Safe and Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Food

Individual Project

Genetically modified organisms are plants, animals and microbes with their genetic material have been altered. This gene modification is done by gene splicing in which foreign genes are inserted into the genetic code of a selected organism. This process allows the organism to acquire a desirable trait needed for its enhancement, productivity or consumption. Foods that are genetically modified or contain genetically modified ingredient are known as genetically modified food. Some examples of foods that are commonly genetically modified are potato, tomato, maize, soybean, rice and a lot more.

Genetically modified foods were first available on the market in the early 1900s. But until now, it is still unknown they are safe or harmful. And the purpose of this paper is to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of genetically modified food. Hence, this paper would not give any conclusion whether it is safe or harmful to intake genetically modified food.

One of the reasons why certain plants are genetically modified is to make it pest and disease protected.  This would help the plants to grow fully without disturbance from pests or diseases and lessening the dependence on pesticides. Hence, losses during production could be minimized. But a plant which is herbicide or pesticide resistant would make some weeds and pests require powerful chemicals to destroy them.

 We all know that some plants are seasonal. But if a plant is genetically modified, it can grow on any climatic condition depending on the gene inserted. Thus, even if a plant is supposedly in season, it still could be cultivated. Aside from this, genetically modified plants grow faster, hence will produce more crops and make more profit.

Genetically modified food has longer shelf-life and acquires better taste. But on another hand, it could also become toxic. This happens when the gene inserted to the food to make it tastes better is in conflict with other genes of the specified food. Aside from that, the stability of the inserted gene is also unknown. Some inserted gene may be desirable for the food at first. But after sometime, if it is not stable, complication with the genetic material arises and toxicity of the food would be evident.

Nutritional yield is higher in genetically modified food. It also contains more vitamins and minerals. Another result of having genetically modified food is when it becomes an edible vaccine, i.e., it has medicinal benefits. Not all traditional food contains this trait. These foods are inexpensive. This is due to the insertion of genes which has the said characteristics to the most commercialized crops.

There are people who are suffering from food allergy. And genetically modified food helps them eat certain food without causing allergy. This is by removing the genetic material of the food which causes allergy. But looking in another way, if a genetic material which causes an allergy to a person is inserted to a food, this genetically modified food will cause allergic reaction to the person.

We may not know for certain if genetically modified foods are safe or harmful. It is for an individual to take caution to which food to take in with the help of the food evaluation of the World Health Organization.

Princess Rosales

2009-11842

List of References:

Nataliya Mogilna, Alex Magufwa. GENETIC MODIFIED FOODS: ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES. http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/bitstream/123456789/7916/1/14.pdf. March 7, 2014

bijaya, 2013. The Pros & Cons of Genetically Modified Food. http://healthblog.world.edu/the-pros-cons-of-genetically-modified-food/. March 7, 2014

Heit, Jeffrey, 2012. Genetically Engineered Foods. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002432.htm. March 7, 2014