The Benefits and Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms for Food LaDonna Ayres, Eric Doherty, Tiffany Roberts, Shaina Cardona Mr. Kurtis Cecil BIO-1544-40M Nov. 22 2011 1
Abstract There are three major genetically modified crops that are common in the United States. We investigated the economic gain and the decrease of production cost from genetically modified organisms. Also, we observed testing that has been done on animals to study the effects of genetically modified organisms. Many implications of harmful effects were found. But, we discovered a lack of human studies that have been done and the lack of scientific proof given on these studies. 2
Introduction What do we know about genetically modified plants for food? Genetic modification of food sources have been used for centuries, whether in yeast to make bread rise or using rennet to make cheese. Today, genetically modified foods have become exceptionally advanced with technologists being capable of enhancing or even eliminating particular characteristics in food. It s even possible to create crops that are resistant to herbicides, which are cheaper to produce, all by changing a bit of DNA. In this paper I hope to discover some truth about genetically modified organisms (GMOs), whether good or bad. I hope to be able to show in this research that these products are a benefit or that they are a hindrance. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) To begin, genetic modifications are a common practice in many of the major food crops. For example corn, soybeans, and canola. With these genetically modified crops, there has been a much greater yield of product than traditionally grown crops. There are major ramifications in the industry for improved production and reduction of costs. With a constant increase in the world s population, there is an increasing demand for greater food production. Then, there is always the greater need for increased production of food for starving communities in third world countries. Many say the answer is genetically modified (GM) foods. Let s take a look. 3
GMO USES BENEFITS RISKS Corn Livestock feed, starches, Canning, Soybean Livestock feed, Soy oil, Soy protein, Soy flower, Soy Milk Greater yield of product, Less harmful chemicals needed for pests. Greater yield of product, Less harmful chemicals needed for pests. Canola Canola oil, Greater yield of product, Less harmful chemicals needed for pests. High harmful effects in animal testing human body. environment. High harmful effects in animal testing. humans. environment. Harmful effects in animal testing human body. environment. Genetically modified corn was first introduced in 1994 and now accounts for 88 percent of all corn grown in the United States. Canola is a type of Brassica napus which yields oil containing less than two percent erucic acid, and meal containing less than 30 μmol of glucosinolates. A genetically engineered rapeseed that is tolerant to herbicide was first introduced to Canada in 1995. Today 80 percent of the acres sown are genetically modified (Finamore). Then there is the Roundup Ready GM Soybean, which accounts for 85 percent of all US soybean, produced by Monsanto, the same company that makes Roundup. This plant has been engineered to produce a glyphosate-tolerant strand that is resistant to the herbicide Roundup. Because of this, there is a reduced need for the application of these herbicides. There is reduction in greenhouse emissions, as GM crops don t require as much tilling or plowing (Butcher). The lack of mechanical help means less fuel burnt and fewer pollutants in the atmosphere. 4
Production Gain The main reason for the continued expansion of GM crops is the belief that it will increase yields. For farmers that means more grain to sell and higher profits. The economic gains through the years of 1996 through 2008 were more than $50 billion in the United States. Almost half of that was due to an increase in yield of product. The remaining half was due to a reduced cost in production. The gain in production for 2008 across the world was almost 30 million metric tons for all the three major GM crops (soybean, maize, and canola). In order to produce this amount of product from traditionally grown crops the space needed would be well over 10 billion square meters more then what was used for this yield. From these metric tons of product, gain was more than seventeen million tons of corn, more than 10 million tons of soy, and just less than one million tons of canola. The total yield gain for the years 1996 through 2008 was more than 167 million tons of products (Finamore). Which means these crops can be sold at much more economical prices. Production rise: 1996-2008 (Peterson) 5
