disadvantages of genetically modified crops

8/12/2019 Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Crops

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British scientific researchers demonstrated that genetically modified DNA fromcrops can find its way into human gut bacteria, raising possible health concerns.This is because antibiotic-resistant marker genes are inserted with GM material,which could cause a person to be resistant to antibiotic medicines.

Allergenicity: Many children in the US and Europe have developed life-threateningallergies ot peanuts and other foods. There is a possibility that introducing a geneinto a plant may create a new allergen, causing an allergic reaction in susceptibleindividuals. An example of this was seen in the incorporation of a gene from Brazilnuts into soybeans . A proposed solution for this is extensive FDA testing of allGM foods.Unknown effects on human health: There is a concern that introducing foreign

genes into food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on humanhealth. The effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tracts in rats concluded thatthere were appreciable negative differences in the intestines of rats fed GMpotatoes compared to those fed unmodified potatoes.Some studies have shown that it may affect the human digestive system in anumber of ways. The incorporation of substances that may interact badly with oneanother in food or in fact be poisonous to people may happen. The modification ofcertain genes may make some plant substances difficult to digest at all.

EFFECT ON HUMANS


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Genetic modification can also make it difficult to know what you are eating,as a plant could contain animals products via genetic engineering. Thiscould cause issues for those with dietary restrictions and religiouscommitments. Loss of nutritional value.

Reduction of the efficiency of antibiotics. New viruses could evolve from the mass production of GM crops. The more that gene technology is used, the worse the environment willbecome. Humans do not have the right to genetically alter nature for their ownconvienience and profit.

GM crops produce religious complications. Vegetarians and Vegans may find it offensive to put animal genes intoplants.Too much money spent on Gene Technology could have been spent onother things. No assurances of public liability for Farmers of GM crops


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EFFECT ON ANIMALS

Changing plants may have lasting effects on other organisms in theecosystem. The change in a plant may cause it to be toxic to an insector animal that uses it as its main food source.{ANIMAL}Due to the widespread use of insect resistant genes in crops theinsects may become resistant to the genetic modifications. This wouldcause a widespread loss of crops and plants that have the naturalimmunity leading to a loss in biodiversity.{ANIMALS}Breeding and cross pollination across unintended species could occurresulting in things such as insect resistant weeds.Pests may develop resistance to GM crops that have been designed tokill them. GM crops may cause harm to the wealth and welfare of animals. GM crops may produce ecological side effects (Monarch butterfiles).


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INTENDED HARM TO OTHER ORGANISMS -Pollen from B.t. corn caused high mortality rates in monarch butterflycaterpillars. Monarch caterpillars consume milkweed plants, not corn, butthe fear is that if pollen from B.t. corn is blown by the wind onto milkweedplants in the neighboring fields, the caterpillars could eat the pollen and die. Unfortunately, B.t. pollen kills many species of insect larvaeindiscriminately, so it is not possible to design a strain to kill only harmfulpests.

EDUCED EFFECRTIVENESS OF PESTICIDES:

Just as some populations of mosquitoes developed resistance to DDT, manypeople are concerned that insects will become resistant to B.t. or other crops

that have veen genetically modified to produce their own pesticides.


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GENE TRANSFER TO NON TARGET SPECIES

Crop plants engineered for herbicide tolerance and weeds can cross=breed,

resulting in the transfer of the herbicide resistance genes from the crops intothe weeds. These would then be herbicide tolerant as well. Otherintroduced genes may cross over into non-modified crops planted near GMcrops.

Economic Concerns

Bringing a GM food to market is a lengthy and costly process. Many new plant geneticengineering technologies and GM plants have been patented. Consumer advocates areworried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high thatsmall farmers and third world conuntries will not be able to afford seeds for GM crops,widening the gap between the wealthy and poor.

disadvantages of genetically modified crops

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