Question

When asked about the health effects of GMO foods, the World Health Organization (WHO) states, "...no effects on human health have been shown as a result of the consumption of such foods by the general population in the countries where they have been approved." Yet in 2009, the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) stated that, "Several animal studies indicate serious health risks associated with genetically modified (GM) food," including infertility, immune problems, accelerated aging, faulty insulin regulation, and changes in major organs and the gastrointestinal system.

1. What type of research should we use to help us determine the truth about GMO foods?

2. What criteria or credentials should we look for in those making statements about and/or researching GMOs to determine whether we should believe their conclusions?

3. What are some possible motivations behind statements that either promote or oppose GMOs?

Answer 1

GMOs are one of the most controversial areas of science. Genetic engineering is used in many fields, but even though medical applications like GM insulin are widely accepted but the debate heats up when it comes to food and agriculture. After thousand of years almost every single plant and animal around us will be vastly different from the pre-domesticated state. Selective breeding is basically hoping for lucky hits.

One of the most common objection to GMOs is:-

• GENE FLOW - GM crop could mix with traditional crops and introduce unwanted new characteristics into them.

There is a method that might guarantee complete prevention:-TS

TERMINATOREED:- they produce sterile plants requiring farmers to buy new seeds every year.

GMOs as a technology are actually an ally and not an enemy in that fight, helping to save and protect nature and minimize our impact on the environment. 99% of all GMOs we use right now produce pesticides or are resistant against them. Scientists are working on GMOs that could improve our diet:-

• Plants that produce more or different nutrients like fruit with higher antioxidant levels that help to fight diseases.
• Rice with additional vitamins.
• On a larger scale, scientists are trying to engineer plants more resilient to climate change that is plants that can better adapt to adverse soil conditions.
• Crops that can draw nitrogen from air like microbes.
• They are also trying to modify plants to become super effective carbon collectors like American chestnut tree.