Antonio Tellez-Soto
Professor Feldmann
PLS 170C2
October 25, 2018
GMOS
The objective of this report is to enlighten the reader about the advances in technology which have allowed the research of genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) to improve drastically over time. This report will also incorporate the benefits and disadvantages of GMO’S regarding humans observing both sides of this dispute.
The introduction to what is now a great phenomenon began with a process created by Charles Darwin, known as selective breeding or artificial selection, where organisms with the finest traits out of the species were bred producing offspring with extraordinary traits. Although this exact process isn’t what exactly occurs when it comes to GMO production, it is the earliest history of humans manipulating genetics. GMO development has allowed scientist to rearrange and insert genes organism’s DNA, causing a notable alteration. Additionally, it benefits the organism by providing it with resistance against pesticides and infections that could damage not only the organism itself but endanger other organisms as well.
In 1973, Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen became the first scientists to genetically engineer an organism. They could do this by cutting out a gene from an organism (A) and pasting it into an organism (B). This precise method, permitted genes that encode antibiotic resistance to be successfully relocated from one strain of bacteria into another, providing antibiotic resistance on the recipient. The lack of proper research has steered critics to believe that every single use of GMO technology is harmful to the human body and the environment while others object the use of this technology based on religious or philosophical bases, calling it unethical. When the use of GMOs began to increase over time the requests for rules and regulations were obnoxious that rules and regulations have been set by Supreme Courts and The Food and Drug Administration. Critics believe that GMO’s can be used on anything and everything, but in reality, it is a long process, various rules and regulations must be met, specific licenses need to be obtained way before any GMO product can be sold to the public. Thanks to Senator Dick Durbin in 2009 he introduced a legislation that required any product grown in a food crop to receive pre-market approval, whether or not it was intended to be eaten. Thus, before any pharmaceutical was produced in a food crop, the FDA would conduct a food-safety analysis to ensure that accidental human exposure to the drug through the food supply will not cause health risks.
Critics also feel like GMOs are going to replace the work of a farmer; on the contrary, GMOs contain beneficial characteristics that are productive to agricultural development. Farmers are worried about contamination from “genetic drift”. which is when pollen from a genetic plant moves into the neighboring field through the wind, birds or insects contaminating the entire crop. In the end GMO farmers use less herbicides because their crops are already resistant to them, they use zero insecticides and create less carbon emissions. They create less carbon emissions because if their crops didn’t contain GMOs then they would have to get apply herbicides or insecticides. They have to run the tractor up and down the field, burning fossil fuels resulting in carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.
“U.S. APPROVES A GENETICALLY ALTERED VACCINE” reads the title of an article from the New York Times on July 24, 1982. On that date the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved the first human medication produced by a genetically modified organism. The intent of the approved vaccine was to strengthen the human immune system against hepatitis B. Dr. Frank E. Young, the F.D.A. commissioner, stated that ''This development opens the door for the production of other vaccines that have so far been impractical, potentially unsafe or impossible to make.'' Following such significant breakthrough engineers could expand the production and development of genetically altered medicine creating a positive effect in the economy by creating jobs and in saving lives. Since then, they’ve created ‘gene therapy’ which is a treatment for illnesses varying from rare metabolic disorders to cancer. “Coupling stem cell technology with recombinant DNA methods allows stem cells derived from a patient to be modified in the laboratory to introduce a desired gene. For example, a normal beta-globin gene may be introduced into the DNA of bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells from a patient with sickle cell anemia; introduction of these GM cells into the patient could cure the disease without the need for a matched donor.” The creation of genetically altered insulin is another essential accomplishment for GMO technology. During the 1970s the supply of animal pancreas began to decline rapidly inducing a universal panic concerning an insulin shortage, fortunately during that same time genetic engineering became accessible and guaranteed unlimited amounts of insulin. Besides being proved safe and efficacious for millions of patients, as a result, it has almost completely outcasted animal – pigs and cattle – source insulins. In the United States approximately five million Americans depend on genetically modified insulin. In absence of this astonishing technology the demand level in no way would be met, causing prices for insulin to skyrocket and millions would grow extremely ill without it, endangering their lives. For decades, genetically altered pharmaceuticals have saved millions of lives due to how inexpensive medicine has become.
