![REFERENCES
Kaplan University, (2008). Unit 5 Genetically-Engineered Food, Lesson 1: Our Friend the Atom. Retrieved
from http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/healthSci/HW220_1204C/5_lesson1.pdf
Pixabay, (2015) Free Images. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/photos/
Plumer, B. (Ed.). (2014, March 28). How is GM food different from regular food? Retrieved from
http://www.vox.com/cards/genetically-modified-foods/what-is-genetically-modified-food
Schlenker., & Roth. (2011). Williams' Essentials of Nutrition and Diet Therapy, 10th Edition. [VitalSource
Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http://legacy.vitalsource.com/books/978-0-323-06860-
4/id/B9780323068604000116_p0970
U.S. Department of Agriculture, (2011, February 14). Glossary of Agricultural Biotechnology Terms.
Retrieved from https://www.bio.org/articles/glossary-agricultural-biotechnology-terms
U.S. Department of Agriculture, (2015, May 14). Biotechnology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
Retrieved from
<http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&navid=AGRICULTURE&contentid
=BiotechnologyFAQs.xml>.
Wieczorek, A., (2003, May 1). Use of Biotechnology in Agriculture—Benefits and Risks.
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Hw 320 01 unit 5 assignment (edited for hw499-01 website project)
- 1. LOVE IT OR HATE IT GMOs GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW By Clara Thomas Images from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 2. AN INTRODUCTION TO GENETICALLY MODIFIED PRODUCTS Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants or bacteria that have had the DNA changed to produce or enhance a desired trait through plant breeding or biotech- nology (Schlenker & Roth, 2011). In the United States, genetically modified crops are almost everywhere. Almost all of the corn and soy planted in the United States is genetically modified in some way. Most of that ends up in animal feed, ethanol and corn syrup which is in lots of foods. Cotton, sugar beets, and canola are also common genetically modified crops. Over half of the processed foods in grocery stores contain at least some genetically modified ingredients (Plumer, 2014). Graphics from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 3. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Key Words to Know Agricultural Biotechnology: Altering living organisms, or parts of organisms, to make or modify products; improve plants or animals; or develop microorganisms for specific agricultural uses. Modern biotechnology today includes genetic engineering. Allergen: A substance, usually a protein, that can cause an allergy or allergic reaction in the body. Cisgenesis- involves directly swapping genes between two organisms that could otherwise breed Clone: A genetic replica of an organism created without sexual reproduction. Cross-pollination: Fertilization of a plant with pollen from another plant. Pollen may be transferred by wind, insects, other organisms, or humans. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): The chemical substance from which genes are made. DNA is a long, double-stranded helical molecule made up of nucleotides which are themselves composed of sugars, phosphates, and derivatives of the four bases adenine (A), guanine (G), cytosine (C), and thymine (T). Field trial: A test of a new technique or variety, including biotech-derived varieties, done outside the laboratory but with specific requirements on location, plot size, methodology, etc. Gene: The fundamental physical and functional unit of heredity. A gene is typically a specific segment of a chromosome and encodes a specific functional product (such as a protein or RNA molecule). Genetic engineering: Manipulation of an organism's genes by introducing, eliminating or rearranging specific genes using the methods of modern molecular biology. Genetically modified organism (GMO): An organism produced through genetic modification. Genetics: The study of the patterns of inheritance of specific traits. Insect-resistant crops: Plants with the ability to withstand, deter or repel insects and thereby prevent them from feeding on the plant. Pest-resistant crops: Plants with the ability to withstand, deter or repel pests and thereby prevent them from damaging the plants. Plant pests may include insects, nematodes, fungi, viruses, bacteria, weeds, and other. Plant breeding: The use of cross-pollination, selection, and certain other techniques involving crossing plants to produce varieties with particular desired characteristics (traits) that can be passed on to future plant generations. Transgenic: Resulting from the insertion of genetic material from another organism using recombinant DNA techniques. Images from Pixabay.com (2015) Information Source: USDA Glossary of Agricultural Biotechnology Terms (2011)
