GMO's

Genetically modified organisms (GMO)

By: Ranjit Raghav & Zayd Jameel

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-Ranjit Raghav

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Table of Contents

What is a Genetically Modified Organism?

Why do we use Genetically Modified Organisms?

The Pros of Genetically Modified Organisms

The Cons of Genetically Modified Organisms

5 facts about GM Canola

Information on GM Canola

Are GMO's safe or not?

Citations and Sources

-Zayd Jameel

GMO Crops In the US:

It is very likely you are eating foods and food products that are made with ingredients that come from GMO crops. In the U.S., many of the everyday fruits and vegetables you may eat such as apples, squash, pink pineapple, sugar beet, papaya, potato, and many more are products of GMO's.

Where Can You Find GMO's?

-Zayd Jameel

What is a GMO?

A GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) is a plant, animal or microorganism that has been subjected to changes in its genome through genetic engineering to modify an organism's traits. Genes can be added, deleted, and enhanced within species and across kingdoms. GMOs can be processed into ingredients that are also genetically modified, these ingredients are present in food and personal care products. GMO developers use biotechnology to alter an organism's fundamental characteristics. This creates combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and virus genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.

GMO Crops in the US:

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-Ranjit Raghav

Why do we use GMO's?

We use GMO's to alter specific traits in organisms whether they're plants or animals in order to achieve a specific, desired outcome or result such as improved efficiency or increased resilience. Genetic technology bypasses natural processes and uses extreme precision, enabling the modification of specific traits within a genome, and allowing the organims to be tailored to specific needs.

GMO's in Agriculture

GMO's in Industry

GMO's in Medicine

Pros of GMO's

-Zayd Jameel

Nutritional Value & Flavor

Pest Control/Fewer Pesicides

Improved Survival & Greater Yields

Food Attractiveness & Costs

Summary

Cons of GMO's

-Zayd Jameel

Allergies

Cancer

Antibiotic Resistance

Changes For Humans

Summary

Herbicide Use

-Ranjit Raghav

GM Canola

Canola, formally known as Brassica Napus L., is an oilseed crop grown globally that is very vulnerable to competition from a large number of noxious weeds. These weeds would compete with canola for essential resources like nutrients, sunlight, water, and fertilizer, prohibiting the crop's growth. Due to this fact, for decades farmers have attempted to control weed growth by applying post emergent herbicides directly onto canola crops which could sometimes damage the crop itself. As a result, farmers engineered canola to withstand herbicides like glyphosate or glufosinate, allowing them to manage weed interference without damaging the crop. This led to farms with increased canola yields along with reduced labor and pesticide costs which were originally aimed at eradicating the invasive weeds.

5 Facts about GM Canola

-Ranjit Raghav

1. Canola is Canada's second most valuable crop after wheat, and 95% of all canola in Canada is genetically modified.
2. GM Canola was used to create Canola oil which is known globally as one of the healthiest oils, with it being low in saturated fat and containing omega 3 fatty acids.
3. In addition to being herbicide resistant, some GM canola varieties are insect resistant to things like the diamondback moth.
4. GM Canola is a major cash crop in the U.S. and Canada, generating billions of dollars per year, with thousands of farms and industries dedicated to cultuvating it.
5. In 2010, wild populations of GM Canola were found growing in the roadsides of North Dakota after escaping cultivation, showing how its a durable crop capable of surviving on its own.

- Ranjit Raghav & Zayd Jameel

Are GMO's safe?

We believe that Genetically modified organisms are safe because the genetic alterations introduce specific, beneficial traits such as herbicide or pest resistance, without including harmful elements. The modifications made are tested for health and environmental risks before being implimented, solidifying the fact that dangers and negative outcomes are highly unlikely. GMO's are created using sophisticated, biotechnology practices that allow scientists to insert, delete, and modify the genome with precision, minimizing the risk of dangers to the crop and making it safe for use. This precision also ensures that only the desired traits from the GMO are introduced, highlighting how it's a controlled process as opposed to traditional breeding methods which face random genetic variation. Furthermore, GMO's are required to undergo safety tests from a multitude of organizations such as the FDA, EPA, and USDA which mandate evidence that the GMO is safe for human use. These processes are made to ensure that flaws of a GMO, if it contains any, are corrected before they reach the market. Another factor that proves a GMO is safe for use is its long history of safe use, with GMO's being consumed by humans and animals for over 25 years without any definitive health hazards. This provides real world evidence validating a GMO's safety and proving that they don't pose significant risks to humans.

How GMO's Are Regulated

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Works Cited

-Ranjit Raghav

Citations Link

Pest Control/Fewer Pesticides

• Many GMO crops have been genetically modified to express a gene that protects them against pests and insects.
• GMO's have a higher tolerance to herbicides, making it easier to control weeds
• Greater resistance to certain plant viruses, which can help increase food security by reducing food waste
• Greater resistance to damaging insects, which can help reduce the use of pesticides
• GMO technology has reduced global chemical pesticide use by 8.3% and indirectly reduced greenhouse gas emissions because farmers don’t need to spray their fields as often.

"The adoption of GM insect resistant and herbicide tolerant technology has reduced pesticide spraying by 775.4 million kg (8.3%) and, as a result, decreased the environmental impact associated with herbicide and insecticide use on these crops,"- 2020 Study

Improved Survival and Greater Yields

Other GMO crops have been modified with genes that help them survive stressful conditions, such as droughts, and resist diseases like blight, resulting in a higher yield for farmers.

Food

(Attractiveness & Costs)

Genetic modification can enhance the flavor and appearance of foods, such as the non-browning apple.Additionally, "GMO crops, through their environmental sustainability, potential for nutritionally-fortified foods and increased productivity, actually play a key role in keeping the cost of food down, now and in the future," said Forbes.

