Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s) Beneficial or Dangerous?

What are GMO’s? Defn: Organisms whose genetic structure has been changed to give them characteristics that are seen as desirable. A genetically modified organism is a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic code has been altered, subtracted, or added (either from the same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics that it does not have naturally. (

What does this mean? Scientists can now transfer genes between species that otherwise would be incapable of mating, for example, a goat and a spider. This is what we call transgenesis. Little is known about the long-term effects of such manipulations on both humans and the environment. And while some see GMOs as the way to the future, others believe that scientists have gone too far, tinkering with the essence of life. (

How common are they? According to the USDA, in 2007, 91% of soy, 87% of cotton, and 73% of corn grown in the U.S. were GMO. Starting in 2008, virtually all of the U.S. sugar beet crop is GMO, and it is estimated that over 75% of canola grown is GMO. As a result, it is estimated that GMOs are now present in more than 80% of packaged products in the average U.S. or Canadian grocery store. On the horizon are bananas that produce human vaccines against infectious diseases such as hepatitis B; fish that mature more quickly; fruit and nut trees that yield years earlier, and plants that produce new plastics with unique properties. ( tml)

Labelling … In Europe, the labelling of GMOs is obligatory, and caution prevails. Products are labelled, and it is left to the consumer to make their choice. In Canada and the United States, the labelling of GMOs is optional.

Where are they grown? The top six countries planting GM crops each grew more than 1 million hectares in 2011: USA (69 million hectares), Brazil (30.3 million), Argentina (23.7 million), India (10.6 million), Canada (10.4 million), China (3.9 million).

Brazil, for example, has dramatically expanded its planting of GM crops. In the crop season of 2010 to 2011, more than three-quarters of the land used in Brazilian soybean agriculture was planted with GM seeds, and this is predicted to grow by 13% for the 2011/2012 season.predicted to grow by 13% Although growth is expected to plateau in industrialized countries, it is increasing in developing countries.

What are the possibilities and what are the drawbacks?

Agriculture Agriculture - Agricultural products with a higher yield; insect and herbicide resistant. Fruits and vegetables that grow in dry environments and are cold resistant. But what if insects developed immunity to pesticides? ( decline-in-monarch-butterflies/ decline-in-monarch-butterflies/

Food Production Tomatoes that do not rot. Salmon that fatten up quickly. Pigs with less fat and better nutritional value. But what if transgenic salmon escaped into the ocean? (

Forestry Fast-growing trees whose ligneous fibre is of higher quality, less difficult to process, and resistant to harmful insects, illnesses and environmental stresses. But what if original tree species ceased to exist? (

Health Rice enriched with vitamin A that can help cure blindness. Bananas as vaccines. Sheep whose milk contains insulin. Alfalfa that produces hemoglobin. But what if these medications had unsuspected side effects? (

Environment Fish that detect pollutants in the water. Plants that create biodegradable plastics. PCB- decomposing bacteria. Sugar beets that produce gas. But would you still need GMOs if you stopped polluting? (

Research Mice with human diseases to test vaccines and medications. Fruit flies to study the structure and function of genes. Fluorescent fish to understand human development. But what if you could modify the human being?

Drawbacks - Safety Potential human health impact: allergens, transfer of antibiotic resistance markers, unknown effects Potential environmental impact: unintended transfer of transgenes through cross-pollination, unknown effects on other organisms (e.g., soil microbes), and loss of flora and fauna biodiversity.

Drawbacks - Ethics Violation of natural organisms' intrinsic values Tampering with nature by mixing genes among species Objections to consuming animal genes in plants and vice versa Stress for animal

Where do you stand? Beneficial or dangerous?

Anti GMO Pro GMO Pamela Ronald Pro Bill Nye