Genetically Modified Products - Curse Or Salvation

Author: Dean Rouseberg Time for reading: ~10 minutes Last Updated: October 31, 2022

Genetically Modified Products - Curse Or Salvation

CHAPTERS (Table Of Contents)

Genetically modified products are products obtained from transgenic (genetically modified) organisms. What does it mean that a foreign gene or a gene of another organism is introduced into one organism. Genetic modifications follow two main goals: to improve the nutritional properties of products and to increase yield. It will not be superfluous to understand what genetically modified ones are

Did you know that every day we come across products created with the help of a science called genetic engineering? We put them in the cart of the nearest supermarket, we buy them at the market.

It will not be superfluous to understand what genetically modified products are . Why are they called so, and what distinguishes them from "ordinary" food? And, also, why they cause so many disputes and discussions.

What is a genetically modified organism?

Let's go back to school biology lessons. Any plant or animal has thousands of certain characteristics. In turn, a specific gene — a small particle of the DNA molecule — is responsible for the presence of these features. It is he who determines the presence of one or another sign in an animal or plant. If you remove the gene responsible for one or another trait, the trait itself will disappear. And, on the contrary: when we add a new gene, we will get a new trait. A genetically modified plant can be called a mutant or a genetically modified organism .

Modern science has reached such a level of development that removing or adding several genes for it is a completely solvable task, already at the end of the 20th century, experiments on artificial change (modification) of plants and animals became very popular and widespread.

Let's look at specific examples. Why do you think tomatoes can be stored for a long time without losing their appearance and taste? It turns out that they received the gene for frost resistance from the polar flounder. A tomato can be green for a long time at a temperature of +12ºС, but when exposed to heat, it immediately turns red. Another vivid example is the well-known pest of potatoes, the Colorado potato beetle. Thus, thanks to genetic engineering and a gene obtained from a scorpion, the potato loses all its attractiveness to the inveterate enemy. And bread with the addition of genetically modified enzymes does not go stale for a long time.

Genetic modifications follow two main goals: to improve the nutritional properties of products and to increase yield.

The first goal develops very slowly and has such a wide distribution. Among the current achievements in this area, we can highlight: rice enriched with vitamin A; tomatoes Enriched with iron and soy, with improved fatty acid content.

Another area of development of genetic modifications is aimed at increasing the yield of products. Three means of achieving this goal can be distinguished: the introduction of genes for resistance to pests, genes for resistance to climatic conditions, and genes for resistance to pesticides. Much more effort, attention and resources are devoted to such genetic modifications, they are the basis of modern genetically modified organisms .

Genetically modified products are products obtained from transgenic ( genetically modified ) organisms. What does it mean that a foreign gene is introduced into one organism or a gene of another organism is exposed, mainly soy, corn and rice.

Advantages and disadvantages

Before completely rejecting or fanatically accepting any innovations, it is necessary to remember that there are two sides to the coin. In order to make a decision, you need to weigh all the positive and negative aspects.

Genetically modified organisms are able not only to grow, like their predecessors, but also to survive in such conditions, in which old varieties died (for example, due to different weather conditions). Many of them are not afraid of unexpected frosts, floods or droughts. The rhizomes of some plants have become so developed that they can hold the maximum amount of moisture. And those varieties, which were previously sensitive to low temperatures, became more resistant, which, in turn, influenced the fact that plants enter the period of active growth earlier. Also, new fast-growing varieties of grain crops were created.

So, genetic changes give plants useful properties

Resistance to pests, frost resistance, productivity, etc.
The population of the Earth is increasing every year, genetically modified products are designed to save the growing generation of the planet from hunger.
Genetically modified products , capable of protecting themselves from insects and pests, are characterized by high productivity, and, because of this, the cost of production is reduced.
Resistance to the action of various pests allows to reduce the use of pesticides than traditional technologies require.
Such vegetables and fruits have appeared that are able to resist viruses, bacteria and fungi.
Scientists are working on breeding varieties of tomatoes and potatoes that contain vaccines and medicines for third world countries, where they will be grown and will not require special storage methods.
Some types of trees are bred specifically to eliminate pollution.

The other side of the coin is why many oppose GM products

Most countries do not have laws regulating the production and consumption of GM products .
Consumers do not know what they are buying and how it will affect their health. For example, a gene from snowdrop introduced into potatoes for resistance to the Colorado potato beetle causes an increased content of plant pectins, which is unfavorable for mammals. The immune system, intestines suffer from such a product, kidney, liver and brain diseases can develop.
There is no information on the products about the substances present in the products and their quantities.
Environmentalists are concerned that an ecological disaster could follow if genetically modified forms enter the wild. For example, when some plants are cross-pollinated, they will receive a gene for resistance to pesticides and pests, and their reproduction will become uncontrolled.
In addition to the environmental risk, there is also a food risk. Some products can cause an allergic reaction. An ordinary product, for example, a tomato, containing a fish gene invisible to the eye, can provoke an allergic reaction in a person who cannot tolerate fish.