Why do we use GMO's in Medicine?

In medicine, GMO's are used to mass produce drugs that would normally be too difficult and expensive to manufacture. Genetically modified bacteria, yeast, and animal cells serve as building blocks for the creation of pharmeceatucials that are impossible to produce under normal circumstances (synthesized chemical production). Furthermore, GMO's contribute to vaccine development as they enable scientists to genetically engineer cells with the proteins needed for immunization. As a result of GMO's allowing for more efficient production of pharmaceuticals, people worldwide have greater access to effective medications.

GMO Insulin, also known as Humulin, was the first bacteria produced drug, created by Eli Lily, it was one of the most widely used medications, used by billions worldwide since 1982, especially as lifeline for diabetic patients.

Changes in DNA:

Some people have also raised fears that eating GMO food could lead to genetic changes in humans, as small fragments of DNA from food can and do enter the bloodstream and body organs

Toxicity for Body Organs:

In older research from 2009, some researchers suggested that GMO foods might impact the liver, kidney, pancreas, and reproductive system. However, there is not very solid evidence to confirm this study.

Antibiotic Resistance:

Antibiotic resistance is a growing problem globally and it has the potential to worsen diseases.

• Some GMOs contain changes that make them resistant to certain antibiotics. In theory, the genes from these plants could enter humans or animals when they eat them. As a result, the person or animal could also develop antibiotic resistance.
• Many GMOs have genes added that make them resistant to certain antibiotics so that GM plants and cells can be distinguished from non-GM ones. As a result, there is a risk that resistance could transfer. After eating a GMO, theoretically, such genes can be transferred to bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of humans or animals.

"The bacteria could go on to develop resistance to that specific antibiotic. Subsequently that antibiotic could be ineffective in treating humans affected by the resistant bacteria."- Netherlands Government

Cancer

• There have been concerns that eating GMO foods can contribute to the development of cancer by raising levels of potentially carcinogenic substances in the body. However, there is not much evidence to prove this is the case.
• Because DNA mutations cause cancers, some people fear that eating foods with added genes may affect your DNA.

"In theory, these added genes might create substances that could cause reactions in sensitized or allergic people, or result in high levels of compounds that could cause other health effects," - American Cancer Society.

Why are GMO's used in Industry?

GMO's are used in industry to improve product quality and efficiency, with genetically modified organisms serving as the basis for many items created during the manufacturing process. For example, GMO's are used in the production of detergents as microorganisms are engineered to create enzymes that break down stains and dirts easily. These enzymes are created to target specific substances in stains, like lipalase would be used to target fats.

Herbicide Use

Most GMO crops are resistant to herbicides, such as Roundup, so farmers may use herbicides to kill surrounding weeds without damage to their crops. But Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosate are subject to controversy because animal and test-tube studies have linked them to various diseases. There is new evidence that glyphosate exposure may increase the relative risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma by 41%.

Nutritional Value & Flavor

Genetic modification can increase the nutritional value of foods. An example of this is golden rice. This is a product that is engineered to provide higher levels of vitamin A to consumers, and provide nutritional value to those who eat it, especially in areas where vitamin A deficiency is an issue.On top of increasing nutritional value, Genetic modification can enhance the flavor and appearance of foods, such as the non-browning apple.

"Golden Rice, for example, developed in 2004, satisfies 50% of your daily Vitamin A needs per cup," - said the University of Michigan School of Public Health.

Changes in DNA:

Some people have also raised fears that eating GMO food could lead to genetic changes in humans, as small fragments of DNA from food can and do enter the bloodstream and body organs

Toxicity for Body Organs:

In older research from 2009, some researchers suggested that GMO foods might impact the liver, kidney, pancreas, and reproductive system. However, there is not very solid evidence to confirm this study.

Allergic Reactions

• Because GMO foods contain foreign genes, some people worry that they harbor genes from foods that may prompt an allergic reaction.
• There is a small risk that GMO foods can trigger an allergic reaction, but this will only happen if the genetic change triggers the production of an allergen. For instance, if scientists combine a gene from a Brazil nut with a soybean, there is a slight chance that a person with a nut allergy could have an allergic reaction to products made with the soybean.

"If a soybean is crossed with a certain nut, it's possible that people with allergies to the nut may react to the genetically engineered soybean," said Yahoo.

GMO's in Agriculture:

Most of the GMO crops grown today were developed to help farmers prevent crop and food loss and control weeds. Farmers can use less spray pesticides when they plant GMO crops. This saves farmers money and reduces the amount of pesticides that end up on crops. When farmers use herbicide-tolerant crops, they reduce the need to till the soil to control weeds. No-till planting helps to improve soil health, reduce soil erosion, lower fuel and labor use, and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. Growing virus-resistant crops can also help farmers produce a sustainable, safe food supply while increasing the stability of their livelihoods.

• The three most common traits found in GMO crops are:
• 1. Resistance to certain damaging insects
• 2. Tolerance of certain herbicides used to control weeds
• 3. Resistance to certain plant viruses

Herbicide Use

Most GMO crops are resistant to herbicides, such as Roundup, so farmers may use herbicides to kill surrounding weeds without damage to their crops. But Roundup and its active ingredient glyphosate are subject to controversy because animal and test-tube studies have linked them to various diseases. There is new evidence that glyphosate exposure may increase the relative risk of non-Hodgkins lymphoma by 41%.

Summary

GMO foods are easier and less costly for farmers to grow, which makes them cheaper for the consumer. GMO techniques may also enhance foods’ nutrients, flavor, and appearance.

Summary

The main concerns around GMOs involve allergies, cancer, and environmental issues — all of which may affect the consumer. While current research suggests few risks, more long-term research is needed.