- 4. HOW IS GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD DIFFERENT FROM TRADITIONAL FOOD? The difference between genetic engineering and traditional techniques for producing food is that advanced technology is capable of fine tuning the process and accomplishing the desired goal in less time. People have been selectively breeding plants and animals for thousands of years to get certain desired traits. Over time, plants have been traditionally bred to become larger, yield more produce, and tolerate different weather. It’s not usually considered "genetic engineering,“ but it gradually changed their genes(Plumer, 2014). Genetic engineering tries to accomplish the same goals as traditional breeding, create plants and animals with desired characteristics. In the 1970s the technology to directly manipulate the DNA of agricultural products and swap genes between similar plants and animal that could already breed (cisgenisis) , like two different kinds of wheat. They also figured out how to take strong genes from other things like bacteria and transplant them into a different species to produce traits that benefitted them (transgenisis). Putting a bacteria gene into corn, allowed it to have protection from pests, and other desired traits (Plumer, 2014). All Images from Pixabay.com(2015)
- 5. WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS? Genetic Modification of Food Plants Have Three Main Goals: • Resistance to disease and insects • Increased tolerance to weather conditions • Increased Nutritional Value LET’S TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AND SEE (Schlenker & Roth, 2011) Graphics from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 6. Biotechnology Produces Longer Lasting Produce Spoiled food means lost money from the family’s food budget (Schlenker & Roth, 2011). In 1994, genetically modified tomatoes became the first genetically modified food sold to consumers. Modifying tomatoes caused them to reduce production of the chemical that causes tomatoes to rot. This helps them to stay firmer and fresher longer (Kaplan University, 2008). Images from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 7. Images from Pixabay.com (2015) GENETIC MODIFICATION CAN ENHANCE CROP PROTECTION Farmers use genetically modified plants (GMOs)for crop protection because they provide cost-effective solutions to pest problems that can severely lower yields. Crops like corn, cotton, and potatoes have been transformed through genetic engineering to make a protein that controls pests better and more cheaply than existing technologies by killing certain insects when they feed on any part of the plants. This helps farmers have a bigger harvest to bring to market, which means a lot more to sell and it can be bought at more affordable prices (Wieczorek, 2003). Imagine this technology, applied to all edible plants; no more worms in the middle of that big red apple.
- 8. Genetically Modifying Food Can Help Reduce Nutritional Deficiencies Agricultural biotechnology can create crops enhanced with traits that increase the level of nutrients the crop provides. Golden rice is genetically modified rice that contains beta carotene, which is converted into vitamin A in the body. It’s made by using one gene from a bacterium and two from daffodils (Kaplan, 2008). Graphics from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 9. GENETICALLY MODIFIED PRODUCTS CAN MAKE WEED MANAGEMENT AND PEST CONTROL SAFER AND EASIER The use of agricultural biotechnology has led to insect resistant plants which helped minimize the use of pesticides that could contaminate ground- water and the environment. Herbicide tolerant plants like corn and soybeans allow farmers to use lower risk herbicides that break down in the soil faster and are non-toxic to humans and wildlife. The biogenetic herbicide tolerant plants are easier to use in low till or no till farming systems that help preserve top soil and protect against soil erosion (USDA, 2015). Image from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 10. WHAT ARE THE POTENTIAL RISKS OF USING GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS According to Schlenker & Roth (2011), in Williams' Essentials of Nutrition and Diet Therapy, 10th Edition, Chapter 9, p. 196, “The sale and use of GM plants remain controversial. Scientists and consumer groups have voiced several concerns: •Risk of allergic reaction •Potential toxicity •Danger to the environment (Schlenker & Roth, 2011) Graphics from Pixabay.com (2015)
- 11. GENETICALLY MODIFYING PLANTS CAN CAUSE ALLERGIC REACTIONS . Graphics from Pixabay.com (2015) “ Transferring a known allergen into a new food, as in adding a peanut allergen to a corn plant, would make the modified plant unsafe for persons with the allergy” (Schlenker & Roth, 2011, p.196, para. 1).
