Introduction
In the current world, technology has become a focal point in every human aspect dictating how things are operated purposely to enhance innovation and advance the existence of various elements in question. People look into making everything easier and faster for convenience, glory, wealth, and progress. Biology has not been left out considering that it is the study of all living organisms from flora to fauna, and man being the superior one has significantly been influential. The relationship between biology and technology has transformed within the years having both positive and negative implications on organisms involved. According to the Organic and non-GMO Report (2017), genetically modified organisms are the products of altered DNA composition of a particular organism that has either been artificially induced with a different gene or some of its genes removed and replaced by another either from related or non-related species.
The Purpose of Genetic Engineering of Organisms
As mentioned earlier, genetic modification or engineering is the distortion of the organism DNA makeup through biotechnology which may include gene transfer or recombination. Some of the primary reasons as to why genetic engineering is applied in biology may include the need to produce improved organisms than the existing ones. For instance, the challenge of diseases, viruses, and pests have been among the primary reasons for making use of genetic engineering to come up with healthy and resistant organisms that can stand against the mentioned issues. According to Aditi Raj (2016), some of the significant purposes of implementing genetic engineering in organism especially plants include the creation of plants that possess specified and customized traits that may include the ability to resist or tolerate elements like drought and diseases. Moreover, genetic modification can purposely be used in the correction of various disorders observed especially in the genetic makeup of developed organisms.
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How GMO’s are created
To come up with a genetically modified organism, scientists reckon that the primary processes used are recombination and transformation of genes. In the use of recombinant DNA technology, the steps used involve cell breakage, isolation, DNA cutting, DNA mixture, ligation, DNA transfer, and the repetitive mutation of the engineered cell. On a simpler explanation of the steps involved in the gene engineering, the cell or gene of interest is first identified and broken down for isolation. From solitary confinement, the DNA is cut ensuring that the endonuclease is restricted. At this point, the DNA is cloned from the human cell and the vehicle used to clone. The DNA’s are then mixed and moved for ligation with the recombinant DNA molecule. Finally, the gene is then transferred into the DNA bacterial cell, and the remaining engineered bacterial cell then partitioned severally.
Examples of GMO Foods
Currently, most of the meals sold in the grocery stores are genetically modified. Moreover, as Melissa Breyer (2016) highlights, products that are used as animal feeds and those that are included in processed foods as ingredients are genetically modified. The list of these foods is made up of soybeans, sugar beets, corn, cotton, alfalfa, canola, and, apples, potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, and papaya among many others.
GMO Safety
The increase in the modification and distortion of living organisms especially foods has raised ethical and safety concerns hence the question of whether or not they are safe for consumption. The issue is debatable considering that scientists and experts remain adamant that the genetically modified foods are just as safe and good for use just as organic or non-Genetically engineered foods. As for the case of the public, most people feel as if the alteration of the genetic makeup may have grave consequences to the body which may also influence the operation of the human anatomy negatively. As highlighted by Tamar Haspel (2016), genetically modified foods have no side effects to the human body as projected by consumers and many individuals in the market. In support of most experts and scientists as to why GMOs are safe for consumption include the reasoning that GMO’s are genetically advanced and hence have the capability to resist pest attacks. As a result, it is evident that the use of pesticides that are harmful to humans are minimized on genetically engineered foods contributing to the safety of their consumption.
Moreover, tangible evidence has not been recorded on the issue of side effects caused by genetically modified foods on the humans like allergies or the influence of horizontal gene transfer. While many say that GMO’s play a significant role on catalyzing the possibility of individuals and unborn children to end up possessing health challenges like obesity, cancer, autism and kidney problems among others; experts refute that the skepticism from the public in defense that all those perceptions have not been proven. Therefore, it is evident there is no difference from the genetically engineered foods and the non-genetic engineered foods, although scientists admit that they are still limited to their conclusions and final decisions made.
Existing Regulations on GMO foods
Due to the raised issues concerning the GMO’s rules have been formulated mostly to ensure that the consumer is safeguarded from possible risks impacted by the consumed foods. Most countries like America come up with regulations on GMO’s on different perspectives depending on the agency involved. The major agencies responsible for regulations on Genetically Engineered foods include the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The FDA ensures that the GMO’s brought into the market are safe for human consumption hence encourages the determination of equivalence to the non- GE before supply and sales. EPA, on the other hand, ensures that the genetically processed foods do not contain any foreign components like proteins that can lead to allergies. USDA promotes the labeling of food items that encourage the ease in identification of whether or not the foods are genetically engineered to stir up customer preferences.
European nations make use of the European Union Legislation on GMO’s that have gone to the extent of ensuring that GMO’s are not cultivated to avoid other harsh and extreme regulations on the foods that are genetically modified. Besides, encouraging the growth and consumptions of organic foods, these governments are also in the business of promoting non – GMO foods in the grocery stores.
Conclusion
From experimenting with scientific elements especially living organisms scientist were encouraged and the desire to come up with clones, super humans, progressed plants and animals among many others increased within the years. Genetically modified organisms have influenced every living habit of people especially when it comes to what is served on their dining tables every other day. Besides the impact on the choice of meal, GMO’s have played a prominent role in ensuring that challenges that were faced earlier in animals and plants have been dealt with totally. For instance, the use of pesticides on crops contributed to some adverse effects on humans. Hence, the creation of pest and disease resistant plants ensures that the use of pesticide is minimized if not fully eliminated. Moreover, crops can take fewer years to mature boosting the availability of foods and improvement of the economy on a higher scope.
References
Breyer, M. (2016, August 2). 11 GM foods commonly found in grocery stores . Retrieved June 28, 2017, from Tree Hugger: https://www.treehugger.com/green-food/11-gm-foods-commonly-found-grocery-stores.html
Diaz, J. M., & Fridovich-Keil, J. L. (2017). Genetically modified organism (GMO) . Retrieved June 28, 2017, from Britannica: https://www.britannica.com/science/genetically-modified-organism
Haspel, T. (2016, May 17). Scientists Say GMO Foods Are Safe, Public Skepticism Remains . Retrieved June 28, 2017, from National Geographic: http://theplate.nationalgeographic.com/2016/05/17/scientists-say-gmo-foods-are-safe-public-skepticism-remains/
Raj, A. (2016). Genetic Engineering: Purpose and Basic Steps | Biotechnology . Retrieved June 28, 2017, from Biology Discussion: http://www.biologydiscussion.com/genetic-engineering/genetic-engineering-purpose-and-basic-steps-biotechnology/61387
