In genetically modified foods there are many advantages as well as disadvantages.
Disadvantages
GM Foods have many different potential hazards, which vary's according to the intended application and the type of organism being modified. The main concern around GMO's is their potential for negative effects on human health and the environment. The primary concern for safety assessors is the creation of new allergens, decreased nutrition, increased toxicity and antibiotic resistance. GMOs can even interbreed with natural organisms and out-compete them, this may lead to the original organisms extinction or other unpredictable environmental changes. Eating GM foods is like gambling with your health. GMOs are not safe, they have been linked to thousands of sick, thousands of toxic and allergenic reactions, sterile, and dead livestock, and every organ and system studied in lab animals has been damaged.
Food Allergy
Food allergies are a significant public threat all around the world. Studies have shown that people are more likely to be at risk of developing food-based allergies after consuming GM foods. BT toxin, which is designed to kill pests that eat crops, can cause allergies and other responses. People all around the world have traced toxic or allergic reactions to eating GM products, touching GM crops at harvest, and breathing in GM pollen. 50% of soy allergies in the UK have skyrocketed since GM foods were introduced. A skin prick allergic-type reaction was a side effect a human subject had after consuming GM soy, but they did not have a reaction to the natural soy. Mice fed Bt had damaged intestines, and powerful immune responses. Hundreds of people exposed to Bt spray have had allergic-type symptoms. No GMO test can guarantee that GM foods will not cause allergies. There are no human clinical trials of GM foods, like safety evaluations for drugs. Because GM soy can decrease the amount of enzymes in mice, it may slow down protein digestion and cause allergies to many foods.
Decreased Nutritional Value
A GM plant could possibly have lower nutritional value than the organic plant because the nutrients are either unavailable or indigestible to humans. Canola (oilseed rape) was engineered to contain vitamin A in its oil, but instead it reduced a lot of vitamin E and had an altered oil-fat composition, compared to the non-GM canola.
Increased Toxicity
Inserting an exotic gene into a plant could cause higher levels of toxin, this is a dangerous concern for humans. The new gene could possibly interfere with a metabolic pathway, which will cause a stressed plant to produce more toxins. These effects have been observed through conventional breeding methods creating a concern for GM products, although these effects have not been observed in GM plants it is still a major safety concern. GM crops with Bt in it are designed to be more toxic than the natural spray, and it is a thousand times more concentrated.
Antibiotic Resistance
Professionals have become more alarmed by the increasing number of bacterial strains that are showing resistance to antibiotics in recent years. Through natural mutation, bacteria has developed resistance to antibiotics by creating antibiotic resistance genes. There is a growing concern that the bacteria living in human and animal guts could pick up antibiotic resistance genes. The bacteria could pick up this gene from a GM plant before the DNA becomes completely digested. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is encouraging biotechnologists to phase out the practice of using antibiotic resistance genes.
Environmental Damage
There is great potential of damaging the environment by growing plants or raising livestock that normally wouldn't support them. This is a problem with GMO crossbreeding. GMO plants could become resistant to herbicides, generating the need for more GMO efforts. Plant communities and other ecosystems may be disrupted by promoting greater use of specific pesticides linked with GM crops, these crops are particularly toxic to many species, and by introducing exotic genes and organisms into the environment is very harmful. GMOs can also be toxic to non-target organisms, for example, bees. Bees are the most currently talked about example because of their huge importance in the pollination of many food crops. Modern agricultural techniques, such as GM crops, have made bees become extremely endangered. Other crops and wild plants may also become contaminated by the new, foreign GM crops. The big picture is that GMO DNA may end up in compost, soil, byproducts and animal feed, and other living organisms. "super weeds" are one major environmental impact caused by GMOs. The overuse of herbicide tolerant GM crops has created an increase in herbicide use. The environmental damage done by GMOs is much larger than the simple potential harm from GMOs on our health.
Disadvantages
GM Foods have many different potential hazards, which vary's according to the intended application and the type of organism being modified. The main concern around GMO's is their potential for negative effects on human health and the environment. The primary concern for safety assessors is the creation of new allergens, decreased nutrition, increased toxicity and antibiotic resistance. GMOs can even interbreed with natural organisms and out-compete them, this may lead to the original organisms extinction or other unpredictable environmental changes. Eating GM foods is like gambling with your health. GMOs are not safe, they have been linked to thousands of sick, thousands of toxic and allergenic reactions, sterile, and dead livestock, and every organ and system studied in lab animals has been damaged.
