Question

dentify the top 3 foods from your grocery basket that might be containing GMOs (from the categories: definitely containing; likely containing and Not sure if containing) and list them in a table similar to the one below*. (You can download a template here or create your own) For each of the three products you selected, complete the applicable table columns. Assume that the ingredient is GMO and conduct research to find if there are any health, environmental, or other types of ethical concerns related to the specific ingredient. Make sure you are focusing on concerns related to the fact that the ingredient is GM, not general health concerns related to that ingredient. For example, if your product is cookies, and the ingredient you are focusing on is corn syrup, you will be looking for concerns (health-related, environmental or other ethical issues) related to GMO corn (from which the corn syrup is extracted), not general health concerns related to corn syrup. Include a very short description of the concern (25 - 50 words, using clear and complete sentences) and clearly indicate the source of the information, by providing the full citation or the article link (as exemplified below). If there is no concern, list the name and provide the link of the authority/document/study that provides this conclusion. Refer to studies presented in peer-reviewed articles, . If you choose to use other sources, they must be reliable - published in academic journals, written by scientists, or quoting scientific papers or official sources. Random web articles, blogs and other online opinion pieces are not acceptable.For example, search for corn, not corn syrup, together with keywords like Genetically Modified, Genetically Engineered, GM, GE, GMO, GMOs, etc

Answer 1

The three genetically engineered foods chosen for analysis are GM soybeans, GM potatoes and GM corn and cotton. Gm corn and cotton have similar implications.

GM Soybeans:

Studies have been conducted on rats and mice which resulted in the following implications:

1. Increase in quantity of trypsin inhibitor.

2. Significant changes were observed in the contents of isoflavone (genistein).

There were significant differences observed in the performances of lactating cows fed with feed containing GM soy and cows that were fed normal feed.

GM Potatoes:

Studies were conducted on mice fed with 2 g of GM potatoes/kg body weight. There was profound observance of mitochondrial degeneration, activation of Paneth cells, microvilli were disrupted, increase in numbers of autophagic vacuoles and lysosomes and villus epithelial cell hypertrophy and also multinucleation. Studies conducted in rats revealed increase in crypt length of the intestines and also increase in stomach mucosal thickness. This can lead to cancer. The rats also possessed damaged immune system and organs.

Bt corn and cotton:

1. In Filipinos, pollination of a Bt corn variety reported at least five sick villages.

2. Sterility was observed in cows and pigs and was reported by around a dozen farmers in Europe.

3. Farmers of Europe and Asia reported dying chickens, horses and buffaloes on grazing Bt corn and Bt cotton. A few others had reproductive and other significant health concerns.

The above said data has been referred and presented from scientific papers published by the Science fraternity in authorised journals.