Genetic modification, also
known as genetic engineering or recombinant-DNA technology, was first applied
in the 1970s. This technique allows selected individual genes to be transferred
from one organism into another and also between non-related species. It is one
of the methods used to introduce novel traits or characteristics into
micro-organisms, plants and animals. The products obtained from this technology
are commonly called genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
GMOs are officially defined
in the EU legislation as "organisms in which the genetic material (DNA)
has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or
recombination." Genetic techniques involved could include: transferring
genes from one organism to another moving, deleting, modifying, or multiplying
genes within a living organism modifying existing genes or constructing new
ones, and incorporating them into a new organism. There are many applications
for genetic modification. For example, human insulin for diabetics, previously
obtained from the pancreas of slaughtered pigs, is now usually made using GMOs.
Similarly, genetic modification can be used to produce improved vaccines for animal
diseases, and medical therapeutics to treat human conditions.
Genetic modification in plants is
often concerned with improving their ability to survive in particular harsh
environments, to provide greater resistance to pests and diseases, to improve
nutritional qualities, and to create tolerance to certain herbicides.
Genetically modified plants have also been developed to produce compounds of
potential industrial use.
The most common GM plants
that have been developed and commercialised so far are GM maize, soya, oilseed
rape and cotton that have been modified to provide resistance to certain insect
pests and/or tolerance to herbicides.
In 1992, the Food and Drug
Administration claimed they had no information showing that GM foods were
substantially different from conventionally grown foods. Therefore they are
safe to eat, and absolutely no safety studies were required. But internal memos
made public by a lawsuit reveal that their position was staged by political
appointees who were under orders from the White House to promote GMOs. In
addition, the FDA official in charge of creating this policy was Michael
Taylor, the former attorney for Monsanto, the largest biotech company, and
later their vice president. In reality, FDA scientists had repeatedly warned
that GM foods can create unpredictable, hard-to-detect side effects, including
allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. They urged long-term
safety studies, but were ignored.
In the 1980s, a contaminated brand of a
food supplement called L-tryptophan killed about 100 Americans and caused
sickness and disability in another 5,000-10,000 people. The source of contaminants
was almost certainly the genetic engineering process used in its production.
[41] The disease took years to find and was almost overlooked. It was only
identified because the symptoms were unique, acute, and fast-acting. If all
three characteristics were not in place, the deadly GM supplement might never
have been identified or removed.“Several animal studies indicate serious health
risks associated with genetically modified (GM) food (AAEM 2009),” including infertility,
immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in
major organs and the gastrointestinal system. The AAEM has asked physicians to
advise all patients to avoid GM foods.
And therefore the food we consume irrespective
of their classes of diet, have direct implication on our health behaviour, positively
or negatively. Some examples of the genetically mordified foods are:
1) Corn
Almost 85 perecent of corn grown in the
U.S. is genetically modified. Even Whole Foods’s brand of corn flakes was found
to contain genetically modified corn. Many producers modify corn and soy so
they are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate, which is used to kill weeds.
2) Soy
Soy is the most heavily genetically
modified food in the country. The largest U.S. producer of hybrid seeds for
agriculture, Pioneer Hi-Bred International, created a genetically engineered
soybean ,which was approved in 2010. It is modified to have a high level of oleic
acid, which is naturally found in olive oil. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated
omega-9 fatty acid that may lower LDL cholesterol (traditionally thought of as
“bad” cholesterol) when used to replace other fats.
3) Alfalfa
Cultivation of genetically engineered
alfalfa was approved in 2011 , and consists of a gene that makes it resistant
to the herbicide Roundup, allowing farmers to spray the chemical without damaging
the alfalfa.
4) Milk
To increase the quantity of milk
produced, cows are often given rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), which
is also banned in the European Union , as well as in Japan, Canada, New Zealand
and Australia
From a professional point of view, Professor
Muhammed Sakir from the University of Maiduguri, in an interview, says that
those fruits which are naturally produced have no side effects whatsoever, but
those which are artificially ripped for commercial purposes such as the
mangoes, he says if one wants to use the mangoes for commercial purpose, it has
to be ripped artificially, he also explained that the side effects which comes
as a result of using some chemical substances could affect the kidneys, liver,
saying it is good to make use of the naturally ripped or produced foods.
Professor Mustapha Kokoye, the head of
the department of biological sciences, university of Maiduguri, also spoke on
the differences between the processed and the locally produced foods, saying
the locally produced foods are those which are normally available in the market
and are indigenous to a particular environment, he says the locally produced
foods have more nutritional value, sighting an example with the kind of garlic
sold in the market, saying the locally produced ones are usually very small and
people encounter difficulty trying to peel it off, but the processed ones which
are a complete opposite of the locally produced ones are bigger in size, and
also differs in taste and aroma.
Professor Mustapha, explains that due
to the effect of the genetically modified foods, there has been an international
rule, stating that all modified foods must have a label on it to indicate that
the product is modified, because there are people who believe that food
products that are not allowed to grow naturally are not good for the health, he
gave an example with the big tomatoes that are genetically modified and sold in
the market, saying the aim is so that the tomatoes do not spoil within a short
period of time, but the naturally growing tomatoes spoil within a short period
of time.
Genetically modified material sounds a little bit like science fiction
territory, but in reality, much of what we eat on a daily basis is a
genetically modified organism (GMO). Whether or not these modified foods are
actually healthy is still up for debate — and many times, you don’t even know
that you are buying something genetically modified.
Gracious G. Mshelia
University of Maiduguri
Department of Mass Communication
300 Level.
This article was writen and edited under the authority of the Grand CEO of PRESTIGEAFRICA BLOG in person of TREXZOKULL (solomon k musa) you can contact us for adverts and others @+2349039272100 thank you all.
ConversionConversion EmoticonEmoticon