According to the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) refers to the wider range of organisms from plants, animals and enzymes that undergo modification when a certain preferred gene is transferred from the donor to the recipient. The preferred gene usually is more advanced or modified in certain ways and possess specific preferred characteristics that the recipient organism does not have. Whitman (2000) defines genetically modified organisms as the plants created for animal and human consumption through high tech techniques. The modification of these plants takes place in a laboratory and has characteristics such as improved nutritional content and resistance to herbicides. The modification of these plants is done through a process known as breeding.
Purpose for Genetically Engineering Plants and Animals
Modification of plants and animals is done to achieve various reasons. The reasons include;
To create resistance to pests
Farmers go to waste when their plants and animals are affected by pests. The animals get sick and might die or stagger in growth. On the other hand, plants may also die resulting in to great loss to the farmer. To avoid these losses, farmers tend to apply all kinds of pesticides and hence putting the health of the consumer at risk and also harming the environment. To avoid these problems, growing Genetically Modified (GM) foods which are resistant to pests is the best option(Whitman, 2000).
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Improve the nutrition value
Cases of malnutrition have increased significantly all over the world especially in developing countries. Most of these cases are caused by the foods not rich in the essential nutrients. Genetically engineered foods can be fortified with the right amounts of the essential nutrients leading to decreased levels of malnutrition globally (Whitman,2000).
Control plant virus
There is a genetically engineered papaya that is resistant to the Papaya Ring spot Virus (PRSV) which is a plant virus commonly spread by aphids. The papaya is modified by introducing a protein from the virus in to the plant tissue making it resistance to the virus. This mechanism works the same way as the vaccinations for Human Influenza (Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health, 2016).
To preserve the appearance of foods
This is common in apples. The arctic apples are genetically modified to stop the external browning that occurs in apples. The innovation has been of great impact to the apple market and sellers are really making profits because there is less spoilage of their product(Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health).
To help in making and storing drugs
Vaccines and other drugs need special attention when it comes to manufacture and storage. These conditions are not affordable in developing countries. Various scientists are working on ways of incorporating the vaccines in to foods so that they are made available to the people. This might help solve the disease problems in developing countries.
How GMO’s are created
Genetically modified organisms are created when a desirable gene is introduced into the recipient organism. This gene modifies the recipient organism and gives it the improved characteristics. Some the genes transferred include genes that make an organism to grow rapidly, fortify the food, makes it resistant to viruses, cold, pests and diseases. The technology has made great changes in plants and animals.
Some of the foods that contain Genetically Modified Organisms and are on the supermarket shelves include; Quaker Yellow Corn Meal, Bravos Tortilla Chips, Ball Park Franks, Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, Heinz 2 Baby Cereal, Enfamil Prosobee Soy Formula, Duncan Hines Cake Mix, Ultra Slim Fast, Aunt Jemima Pancake Mix, Alpo Dry Pet Food, Morning Star Farms Better’n Burgers, McDonalds McVeggie Burgers And Betty Crocker Bac-Os Bacon Flavor Bits. The United States of America has been ranked as the largest producer of GMO’s followed By Brazil, Argentina, India,Canada, Paraguay, South Africa, Uruguay and Bolivia.
Debates have been on whether GMOs are safe for human consumption. They have received criticism from religious leaders, the public, government officials and even other researchers claiming that the business people are not considering the health of the people and the environmental hazard. According to Whitman (2000), the concerns can be categorized in to three; economic impacts, environmental risks and human health risks. From these categories, it can be noted that GMOs might pose as a danger to the health of human beings.
Considering human health risks, GMOs can cause allergic reactions. Children in Europe and the US have had so many episodes of allergic reactions to peanuts and other different foods. There are high chances that introduction of a new gene in to plants may have higher risks to allergic reactions to vulnerable people. An attempt in Brazil of introducing a gene from nuts in to soybeans was abandoned due to the fear of posing as a health risk. More research needs to be done on these organisms to create an evidence based research that they not harmful to humans. Proper labeling should also be done so that consumers are aware of what they are consuming.
On the other hand, there are concerns that GMOs might cause unknown health risks to people. Concerns have been raised over the fact that new genes are being introduced in to organisms with no extensive information on the long-term effects on human health. A study conducted using genetically modified potatoes on rats indicated a change in how the intestines of the rats looked. Other scientists claimed there was no scientific proof to justify the changes. Nevertheless, it might be a clue about what might be eating human beings but has been ignored. Scientists still hold strongly that GMOs do not pose health risks to human beings.
Regulations have been set up by different governments to monitor the impacts of GM foods and approve new GMOs. In Japan, health testing of GMOs is a must so that consumers are aware of what they are consuming and the health risks or nutrition value they are getting. The Indian government has embraced the idea for GMOs because they will help reduce the poverty levels that exist. In Brazil, GMOs have been banned and the government has put up regulations to prevent the importation of these foods. However, other citizens are going against the rule and getting the GMOs. In the US, the foods are acceptable provided there is scientific proof that they are not dangerous to the human health. They have helped in growth of economy in the country. Every country has ensured that it has regulations in place to monitor the engineering and distribution of GMOs.
The stakeholders involved in GMOs include individuals, organizations, governments and organizations interested in this issue. Stakeholders may also include non-humans such as the environment and other environmental resources. Every person is entitled in to contributing to the issue of GMOs but the concerns might be considered based on the levels the people occupy.
In conclusion, GMOs might just be the breakthrough for economic growth in some of the developing countries. The organisms can help improve the annual yield in these countries and hence enable them to have sufficient food throughout the year. The qualities that these organisms introduce in to a recipient are of great value. Farmers have a chance of growing their produce and make more profit.
References:
Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health (2016). Genetically Modified Organisms . Retrieved October 5, 2016 from https://www.universityofwashington>depts>ceeh
Whitman, D. (2000). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful ? 1-13. Retrieved October 5, 2016 from https://www.brownuniversity>biomed>arise<docs