- 12. GENETICALLY MODIFYING PLANTS PRESENTS THE POTENTIAL FOR TOXICITY “All GM foods undergo toxicity testing with DNA checked against a protein database to identify any known harmful protein” (Schlenker & Roth, 2011, p.196, para. 1). This is done as a safety measure because the biological traits being used to create the modified crops often come from bacteria and viruses (USDA, 2015). Graphic from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 13. GENETICALLY MODIFIED PLANTS MAY ENDANGER THE ENVIRONMENT “Genetically modified plants with genes that resist insects may pass those genes along to weeds or invasive plants or may be harmful to helpful insects such as butterflies. Farmers are urged to confine these plants to specific growing areas,” (Schlenker & Roth, 2011, p.196, para. 1). Images form Pixabay.com, (2015
- 14. HOW CAN WE BE SURE THAT THESE PRODUCTS ARE SAFE? The FDA enforces all federal regulations intended to keep our food supply safe even monitoring the threat of food bioterrorism. The USDA, FDA, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) work together to prevent the introduction and spread of such hazards (Schlenker & Roth, 2011). In the United States, genetically modified crops are regulated by three different agencies. The Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulates field testing of GM crops for research. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates plants with pest-resistant properties and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates any GM crops that are eaten by humans or animals. Interagency cooperation is essential for mounting an effective response to any food-related threat to our health. There are no specific laws that regulate genetically modified foods, but the FDA does have the authority to require pre-market review for any substances not generally recognized as safe. Therefore, the FDA created a “voluntary consultation” process for companies that want to sell new GM crops. The companies conduct a safety assessment that identifies the genetic traits they wish to enhance or eliminate and determine whether the new material could be toxic or allergenic. The FDA can ask for additional tests and data as needed, to ensure safety before a product is marketed (Plumer, 2014). Graphics from Pixabay.com (2015)
- 15. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS: THE LAST WORD In conclusion, I’m growing a little more in favor of genetically modified organisms each day. I guess that’s mostly because, I live on a family farm. I wake up every day, in the middle of a corn field, that has produced very little yield this year and had even less corn to harvest last year because of too much rain. Many of the families that surround us have given up on farming and sold their farms to land developers, who are now building roads, small communities and bringing businesses to our community. Agricultural technology provides us with the ability to grow sturdier plants, with higher yields that can withstand the changes in our climate. However, there should be continued vigilant government oversight because these products end up on our tables, whether they are grown into our food supply through plants, added as corn syrup or mixed into our cereals as grains; they are everywhere. We don’t always know it because the government doesn’t require that genetically modified organisms specifically be labelled. Food labels are not required to identify ingredients from genetically modified sources unless it increases the likelihood of allergies or reduces their nutrient content (Schlenker & Roth, 2011). However, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is charged with protecting U.S agriculture from pests and diseases and they require notification prior to introducing a genetically modified organism into unregulated areas. Even though some GMOs have already been approved for field tests and deemed safe for the environment and suitable for consumption, these products are still monitored for continued safety (USDA, 2015). Inevitably, GMOs are here to stay; consumers have a responsibility to become informed and proceed cautiously.
- 16. GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GMOS PASS IT ON Graphics from Pixabay.com, (2015)
- 17. REFERENCES Kaplan University, (2008). Unit 5 Genetically-Engineered Food, Lesson 1: Our Friend the Atom. Retrieved from http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/healthSci/HW220_1204C/5_lesson1.pdf Pixabay, (2015) Free Images. Retrieved from https://pixabay.com/en/photos/ Plumer, B. (Ed.). (2014, March 28). How is GM food different from regular food? Retrieved from http://www.vox.com/cards/genetically-modified-foods/what-is-genetically-modified-food Schlenker., & Roth. (2011). Williams' Essentials of Nutrition and Diet Therapy, 10th Edition. [VitalSource Bookshelf version]. Retrieved from http://legacy.vitalsource.com/books/978-0-323-06860- 4/id/B9780323068604000116_p0970 U.S. Department of Agriculture, (2011, February 14). Glossary of Agricultural Biotechnology Terms. Retrieved from https://www.bio.org/articles/glossary-agricultural-biotechnology-terms U.S. Department of Agriculture, (2015, May 14). Biotechnology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Retrieved from <http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&navid=AGRICULTURE&contentid =BiotechnologyFAQs.xml>. Wieczorek, A., (2003, May 1). Use of Biotechnology in Agriculture—Benefits and Risks. Background Graphics: Pixabay.com (2015)