Name: D.Sairam ( 1st Semester

IBT)

Course: Biodiversity &

Bioprospecting

Course Code: BSBT -111

Teachers: Dr. Subhash Diyundi

& Dr. Biswarup BasuTopic: GM Foods: Messiah for Mankind ?

GM Foods: Messiah for Mankind?

Source. www.knowyourmeme.com/GMO

What are GM Foods and GM based

Products ?

• A Genetically Modified Crop (GMC) is an plant whose genetic

characteristics have been altered by human beings.

• In most cases the aim is to introduce a new trait to the plant

which does not occur naturally in the species. Examples in

food crops include resistance to certain pests, diseases, or

environmental conditions, reduction of spoilage, or resistance

to chemical treatments (e.g. resistance to a weed), or

improving the nutrient profile of the crop.

• Examples of GM based food products are as follows: Corn,

Cotton, Brinjal etc.

Source: Nature 2014

Usefulness of GM crops

• Improved shelf life E.g.: Flavr Savr

• Improved nutrition E.g.: Golden Rice

• Stress resistance E.g.: Maize

• Herbicide resistance E.g.: Tobacco

• Pathogen resistance E.g.: Papaya

• Production of useful by-products E.g.:

Biofuels, Drugs

Source: Lancet 2013

Harmful Effects of GMCs

1. Human health

• Allergen and toxin

• Unknown effects on human health

2. Environmental hazards

• Unintended harm to other organisms

• Gene transfer to non-target species

• BT resistance Insects

Source: Goog;e Images

Human health

• Allergen and toxins

• Unknown effects on human health

• Bt crops linked to sterility, disease, and death

• The results of most studies with GM foods indicate that they may cause some common toxic effects such as hepatic, pancreatic, renal, or reproductive effects and may alter the hematological, biochemical, and immunologic parameters. The results of most studies with GM foods indicate that they may cause some common toxic effects such as hepatic, pancreatic, renal, or reproductive effects and may alter the hematological, biochemical, and immunologic parameters

Environment Hazards• Unintended harm to other organisms

.

• Threat to soil ecosystems : Many Bt crops

secrete their toxin from their roots into the

soil18. Residues left in the field contain the

active Bt toxin .19, 20, 21, 22 The long-term,

cumulative effects of growing Bt maize are of

concern.

Toxic effects of herbicides on ecosystems.

Several new studies suggest that Roundup is

far less benign than previously thought33. For

example, it is toxic to aquatic organisms such

as frog larvae34 and there are concerns that it

could affect plants essential for farmland

birds35

.

•

Miscellaneous Effects

• They increase pesticide usage.

• They hasten Environmental Degradation.

• They release Frankenstein like creatures into the world.

• There are several misconceptions about GM foods and it’s products .

Source: Google Images

Source: NCBI

Case Studies on GMCs

• Golden Rice ( explained by Raymond St. Leger)

• Flavr Savr ( CGN-89564-2)

• The first commercially grown genetically engineered food to be granted a license for human consumption.

• Through genetic engineering, Calgene hoped to slow the ripening process of the tomato and thus prevent it from softening, while still allowing the tomato to retain its natural colour and flavour.[3] The tomato was made more resistant to rotting by adding an antisense gene which interferes with the production of the enzyme polygalacturonase.

• An improved flavour, later achieved through traditional breeding of Flavr Savr and better tasting varieties, would also contribute to selling Flavr Savr at a premium price at the supermarket.

Why we need GMCs?

• Biotech crops increase yields : Productivity in GM crops has delivered gains in

some cases that are 7–20% higher than conventional varieties (which are on

average 33% higher than organic yields). (sources: Nature, PG Economics).

• Biotech crops can help address the global food crisis.

• Crop biotechnology helps small farmers: 90% of the 17 million farmers who grow

biotech crops are resource-poor with farms of less than 10 hectares. The growth

rate for biotech crops is at least three times as fast and five times as large in

developing countries than industrialized countries. (source: ISAAA, New York

Times).

• Biotech crops spur global economic growth : Economic benefits of GM crops

amounts to an average of over $ 30/hectare In the last 16 years, planted biotech

crop acres have increased 100-fold from 1.7 million hectares to 170 million

hectares. (source: ISAAA).

• Biotech crops help increase income of poorer farmers, reducing poverty and

malnutrition.

Source: Guardian

In Conclusion, GM Foods

are here to stay and are

truly the Messiah of

Mankind

References

• http://www.geneticliteracyproject.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/FINAL-

Biotechnology-infographic_0725_clean.pdf

• http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/522596/why-we-will-need-genetically-

modified-foods/

• http://www.greenpeace.org/australia/PageFiles/434214/GM_Fact%20Sheet_Health_%20and_

Env_Impacts.pdf

• http://www.isaaa.org/resources/publications/pocketk/4/

• http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18989835

• http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_11361.cfm

• http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-

food/en/

• http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotechnology/pusztai.html

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_crops#Effects_on_farming_practices

• http://www.umd.edu/

THANK YOU