Genetically modified products on store shelves

Most of the registered genetically modified products belong to soy. Soy is included in refined oils, margarine, shortening, mayonnaise and other salad dressings, cooked sausages, cereals and breakfast cereals, pasta and even baby food, if milk powder replaces soy. Emulsifiers, fillers, thickeners used as food additives in culinary products are obtained from soy.

Along with soy products, genetically modified are those that contain corn. Popcorn sold on the streets everywhere is almost always made from genetically modified corn.

Beautiful, glossy, large tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, and other vegetables and fruits without any defects are very likely to be genetically modified . In the process of ripening, vegetables and fruits emit ethylene gas, which accelerates their withering. Genetically modified products contain a gene resistant to ethylene, which allows the fruits not to spoil for a long time and retain their marketable appearance.

Almost all GM products on store shelves are imported. Unfortunately, at the moment, they do not notice which of them are natural and which are not. While in the West, genetically modified products with special stickers have been on the shelves for a long time and the consumer knows what he is buying.

PREMIUM CHAPTERS ▼

What Is The Danger? (Premium)

What Are The Benefits? (Premium)

What is the danger? (PREMIUM)

Are genetically modified foods good or bad? Is there a threat and what is it? Of course, the problem of GM products is quite complex. However, it is possible to understand - where is the truth, and where are the imaginary dangers of GM products . Let's evaluate the main points that govern the debate about genetically modified foods and dispel some myths, as well as identify the real dangers.

Danger #1: This is Frankenstein food. Foreign genes from genetically modified plants can enter human cells, causing mutations, cancer, etc. in the direct consumer or his descendants.

If we discuss such a question with scientists, we will be laughed at and told that we were completely inattentive in school biology lessons. No evasions, just the facts. After introducing a foreign gene into a plant, it becomes the same as its native genes. In other words, any plant DNA is alien to humans — the DNA of any products. However, for some reason no one has the idea that ordinary food can cause mutations in the human body. Which disproves this myth.

Danger #2: Genetically modified foods can be toxic to humans.

Proponents of this myth in their defense always cite the example of transgenic potatoes, which kills the Colorado potato beetle. Like, if the Colorado beetles die, then other insects die too, so what will prevent the toxin from harming people? However, the toxicity of genetically modified plants with a gene that protects against pests for mammals (including humans) has never been scientifically and scientifically proven.

Danger #3: Genetically modified products cause the development of resistance of disease-causing bacteria to antibiotics.

It is difficult to say unequivocally how true the statement is. When a foreign gene is introduced into a plant's genome, it is introduced along with the antibiotic gene as a marker. And yes, bacteria can incorporate foreign DNA into their genome. Moreover, the more DNA of the resistance gene there is in the world, the more likely it is to get into bacteria, including pathogenic ones. However, it is worth noting that antibiotic resistance genes, which have not been used in medicine for twenty years, are used as markers. And it is this moment that is usually kept silent.

Danger #4: Genetically modified foods increase the risk of allergies.

The only argument from all of the above that has at least some basis. However, it is worth clarifying something. Indeed, if a genetically modified product will contain a protein that is present in a product that causes an allergy in a person (for example, a peanut gene), then of course it will cause an allergic reaction. However, the reason for this is not genetic modification, but the protein itself, which is allergenic. For genetically modified organisms , it is usually clearly known what was changed and exactly what new protein will be formed, so cases of allergenicity can be predicted and checked even at the stage of preliminary research. In this case, it is appropriate to label the products not "contains GMOs", but to indicate exactly which proteins this GM product contains. As you can see, the cause of the allergy is not that the product is genetically modified .

These were mythical dangers that had no serious basis. However, there are two very real threats.

Threat #1

The popularity of genetically modified products reduces the varietal diversity of cultivated plants. That is: usually, for genetic modifications, one or two varieties are chosen, with which they work thoroughly. And other plants die out of necessity. Which is not very good.

Threat #2

Direct dependence on companies producing genetically modified organisms . An additional gene is also introduced into genetically modified products , which makes them sterile. That is, such plants will not reproduce. Each time, new seeds must be purchased again from the producing company. And this company, in turn, can raise the price or completely stop selling seeds, etc.

What are the benefits? (PREMIUM)

Advantage No. 1: Genetically modified plants can feed the whole world, because they increase yields many times over.

Currently , genetically modified products are protected from pests and pesticides. However, as in medicine - in the case of antibiotics and viruses - it is an eternal struggle. Over time, insects will develop immunity to the developed toxins, and weeds will stop being afraid of pesticides.

Advantage #2: You can create a plant with completely new extraordinary properties.

In fact, it is not possible. Modern science only knows how to mix signs. It is possible to transfer a trait inherent in one organism to another. Nothing more. They have not yet learned how to create new genes that have not yet existed in nature.

If evaluated objectively, all improvements of genetically modified products are quantitative, not qualitative. For some reason, genetically modified products should not be treated as a terrible crime against nature and humanity. However, you should not get too excited about them. Genetically modified products are nothing else, this is another stage in the development of biotechnology. Of course, with its advantages and disadvantages. And loud statements about a great danger or an impressive achievement are either insufficient education in this matter, or non-subjective perception, or excessive involvement.