In addition to pharmaceuticals becoming affordable, food containing genetically modified organisms has followed an identical path. It is notable that when you go to a grocery store or purchase a product that is organic or was produced organically, it tends to be insanely expensive compared to a product that’s wasn’t. “Typically, GM crops are the more efficient crops, and that means their price and costs as ingredients are less than non-GMOs.” states Dr. Stuart Smyth. These crops included corn, soy, sugar, papayas and many more. For the past 50 years there has been a steady decrease on the price of food due to farmers using different techniques, including using GMO’s, that have caused an increase in the production of food from their crops. The more supply there is of a product the cheaper it usually is, benefiting both the consumer and producer. In this case, the farmer and consumers are taking full advantage of this because they can purchase more produce for a small amount money, and farmers income is increasing as they continue to purchase. According to the NON-GMO Project, there are 142 different types of genetically modified corn. Almost 90% of the corn grown and produced in the United States is genetically modified. Corn has many uses, a certain amount of it goes into animal feed and biofuels, and the rest is processed into different ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup and corn starch, it is also used as the source material when it comes to making alcohol and citric acid.
The uses of GMO technology are infinite, from creating medications that continue to save millions of live annually to reducing the prices of food. In several years, critics who are opposed the usage of GMO technology are going to have to acknowledge it into their lives because it will be one of the few ways of survival. As human population continues to increase rapidly and faster than anticipated, by 2050 the earth population was projected to be 9.3 billion, meaning that the demand for food will increase drastically. According to an article by The Guardian, “The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) estimates that farmers will have to produce 70% more food by 2050 to meet the needs of the world's expected population.” Enhancing the use of GMO in the future, would not only achieve the goal of producing 70% more food, it would additionally continue to unfold countless research opportunities allowing this technology to improve even further. GMOs would potentially ensure that food is obtainable in third world countries, feeding the 11 million people that are undernourished. Furthermore, it would help them create a variety of medications intended to save lives, benefit their economies and extremely reduce their dependence on the industrialized world.
After expanding my knowledge about GMOs and their uses, I strong believe that genetically modified organisms are crucial and extremely beneficial to humans. Not only are they helping farmers meet the demand of food now, they will continue to meet the demand when earth’s population increases to 9.3 billion in the next 32 years and prevent a major shortage from occurring. Without the use of GMOs many people including friends and family members of mine wouldn’t have access to the insulin needed to keep them alive. There have been too many successful achievements made with GMOs to dispose of such great technology. I believe that soon there will be another impactful breakthrough like the one on July 24, 1982.
References
BOFFEY, PHILIP M. “U.S. APPROVES A GENETICALLY ALTERED VACCINE.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 24 July 1986, www.nytimes.com/1986/07/24/us/us-approves-a-genetically-altered-vaccine.html.
Diaz, Julia M., and Judith L. Fridovich-Keil. “Genetically Modified Organism.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 26 Apr. 2018, www.britannica.com/science/genetically-modified-organism/GMOs-in-medicine-and-research.
Federation of American Scientist. “U.S Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops.” U.S. Regulation of Genetically Modified Crops, 2011, fas.org/biosecurity/education/dualuse-agriculture/2.-agricultural-biotechnology/us-regulation-of-genetically-engineered-crops.html.
Manager, Community. “Why Do Some People Say or Think GMOs Are Bad?” GMO Answers, 27 June 2018, gmoanswers.com/why-do-some-people-say-or-think-gmos-are-bad.
Miller, Henry. “When Genetic Engineering Came of Age: World's First GMO-GE Insulin-Approved 35 Years Ago.” Genetic Literacy Project, 12 Jan. 2018, geneticliteracyproject.org/2017/10/30/genetic-engineering-came-age-worlds-first-gmo-ge-insulin-approved-35-years-ago/.
Press, Associated. “UN: Farmers Must Produce 70% More Food by 2050 to Feed Population.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 28 Nov. 2011, www.theguardian.com/environment/2011/nov/28/un-farmers-produce-food-population.
The Food Dialogue. “How GMO Crops Help Farmers and the Environment.” Food Dialogues, 9 June 2017, www.fooddialogues.com/gmo-crops-help-farmers-environment/
World Hunger Education Service. “World Hunger, Poverty Facts, Statistics 2016.” World Hunger News, 1 Jan. 2018, www.worldhunger.org/world-hunger-and-poverty-facts-and-statistics/.