climate
change and habitat loss (4).
Antibody resistant DNA in the gut of animals may produce disease that are
resistant to antibiotics

Socioeconomic Concerns
GM crops bring to the forefront issues of dominance, power and control,
both, domestically and abroad. As William F. Engdahl exposes in his book
Seeds of Destruction: The Hidden Agenda of Genetic Manipulation, control
the food and you control the people.
Socioeconomic concerns stem in part from intellectual property protection
and the profit interest that flows from it. Fundamentally, however, it is not
simply the profit-driven perspectives of the biotech industry that have so
many civil society advocates concerned. Knowledge that once belonged to
everyone, a communal understanding of seeds, crops, farming practices, and
an appreciation for biodiversity is now being gobbled up, privatized,
patented, and sold to those same farmers in licensed chunks. As many
farmers have painfully discovered, using GM seeds comes with legal strings
(and penalties) attached. Biotech companies require farmers to enter into
license agreements in which farmers waive rights, including the right to save
seeds. These contracts also, among other things, encourage farmers to use
company specific pesticides. No wonder many farmer advocates are
concerned that such imposition of GM seeds is tantamount to corporate
colonialism.
Cons 1
Massive bee die-offs of the last four years, at least one contributing factor is
the increased use of pesticides neonicotinoid insecticides Thiametoxam,
Clothianidin, Acetamiprid and Thiacloprid . If there is anything we learned
since GM crops went commercial is that pesticides and GMOs go hand-inhand.
International Resistance to GM crops Farmers loss of $814 million in foreign
sale. Over supply in domestic market. United States Government wants
foreigners to accept the production of GM crops
Effects of Agriculture:
One of the primary concerns about the effect of genetically modified crops
on farmers is that of economic costs and controls.

These include:
Continual updating of modified food
Renewing of licenses
Cons 2
Food Allergies: One of the prime concerns is the possibility of a food allergen
may be predictable if the added DNA comes from a food that is known to
commonly produce such reactions, such as peanuts.
Environmental Effects: Bioaccumulation of Bacillus thuringiensis ("Bt") toxins
is a common concern.
Marker genes for antibiotic resistance.
Transfer of GMO Genes and Its Effect
Cross Breeding (Weeds)
Pollen Drift
Seed Spillage
What are the threats GM crops pose on Organic Farmers?
Organic farmers certification
Detection of unexpected modified seeds
Substantial decrease in worth of the crop
GM Papaya
What is the GM Papaya?
What is PRSV?
-PRSV stands for Papaya Ringspot Virus and affects papayas and other
cucurbits. When the cucurbits are infected, they develop harmful symptoms.
Symptoms of this virus/disease include: dark rings and bumps, streaks on the
leaf stalks, leaf distortion, and slowly-dying tissue. Lower quality and bad
taste are other symptoms.
Science
-In the 1980's, the scientists created a genetic material composed of a PRSV
gene and an antibiotic gene.
-It was integrated into papaya DNA via Tungsten Particle Bombardment: a
type of transformation also known as "bioballistics."

History of the GM Papaya

-In the 1940's, a Hawaiian Papaya Industry developed in Oahu. After a couple
of years, a virus (PRSV) started infecting the trees. Trees started to die and
show the symptoms of PRSV. The yield decreased significantly as well. The
industry was then relocated into the Puna Region, however after a couple of
decades, the virus reappeared.
-Farmers tired to stop the virus by relocating tress, cross protection, and
using insecticides.
-In the 1980's, the virus outbreak motivated the research and development
of a new PRSV- resistant papaya in Hawaii.
Ethics: Debate over the GM Papaya (Cons)
Arguments against the GM Papaya:
-GM Papaya is widespread through air contamination.
-It may have a long-term effect on consumers.
-May have new weaknesses to disease.
Stakeholders (Against-GM Papaya):
-Environmental groups and health organizations believe that GM Papayas
could be harmful to consumers in the long term.
-Organic food industries take the position against GM foods because they
want to maximize their profits and believe that GM foods, including the
papaya, are potentially harmful.
Ethics: Debate over the GM Papaya (Pros)
Arguments for the GM Papaya:
-Increased yield due to resistance to insects and disease, meaning more
foods to feed populations.
-Benefits environment by allowing plants to adapt to certain
environments and their pressures.
Presentation by Kevin Nguyen

A GM Papaya is a genetically modified papaya that is designed to be

resistant to the Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV).
Rainbow Papaya-- a type of GM Papaya
-Does not affect humans.
-Aphids help transmit this virus from tree to tree by feeding on tree sap.
Stakeholders (Pro-GM Papaya):
-Farmers believe more yield and production means more money to support
their families. They do not want to lose money to disease/viruses.
-On a large scale, some communities and organizations who believe that the
food supply in the world will not be enough to sustain future populations
support GM foods, including GM Papaya.
-Scientists, engineers, and researchers believe that biotechnology has an
important role in improving food production, therefore want to promote GM
foods.
Position:
We are pro-GM Papaya for several reasons.
-The GM Papaya is an example showing how biotechnology can help enhance
our food supply and meet the needs of consumers.
-PRSV caused the Papaya Industry to lose millions of dollars and cut the food
supply by half. GM Papayas are resistant, and therefore guarantee economic
profit and higher yields.
-The GM Papaya can help reduce the amount of hunger along with other GM
foods.
-On a bigger note, GM crops are more resistant to environmental pressures,
grow more efficiently, yield more nutritional value, have higher shelf-lives,
and keep up with the gradually increasing world population.
-Crops, without genetic modifications are more vulnerable to pests,
herbicides, viruses, and environmental factors including cold temperatures
and drought. Biotechnology has allowed us to take all of those weaknesses
and create stronger crops that provide better benefits.
Bibliography:

1. "GMO Education Network." Papaya Ringspot Virus (PRSV) Resistant Papaya

-. Wikidot. Web. 24 Jan. 2015. <http://gmo.wikidot.com/prsv-resistantpapaya>.
2. Gonsalves, Dennis, Savarni Tripathi, James Carr, and Jon Suzuki. "Papaya
Ringspot Virus." APS. USDA/ARS Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center.
Web. 24 Jan.
2015.<http://www.apsnet.org/edcenter/intropp/lessons/viruses/Pages/Papaya
Ringspotvirus.aspx>.
3. Hill, Erin, and Bronwyn Harris. "What Are the Pros and Cons of GM
Papaya?" WiseGeek. Conjecture Corporation, 15 Jan. 2015. Web. 24 Jan.
2015. <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-geneticallymodified-papayas.htm>.
4. "How Are GMOs Created?" YouTube. GMO Answers, 2 Aug. 2013. Web. 24
Jan. 2015.
5. McDonald, Megan. "Gene Guns." Gene Guns. Web. 24 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.bio.davidson.edu/Courses/Molbio/MolStudents/spring2003/McDo
nald/Gene_gun.html>.
6. "Papaya Ringspot Virus." Papaya Ringspot Virus. BIosecurity Queensland.
Web. 24 Jan. 2015.
<https://www.daff.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/58857/PRSV-factsheet.pdf>.
7. "Papayas." GMO Compass. GMO Compass Staff. Web. 24 Jan. 2015.
<http://www.gmocompass.org/eng/grocery_shopping/fruit_vegetables/14.gen
etically_modified_papayas_virus_resistance.html>.