Food Allergy
Food allergies are a significant public threat all around the world. Studies have shown that people are more likely to be at risk of developing food-based allergies after consuming GM foods. BT toxin, which is designed to kill pests that eat crops, can cause allergies and other responses. People all around the world have traced toxic or allergic reactions to eating GM products, touching GM crops at harvest, and breathing in GM pollen. 50% of soy allergies in the UK have skyrocketed since GM foods were introduced. A skin prick allergic-type reaction was a side effect a human subject had after consuming GM soy, but they did not have a reaction to the natural soy. Mice fed Bt had damaged intestines, and powerful immune responses. Hundreds of people exposed to Bt spray have had allergic-type symptoms. No GMO test can guarantee that GM foods will not cause allergies. There are no human clinical trials of GM foods, like safety evaluations for drugs. Because GM soy can decrease the amount of enzymes in mice, it may slow down protein digestion and cause allergies to many foods.
Decreased Nutritional Value
A GM plant could possibly have lower nutritional value than the organic plant because the nutrients are either unavailable or indigestible to humans. Canola (oilseed rape) was engineered to contain vitamin A in its oil, but instead it reduced a lot of vitamin E and had an altered oil-fat composition, compared to the non-GM canola.
Increased Toxicity
Inserting an exotic gene into a plant could cause higher levels of toxin, this is a dangerous concern for humans. The new gene could possibly interfere with a metabolic pathway, which will cause a stressed plant to produce more toxins. These effects have been observed through conventional breeding methods creating a concern for GM products, although these effects have not been observed in GM plants it is still a major safety concern. GM crops with Bt in it are designed to be more toxic than the natural spray, and it is a thousand times more concentrated.
Antibiotic Resistance
Professionals have become more alarmed by the increasing number of bacterial strains that are showing resistance to antibiotics in recent years. Through natural mutation, bacteria has developed resistance to antibiotics by creating antibiotic resistance genes. There is a growing concern that the bacteria living in human and animal guts could pick up antibiotic resistance genes. The bacteria could pick up this gene from a GM plant before the DNA becomes completely digested. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is encouraging biotechnologists to phase out the practice of using antibiotic resistance genes.
Environmental Damage
There is great potential of damaging the environment by growing plants or raising livestock that normally wouldn't support them. This is a problem with GMO crossbreeding. GMO plants could become resistant to herbicides, generating the need for more GMO efforts. Plant communities and other ecosystems may be disrupted by promoting greater use of specific pesticides linked with GM crops, these crops are particularly toxic to many species, and by introducing exotic genes and organisms into the environment is very harmful. GMOs can also be toxic to non-target organisms, for example, bees. Bees are the most currently talked about example because of their huge importance in the pollination of many food crops. Modern agricultural techniques, such as GM crops, have made bees become extremely endangered. Other crops and wild plants may also become contaminated by the new, foreign GM crops. The big picture is that GMO DNA may end up in compost, soil, byproducts and animal feed, and other living organisms. "super weeds" are one major environmental impact caused by GMOs. The overuse of herbicide tolerant GM crops has created an increase in herbicide use. The environmental damage done by GMOs is much larger than the simple potential harm from GMOs on our health.
GMO Animal Tests
There have been studies done on animals that suggest GM crops have negative health effects, including allergies, infertility, and stunted growth. Rats fed GM potatoes had smaller livers, testicles, brains and hearts. It damaged their immune systems, and their white blood cells showed structural changes, making them more vulnerable to disease and infection compared to other rats that were fed non-GM potatoes. The rats that were fed GM canola had livers 12-16% heavier. GM soy also caused reproductive problems and infant death. The male rats and mice had altered young sperm cells, and showed changes in their testicles after they were fed GM soy. Female rats that were fed GM soy had many offspring that were significantly smaller, and in three weeks, more than half of the offspring died. GM potatoes created excessive cell growth in the stomach lining of rats, this is a condition that may lead to cancer. Also lactating cows milk production and performance showed substantial differences between cows fed GM and non-GM feeds.
There have been studies done on animals that suggest GM crops have negative health effects, including allergies, infertility, and stunted growth. Rats fed GM potatoes had smaller livers, testicles, brains and hearts. It damaged their immune systems, and their white blood cells showed structural changes, making them more vulnerable to disease and infection compared to other rats that were fed non-GM potatoes. The rats that were fed GM canola had livers 12-16% heavier. GM soy also caused reproductive problems and infant death. The male rats and mice had altered young sperm cells, and showed changes in their testicles after they were fed GM soy. Female rats that were fed GM soy had many offspring that were significantly smaller, and in three weeks, more than half of the offspring died. GM potatoes created excessive cell growth in the stomach lining of rats, this is a condition that may lead to cancer. Also lactating cows milk production and performance showed substantial differences between cows fed GM and non-GM feeds.
