Genetically Modified Organisms

Garrett Lattanzio 1/21/14 INTAG 470

Genetically modified organisms

 

Based on:  UN/WHO, 20 Questions On Genetically Modified (Gm) Foods, http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/

1.      How does WHO define genetically modified organisms?  List any lingering questions or concerns about this definition

The WHO defines a genetically modified organism as one that has had its DNA altered artificially and does not occur naturally.  I think the way that they state “not occur naturally” is not accurate to a point.  Most of the traits do occur naturally in some organism, but just not in that specific organism that is being modified.

2.What are some of the policies and outlooks of the EU in relation to GMO’s?

    The European Union has very strong legislature against GMOs; for a GMO to be made available for use it must go through a rather complex process which involves the agreement by all EU countries.  There have been no GMOs allowed on the market since 1998 in the EU.  There is also mandatory labeling for any GMOs used in consumer food products within the EU. Basically the European Union is against most things involving GMOs.

3. What does the U.N.’s WHO say about GMOs’ environmental and food safety concerns?

In regards to human health and safety the FAO and the WHO have not found any GMOs that cause allergic reactions based on their research.  They also agree that the possibility of genes transferring from GMOs to humans is very unlikely.

As for the impact of GMOs on the environment, the WHO has found some cases where genes did transfer from GMOs to conventional crops.  Another concern is that with the introduction of GMOs we will lose some biodiversity in our agricultural commodities.

Based on: Amy Harmon, “A Race to Save the Orange by Altering Its DNA.”  The New York Times, July 27, 2013. (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/science/a-race-to-save-the-orange-by-altering-its-dna.html?pagewanted=all&_r=1&)

4. Briefly, describe the problem facing the Florida citrus industry, described in the article, that might be solved by GMOs.

There is a disease that reached Florida in 2005 which causes oranges to become sour and not ripe; the disease also stunts the growth of the oranges. This is a major problem since Florida produces much of our country’s orange supply.  They did not find a citrus tree which was immune to this disease, but there other species which carried a gene that made it immune to the disease.  The idea was to take this gene and splice it into the DNA of the orange crop, so that hopefully they would thus become immune to the disease thanks to their new gene.

5. The article mentions at least four possible sources for the gene that might save the Florida citrus industry.  Try to find these four sources (near the middle of the article) and list them.

-Two types of vegetables

-A virus

-A pig

6. Opinion:

a.  What is your opinion on whether GMO orange juice might gain consumer acceptance?

Like it said in the article people will either have to accept the fact that the oranges have been genetically modified or choose not to consume orange juice.  I think if people were given the facts about GMOs then they would accept the notion of their use in our food supply.  The media is biased against GMOs and people always believe what they hear from media without doing their own research, which is a shame.  I do think it will gain acceptance though because it will be the cheaper option for people compared to organic, and in today’s world saving money is a big deal.

b.  Is your answer affected at all the European Union regulation that all food products containing GMOs must be labeled?

No, I think that the EU is wrong in the way they treat GMOs.  Having done plenty of my own research into studies done on GMOs, I stand by the notion that the benefits outweigh the risks.  I think that they are just scared of using them because GMOs are rather new, but as more and more positive research comes out I think the EU will come to their senses.  I don’t think we need to label GMOs because until there is proof that any harm comes from them then they are no different than conventional products.

c. Is your answer affected by Whole Foods’s announcement that it will avoid stocking most GMO foods by 2018 (as noted near the end of the article)?

Again, the only reason Whole Foods is doing that is because they are taking advantage on society’s ignorance about GMOs. They think that this non-use of GMOs will draw in more consumers willing to spend more money on products just because they are “Organic” or “Non-GMO”.  And if people continue to stay in the dark about GMOs then companies like Whole Foods win because they can charge more money for “Organic, Non-GMO containing” products.

I think that people need to educate themselves about GMOs, and not just trust everything they hear in the news.  The fact of the matter is that most of the scientific community is in favor of GMOs.   They can see that GMOs have the potential to supply our growing population with a sustainable food source.  GMOs could eliminate certain problems which affect agriculture today such as, crops dying from: droughts, pests, weeds, and disease.

GMO blackberry vs organic blackberry

 

Personally I would rather have the one on the left which is cheaper and greater in volume.