Genetically Modified Foods.doc

Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? OverviewGenetically-modified foods (GM foods) have made a big splash in the news lately. European environmental organizations and public interest groups have been actively protesting against GM foods for months, and recent controversial studies about the effects of genetically-modified corn pollen on monarch butterfly caterpillars, have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the forefront of the public consciousness in the U.S. In response to the upswelling of public concern, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) held three open meetings in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Oakland, California to solicit public opinions and begin the process of establishing a new regulatory procedure for government approval of GM foods. I attended the FDA meeting held in November 1999 in Washington, D.C., and here I will attempt to summarize the issues involved and explain the U.S. governments present role in regulating GM food.What are genetically-modified foods?The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. For example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant. The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also can be used. The best known example of this is the use of B.t. genes in corn and other crops. B.t., or Bacillus thuringiensis, is a naturally occurring bacterium that produces crystal proteins that are lethal to insect larvae. B.t. crystal protein genes have been transferred into corn, enabling the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects such as the European corn borer.What are some of the advantages of GM foods?The world population has topped 6 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways.What are some of the criticisms against GM foods?Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized agribusiness for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards, and the government for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight. It seems that everyone has a strong opinion about GM foods. Even the Vatican and the Prince of Wales have expressed their opinions. Most concerns about GM foods fall into three categories: environmental hazards, human health risks, and economic concerns.ConclusionGenetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the worlds hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Yet there are many challenges ahead for governments, especially in the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food labeling. Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology 转基因食品有哪些危害？Genetically Modified Foods Harmful or Helpful？Health risks 可能的健康损害In the United States, the FDA Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition must approve the nutritional characteristics of GMO foods on the basis of comparability to conventionally-produced foods. In 2010 three scientists published a statistical re-analysis of three feeding trials that had previously been published by others as establishing the safety of genetically modified corn. The new article claimed that their statistics instead showed that the three patented crops (Mon 810, Mon 863, and NK 603) developed and owned by Monsanto cause liver, kidney, and heart damage in mammals. 损害哺乳动物的肝、肾、心脏。Gene transfer 导致人的基因转变As of January 2009 there has only been one human feeding study conducted on the effects of genetically modified foods. The study involved seven human volunteers who had previously had their large intestines removed. These volunteers were to eat GM soy to see if the DNA of the GM soy transferred to the bacteria that naturally lives in the human gut.Researchers identified that three of the seven volunteers had transgenes from GM soy transferred into the bacteria living in their gut, though none of the gene transfers occurred during the course of the study. Allergenicity 过敏性反应Many children in the US and Europe have developed life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods. There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. Unknown effects on human health 对人类健康的未知危害影响There is a growing concern that introducing foreign genes into food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health. GM foods may cause bacteria to become resistant to antibiotics.They can also produce allergies.一些转基因食品会使细菌对抗生素产生耐药性。 转基因食品也会引发过敏性不良反应。 Some rats died within a few weeks after eating GM tomatoes.一些老鼠在吃了转基因的番茄后的几周内就死掉了。Rats ability to digest was decreased after eating GM corn .在吃了转基因的玉米后，一些老鼠的消化能力下降。 Allergen content increased when soybeans were genetically modified. 转基因大豆中的过敏原含量比普通大豆的相比增加了。Rats had meager weight gain when fed GM soybeans.在未时了转基因大豆后，老鼠的体重下降。 The toxin level of GM cotton is unpredictable.转基因棉花中的毒素水平不可预估。 Toxins were found in mice after eating GM potatoes.在吃了转基因的土豆后，老鼠体内发现有毒素存在。 GM peas seem to have no harmful effects on animals but that doesnt mean they are safe for humans.转基因豌豆似乎对动物没有危害，但并不意味食用转基因豌豆着对人类是安全的。 ConclusionMany people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology. The Big Debate: Should We Love or Hate GM Food? On solving food hunger Lovers: More food can be made efficiently. In particular, crops can be made to grow in harsh agricultural condition, e.g. in some parts of Africa. Haters: There are enough food for everyone to eat, but currently food is not distributed to the right place. So problem is not quantity, but logistics, distribution and politics.On solving malnutrition Lovers: Food can be modified to contain more vitamins and minerals. For example, a new strain of vitamin-A rich rice is being developed, hopefully to alleviate blindness which has been affecting 500,000 persons on an annual basis. Haters: Food can be consciously made good, but unconsciously made toxic at the same time. There are valid concerns of unforeseen consequences.On food safety Haters: There is not enough scientific research to study the potential harm of GM food. Lovers: There are already more than 100 government research. None of them have conclusive evidence of harm from GM food. On politics and balance of power Haters: Since the GM technology is owned by a few biotechnology firms, there is a worry that these firms have too much power in controlling the world food market. Also, the millions of farmers livelihood will be controlled by these few firms. Lovers: The reduction of herbicides used and increased efficiency of GM food actually make farming more profitable for individual farmers. Also, a few genetically engineering licenses are given to farmers in poorer regions allowing to save seeds for next years planting.On the environment Lovers: Crops are made to be herbicide-tolerant. Therefore, less herbicid