Advantages
Some people believe that GMO products are very beneficial. One good example of GM food is it's resistant to drought and infestations because of it's modifications, letting people all around the world have more regular meals. GM foods are designed to have better texture, flavour, and nutritional value. It also has a longer shelf life, which makes it easier for shipping. The creation of GM foods is an essential, sustainable way to feed the world.
Better Quality & Taste
GE foods are modified to enhance the quality and taste of food. Even animals can be genetically modified to grow faster, be leaner, and need less food. Cows can even produce greater milk by modifying it to have special characteristics. Ultimately low costs for consumers and improved productivity for farmers is a beneficial reward from these modifications.
Some people believe that GMO products are very beneficial. One good example of GM food is it's resistant to drought and infestations because of it's modifications, letting people all around the world have more regular meals. GM foods are designed to have better texture, flavour, and nutritional value. It also has a longer shelf life, which makes it easier for shipping. The creation of GM foods is an essential, sustainable way to feed the world.
Better Quality & Taste
GE foods are modified to enhance the quality and taste of food. Even animals can be genetically modified to grow faster, be leaner, and need less food. Cows can even produce greater milk by modifying it to have special characteristics. Ultimately low costs for consumers and improved productivity for farmers is a beneficial reward from these modifications.
Resistant to Disease
GM plants and animals can become more resistant to unexpected diseases. The vaccine can be programmed into the genetics, instead of a shot given to the immune system. Thanks to GE there is potential to provide edible plant vaccines, these vaccines could be used to immunize people against a wide variety of infections and diseases ranging from cholera to potentially AIDS. For example, a pharmaceutical immunization against diarrhea has been produced and tested successfully by utilizing a genetically engineered, transgenic potato plants.
GM plants and animals can become more resistant to unexpected diseases. The vaccine can be programmed into the genetics, instead of a shot given to the immune system. Thanks to GE there is potential to provide edible plant vaccines, these vaccines could be used to immunize people against a wide variety of infections and diseases ranging from cholera to potentially AIDS. For example, a pharmaceutical immunization against diarrhea has been produced and tested successfully by utilizing a genetically engineered, transgenic potato plants.
Nutrition Benefits
GM foods can have added vitamins and minerals, providing greater nutritive benefits to those who eat them. This is extremely helpful for developing countries that don't always have access to essential resources. GM foods can be very nutritional, and unlike un-altered crops they have a much larger yield. Along with eliminating malnutrition, biotechnology claims that GM foods are a helpful solution to end the problem of world hunger by increasing crop yields.In places like Africa this is very helpful, because in Africa the soil isn't good enough to grow the necessary crops they need to support themselves. In 3rd world countries vitamin A and iron deficiency is very common. An inadequate amount of vitamin A can lead to vision problems, and in some cases, blindness. Rice is the main source of food in these countries, and rice is known for having very little iron and vitamin A. They have created GM golden rice to solve this problem. GM golden rice is a white rice crop modified by the insertion of the vitamin A gene from a daffodil plant. When the level of vitamin A changes, the colour of the rice changes too.
GM foods can have added vitamins and minerals, providing greater nutritive benefits to those who eat them. This is extremely helpful for developing countries that don't always have access to essential resources. GM foods can be very nutritional, and unlike un-altered crops they have a much larger yield. Along with eliminating malnutrition, biotechnology claims that GM foods are a helpful solution to end the problem of world hunger by increasing crop yields.In places like Africa this is very helpful, because in Africa the soil isn't good enough to grow the necessary crops they need to support themselves. In 3rd world countries vitamin A and iron deficiency is very common. An inadequate amount of vitamin A can lead to vision problems, and in some cases, blindness. Rice is the main source of food in these countries, and rice is known for having very little iron and vitamin A. They have created GM golden rice to solve this problem. GM golden rice is a white rice crop modified by the insertion of the vitamin A gene from a daffodil plant. When the level of vitamin A changes, the colour of the rice changes too.
Some Benefits Promised by Biotechnology
-GM golden rice can help prevent blindness in people all around the world suffering from Vitamin A deficiency.
-Tomato that slowly softens, permitting it to develop longer on the plant vine , and keep longer on the shelf.
-Less fat absorbing potatoes when fried, which will change the popular french fries from junk food into a more nutritional food.
-Strawberry crops that can survive through frost.
-A vaccine filled apple, with the ability to fight against a virus that causes childhood pneumonia.
-GM golden rice can help prevent blindness in people all around the world suffering from Vitamin A deficiency.
-Tomato that slowly softens, permitting it to develop longer on the plant vine , and keep longer on the shelf.
-Less fat absorbing potatoes when fried, which will change the popular french fries from junk food into a more nutritional food.
-Strawberry crops that can survive through frost.
-A vaccine filled apple, with the ability to fight against a virus that causes childhood pneumonia.