Possible Harmful Effects The creation of genetically modified foods has sparked a big controversy in the United States. The makers of the technology insist that the GM crops are cheaper and will produce better crops and that they are totally safe for humans and the environment. However some are not sure because the technology is still very new and fear it has not been tested thoroughly enough. Our abilities to predict what happens with a new plant are crude. Plants might acquire ecological advantages enabling them to multiply and become weeds (Butcher). The implications of GMOs have been forceful through the years. But these clams have been hard to prove. There have been GM foods testing done on many animals despite the fact that people have been consuming these GMOs for seventeen years. Few studies have been performed on the effects these products have on humans. However, there have been limited studies done on animals using wide ranging varieties of genetically modified organisms. One in particular evaluated the gut and peripheral immune response to GM corn in mice. The study found several changes to the immunophenotype of the gut, spleen and circulating lymphocytes (white blood cells key to defending the body against disease) and to the level of serum cytokines (proteins that act as intercellular mediators in the generation of an immune response). While raising concerns of wide ranging health issues the study concludes the significance of these data remains to be clarified (Fedoroff). A study done on the mortality rate of rat pups concluded that the mother rats that were feed the GMOs gave birth to still born pups at a much higher rate and the death rate of the living pups was greatly increased in the GM test groups compared to the group feed 6
traditionally grown foods (Marshall). In India there was a report of an estimated ten thousand sheep that died after grazing on GM cotton crops engineered to produce its own Bt-toxin pesticide. In North America farmers reported that both male and female pigs became sterile after being feed GM corn (Brown). While the studies done on animals have been concerning the concerns regarding these GM crops are quite thin without scientific proof. So how does the general public feel about these GMOs (NM incite) This brings us to our next point. Why after seventeen years of selling these products to the general population have there been no conclusive studies on the effects of GMC on humans. In an article entitled, Crop Scientists Say Biotechnology Seed Companies Are Thwarting Research published in the New York Times 2009, Andrew Pollack explains Biotechnology companies are keeping scientists from fully researching the effectiveness and environmental impact of the industry s genetically modified crops. The article highlights a letter written by 26 corn-insect specialists for submittal to the E.P.A. in which they say that the problem is that buyers of genetically modified seeds must sign an agreement that prohibits growing of the crops for research purposes. This means that researchers must get permission to use the seeds. Why would a company fear what may be found in a study when they can revoke, deny or insist on reviewing 7
any findings. In one case a study being conducted at University of Minnesota was stopped when Syngenta withdrew its permission to use their seeds (Pollack). Elson J. Shields, a professor of entomology at Cornell said the companies have the potential to launder the data. Conclusion The production gain and the reduced production cost have been proven many times through practical application. The implications of GM foods in economic improvement are quite impressive and encouraging. The concerns regarding the safety of these GM foods however are inconclusive in studies. So the benefits of these GMOs seem to be a welcome change to a struggling economy and defiantly deserve a chance to prove their worth. On the other hand the possible harmful effects are enough to unsettle ones nerves. But are as of now just that, possible but unproven. 8
Works Cited Becker HC, Karle R and Han S (1992). Environmental Variation for Outcrossing Rates in Rapeseed (Brassica napus). Theoretical and Applied Genetics, 84, pg. 303-306. Cited in Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (2002). The Biology and Ecology of Canola (Brassica napus). Brown, K.S. (1996). Life on the Molecular Farm. Bioscience, 46, Issue 2, pg.80. Butcher, J. (1997). www.american.edu/ted/soybean.htm. Web. Fedoroff, N. (2008). Genetically Modified Foods. The Pennsylvania State University. science.psu.edu/journal/spring2007/gmofeature. Web. Finamore, A., Roselli, M., Britti, S., Monastra, G., Ambra, R., Turrini, A. Mengheri, E. (2008). Intestinal and Peripheral Immune Response to MON 810 Maize Ingestion in Weaning and Old Mice. J Agric. Food Chem. 2008; 56(23):11533-11539. Jones, J. D. G. (2011). Why Genetically Modified Crops? Rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org. Web. Marshall, A. (2007). GM Soybeans and Health Safety, A Controversy Reexamined. Nature Publishing Group.www.nature.com/naturebiotechnology. EBSCOhost. Pollack, A. (2009). Crop Scientists Say Biotechnology Seed Companies are Thwarting Research. The New York Times, Business. Peterson, B.H. (2009). America s Silent Killing Fields. chart image survivingthemiddleclasscrash.wordpress.com NM incite. Chart image. (2011). purecanola.com 9