The cells of all plants and animals contain DNA. Strands of DNA are made up of genes that carry the
information which gives organisms their specific characteristics which includes physical and
physiological functioning.
Genetic engineering involves changing DNA by transferring genes between
and within living things. Genetic engineering crosses the natural boundaries
beween species - plants, animals, micro-organisms. For example, a gene
from a fish living in cold seas inserted into a strawberry DNA - so it can
survive the frost.
Arguments against GM
It is impossible to anticipate all the potential health and environmental
effects. Risks can only be assessed after they have been in use for many
years. Science can't prove the GM foods are safe as standard toxicology tests don't work on
food.
Bio engineers often insert a 'marker' gene that they can readily identify with it. One such marker
gene is for resistence to a particular antibiotic. The effectiveness of antibiotics could be
compromised if genes coded for such resistence enter the food chain.
New allergens could be created inadvertently and known allergens could be transferred from
traditional foods into GM variants. For example, Brazil nut genes were spliced into soybeans by
a company called Pioneer Hi-Bred. Individuals allergic to this nut can go into apopletic shock
which can lead to death just from having the GM soybean. Animal tests confirmed this and the
soybean was removed before fatalities occurred.
GM crops can accidently cross-pollinate non GM crops leading t contamination and increasing
the spread of GM crops.
Crops are given herbicide resistence so they can be sprayed by the herbicide and remain unaffected e.g. Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybean is a
good example. Roundup (glyphosate) is a broad spectrum
hericide that kills most plants - by conferring glyphosate
resistence to soybeans, growers could spray their crops
killing all plants except for the soybeqan crop. Genes
resistent to chemical herbicides could be transferring from
GM plants to weeds. leading to increased use of herbicides,
as well as water contamination. We must also ask the
question - what effect do herbicide resistent beans have on
the people eating them?
Growing GM crops on a large scale may have implications on bio-diversity, balance of nature,
wildlife and the environment.
Some GM foods include soya beans, canola, cotton, corn, tomatoes, milk & cheese.
References
Douglas, F., 2000, Genetically Modified Foods Guide: The stuff they won't tell you, Information
Australia, Melbourne.
Genetic engineering involves changing DNA by transferring genes between
and within living things. Genetic engineering crosses the natural boundaries
beween species - plants, animals, micro-organisms. For example, a gene
from a fish living in cold seas inserted into a strawberry DNA - so it can
survive the frost.
unaffected e.g. Monsanto's Roundup Ready soybean is a
good example. Roundup (glyphosate) is a broad spectrum
hericide that kills most plants - by conferring glyphosate
resistence to soybeans, growers could spray their crops
killing all plants except for the soybeqan crop. Genes
resistent to chemical herbicides could be transferring from
GM plants to weeds. leading to increased use of herbicides,
as well as water contamination. We must also ask the
question - what effect do herbicide resistent beans have on
the people eating them?