An opinion that genetically modified foods are a risk to humanity
Messenger In this fourth instalment of GM in Australia — a series looking at the facts, ethics, regulations and research into genetically modified crops — Christopher Mayes examines ethical issues surrounding GM foods. Developments in the genetic modification GM of foods and crops has resulted in a raft of controversies. Ethics can help here. While science determines whether we can safely modify the genetic makeup of certain organisms, ethics asks whether we should.
Many countries facing a shortage of food at the time of the study found genetically engineered foods were one viable option to meet the growing crisis.
These factors may have helped in changing opinion regarding genetically modified food. Genetically modified foods have been around for more than a decade and there has been no fallout from the consumption of these foods as was initially feared.
The poll also revealed: Genetically modified organisms GMOs are organisms that have had their DNA altered in a manner which does not occur naturally. The technology used to create GMOs is sometimes referred to as gene technology, genetic engineering, or recombinant DNA technology.
Using this technology, individual genes can be transferred between organisms and also between species. GMOs may be used to create genetically modified plants, which can then be used to grow GM food crops.
Why do we Need Genetically Modified Foods? Genetically modified foods are produced for many reasons: They can be grown at a lower price They can be grown to have enhanced nutritional value Crops created from genetically modified organisms may be more durable or hardy; and Genetically modified crops can be created to be resistant to insects, viruses, and weather extremes.
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According to the World Health Organisation WHOthere are three main concerns regarding human health associated with genetically modified foods: Ability to cause allergic reactions Gene transfer Outcrossing. Gene transfer refers to the potential to transfer genetic material that could adversely affect human health, i.
Outcrossing refers to the inadvertent transfer of genes from GM plants to conventional crops. This is a real concern, as there have been reports of this phenomenon occurring in the United States when corn which was meant to be used strictly as feed for livestock was found in corn that was used for human consumption.
Thus far, there have been no reports of illness or adverse effects on human health occurring as a result of consumption of genetically modified food. What is the Future of Genetically Modified Foods? In the future, genetically modified organisms may be used to create crops that are resistant to extreme weather such as drought, crops that are more nutritious, and crops that can produce specific proteins that can be used in vaccines or medications.
Plants and animals may be modified for enhanced growth and development. Providing that governments can show that these foods are safe, acceptance of genetically modified foods will likely continue to grow.About 50 percent of soybeans grown in the United States last year were genetically modified, and those soybeans became part of countless processed foods from oils to cereals.
And yet nothing in the label on these products has ever indicated the presence of genetic modifications. Genetically Modified Foods: Controversy The Office of Science at the U.S.
Department of Energy also lists some of the controversies associated with genetically modified foods. One of these controversies are the potential health risks, including allergies, antibiotic resistance, and unknown effects.
Public opinion about genetically modified foods and trust in scientists connected with these foods By Cary Funk and Brian Kennedy Genetically modified (GM) foods contain at least one ingredient coming from a plant with an altered genetic composition.
16 Genetic modification, also known as genetic engineering, often introduces new, desirable characteristics to plants, such as greater resistance to pests. Activists often cite the alleged potential health risks of genetically modified foods.
One recent example of this—”10 Scientific Studies Proving GMOs Can Be Harmful To Human Health“, posted. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is a very real risk of out-crossing, which refers to the transfer of engineered genes (transgenes) from genetically modified crops to conventional, cultivated plants or to related crop species in the wild.
The Vatican concluded a two-day conference on genetically modified organisms Tuesday with a discussion of the moral implications of tinkering with creation by splicing genes to make new plants and.