GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD

BY:- ABHISHEK.M

SOME QUESTIONS

1) What is genetic modification?2) What are GM Foods?3) Why are food genetically modified?4) How do we achieve genetic modifications?5) What are the benefits of GM Foods?6) Who makes sure they are safe?7) Which companies own the GM market?8) What are the possible risks associated with GM

Foods?

What is Genetic Modification or Engineering?

The direct manipulation of an organism’s genome using biotechnology is known as

genetic engineering.

What are Genetically Modified(GM) foods?

Foods that contain an added gene sequence Foods that have a deleted gene sequence Animal products from animals fed GM feed

Products produced by GM organisms

Why are foods genetically modified?

Genetic engineering offers a precise and rapid method of altering organisms as

compared to traditional methods that are slow and inaccurate

Common GM foods

• Vegetables• Tomatoes• Potatoes• Rice • Cheese• Meat

How can DNA be moved from one organism to other?

It’s quite simpleactually

.

•Find an organism with the desired trait

•Isolate the gene sequence that codes for that trait

•Insert the gene sequence into genome of the plant or animal

cell•Allow the genetically altered cell

to grow and propagate

.

A vector can be used to carry the DNA.

It could be a pellet from a gene gun

Viruses and bacteria is also used to carry genes

Benefits of GM Foods• Easing of world hunger • Development of crops that can be grown in marginal soil

• Reduced strain on non-renewable resources

• Development of drought resistant crops • Development of salt tolerant crops

• Development of crops that make efficient use of nitrogen and other nutrients

.

• Reduced use of pesticides and herbicides

• Development of pest resistant crops • Reduced herbicide use is good for environment and

reduces the cost for farmers

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• Improved crop quality• Development of frost resistant crops• Development of disease resistant crops• Development of flood resistant crops

.

• Improved nutritional quality

• Development of foods with specific nutritional values

Who makes sure that GM Foods are safe?

• Government agencies regulate GM Foods

.

• GM Foods in The US are required to be labeled only if the nutritional value is changed or a new allergen is introduced

MAJOR PLAYERS IN THE GM MARKET

The Big 6 :-

1) Monsanto 2) Syngenta 3) Bayer4) Dow5) BASF6) Dupont

Possible risks of GM Foods

• Insects might develop resistance to pesticide producing GM Crops

• Herbicide-tolerant crops may cross pollinate weeds, resulting in super weeds

.

• Certain gene products may be allergens, thus causing harms to human health

• There may be unintentional harm to wildlife and beneficial insects

CONCLUSIONS

Genetic modification is a highly controversial subject, with many in its favor while many against it.

It has its own benefits as well as drawbacks . It needs to be refined and its drawbacks

eliminated.

.

The science was elucidated by the scientists with a noble intension, but some seems to have monopolized the market and misuse it.

We need to appreciate the science and move GM foods in a forward direction.

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