Genetically Modified Crops

Jessica Schacherer

What are Genetically Modified Crops?

GM plants created using GMOs

GMOs

Organisms in which DNA has

been altered in a way not

naturally occurring

“modern biotechnology”

“gene technology”

Allows selected individual genes

to be transferred from one

organism to another or between

non-related species

Benefits of GM Crop Use

Resistance to herbicides

Insect resistance

Decrease use of pesticides

Drought resistance

Addition of vitamins & nutrients

Golden Rice – Vitamin A

Bt cotton in India

Crop yields increased by 60%

Use in United States by 2009/2010

Soybeans 93%

Cotton 93%

Corn 86%

Sugar Beet 95%

GM Crop Global Uses

World hunger issue

Supply more food to starving

nations

Conflict with current

regulations in Africa

Poverty issue

Allow for better crop yield in

poor countries

Promote economic growth

Export products

Financially independent

Conflict with current

regulations

Concerns

Allergenicity

Gene Transfer

Out Crossing

Concerns

Allergenicity•Transfer from commonly

allergenic foods discouraged

•Unless protein product

proven safe

•Protocols for tests by WHO

•No allergic effects found

currently in GM foods

Concerns

Gene Transfer•Transfer from GM foods to

human cells

•Via intestinal tract

•Antibiotic resistant genes

•Probability low

•Negative health effects?

Concerns

Out Crossing•Movement of genes from GM

plants to wild species

•Mixing of seeds, indirect effect

on food safety & security

Maize product in US

•Ecological relationships

What happens when

you combine….

Grapples

What about…

Lematos

What about…

Plumcots

Designer Fruit

“Natural cross hybrid”

Combinations of different fruits to produce novel ones

None naturally occurring

Genetically different than either parent

Created to enhance characteristics from other species

Sold as specialty items

New fruit market

.50 cents to $1.00 more

Methods in field, not lab

Still genetically modified food?

Controversy avoided

Example: Peach + Nectarine

Peach: passes on its taste

Nectarine: easy to eat, no fuzz on skin

How

could

lettuce

treat

diabetes?

Genetically Modified Lettuce

Professor Henry Daniell of the

University of Central Florida

Genetically engineered tobacco

plants with insulin gene

Administered to diabetic mice

Restored normal blood and urine

sugar levels

Proposed using lettuce instead

Prevent diabetes before symptoms

appear

Treat disease is later stages

20.8 million children and adults

in US

7% of population

Type 1 or 2 diabetes

Double by 2025

$79.7 billion out of $645 billion

federally spent treating diabetes

NIH provided $2 million in

funding of study

Affect millions worldwide

Genetically Modified Lettuce

Do you consider

hybrid fruit to be

GM foods?

Do you think

production of these

fruits is harmful or

helpful with regards

to:

society?

the environment?

the economy?

How do you feel

about the use of

GM lettuce to

treat diabetes?

Questions?

References

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/07/070730111638.htm

http://webecoist.com/2009/02/19/genetically-modified-fruits-vegetables/

http://www.who.int/foodsafety/publications/biotech/20questions/en/

http://maps.grida.no/go/graphic/africa_policy_on_genetically_modified_organisms_gmo_and_genetically_engineered_ge_foods

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111904900904576552543026705926.html#printMode%3D%26project%3DFRUIT090711%26articleTabs%3Dinteractive