Genetic Modification:
The process of genetic modification is used to give various organisms more desirable properties, by altering the genetic configuration of the organism’s DNA. Traditional methods of the genetic modification of plants have been around for thousands of years, all through the means of selective cross-breeding. As research and technology began to advance, scientists developed genetic engineering methods during the 1970s. Essentially, genetic engineering allows scientists to copy the desirable genes from one organism, and transfer it to another, thus producing far more desirable results from these organisms.
The United States was commercially introduced to genetically modified plants in 1996, with the popularization of genetically modified seeds. It is now well established that a vast majority, estimated at around 75% of all processed food we consume, along with more than 90% of all soybeans, corn, and cotton produced in the United States, has been genetically modified.
The purpose of the genetic modification of plants lies in seeking more desirable traits, ranging from producing a larger volume or quantity of the crop itself to aiding the production process of the said crops. Genetic Modification can be split into three vague and vast categories that dominate the field of genetic modification: herbicide-tolerant (HT), insect-resistant (Bt), and a mixture of desirable variables taken from both herbicide-tolerant and insect-resistant genetic modification. Herbicide-tolerant (HT) crops are genetically modified to tolerate a broad spectrum of herbicides, which essentially are weed-killing chemicals. Insect-resistant (Bt) crops are genetically modified to be toxic towards harmful insects, through the creation of a toxin known as “Cry toxins”.
Risk of Genetically Modified Foods:
Although the usage of genetic modification on plants brings many benefits, aiding the process of farming, there are still a variety of safety concerns regarding the chemicals used in the production of genetically modified foods. In insect-resistant (Bt) crops, other organisms that were not considered harmful to the crops were negatively affected, thus raising concerns about how genetically modified crops may negatively impact human health. Another issue rises as more insects and invasive plants are killed, as the intended target may develop a tolerance towards the genetically modified crops. This poses a complicated issue for the future of genetic modification. Now, all genetically modified foods must be labeled and thoroughly tested upon release for any hazards they may pose to humans and the environment.
References
“Pest Resistant Crops.” GeneWatch UK - Pest Resistant Crops - Pest Resistant Crops (Bt Crops) Produce Toxins Which Kill Insect Pests. Bt Maize Is Grown Largely for Use in Animal Feed and Biofuels in North and South America. Bt Cotton Is Also Grown in India and China., www.genewatch.org/sub-568238#:~:text=Pest%20resistant%20GM%20crops%20(primarily,bacterial%20species%20called%20Bacillus%20thuringiensis. Accessed 21 June 2023.
“About Ge Foods: | about Genetically Engineered Foods.” Center for Food Safety, www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/311/ge-foods/about-ge-foods#:~:text=The%20genetic%20engineering%20of%20plants,often%20used%20in%20food%20products). Accessed 21 June 2023.
“Recent Trends in GE Adoption.” USDA ERS - Recent Trends in GE Adoption, www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/adoption-of-genetically-engineered-crops-in-the-u-s/recent-trends-in-ge-adoption/. Accessed 21 June 2023.
“Genetic Modification.” WUR, www.wur.nl/en/dossiers/file/genetic-modification-1.htm#:~:text=Genetic%20modification%20is%20a%20technique,them%20to%20the%20other%20organism. Accessed 21 June 2023.
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Types of Genetic Modification Methods for Crops.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, www.fda.gov/food/agricultural-biotechnology/types-genetic-modification-methods-crops. Accessed 21 June 2023.
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