GMO in food affecting Biology

Nicole Rockhold

GMOOriginal DNA structure has been changed

Goal of genetically modified plantsAim to make plants resistant to the herbicides

used in the fieldsBy doing this it allowed the weeds to be killed

without affecting the actual crops

BIG Concerns Basic lack of published human studies

Almost zero published research concerning the effects of long-term or short-term effects on humans

There is research to say that GMO foods negatively affect the immune system and inflammation in animal studies

It has been demonstrated that a person who was not allergic to the wild soy plant was allergic to the GMO soy

What happens to the crops?

What happens to the animals and the humans who eat them?

Are these plants a problem now?

Are they a problem in the future?

Can the bacteria and viruses used to alter the DNA in these plants also affect the bacteria in our gut?

BIG ConcernsLoss of natural seeds that have been used for

centuries

GMO crops replanted every year In many areas, seeds are reused every year an taken

from the hardies, healthiest plants that have acclimated to the climate

If seeds are lost and replaced with GMO seeds, may lose several forms of wild plants

May lose potential plants, nutrients, medication sources and feed for the rest of the food chain

Farmers may be forced to buy GMO seeds instead of reusing seeds for free

Myth vs. TruthTHE GENETIC ENGINEERING TECHNIQUE

MYTH: Genetic engineering is just an extension of natural breeding

TRUTH:Genetic engineering is different from natural breeding and

poses special risks Genetic engineering completely different from natural

breeding and entails different risks Imprecise and highly mutagenicLeads to unpredictable changes in the DNA, proteins, and

biochemical compositionCan lead to unexpected toxic or allergenic effects and

nutritional disturbances

Myth vs. TruthHEALTH HAZARDS OF GM FOODS

MYTH:GM foods are safe to eat

TRUTH:Studies show that GM foods can be toxic or allergenic

Studies have found harmful effects on health of lab and livestock animals fed GMOs

The GM gene product may be toxic or allergenic GM transformation process may produce mutagenic

effects, gene regulatory effects, or effects at other levels of biological structure and function

Changes in farming practices linked to the use of a GMO may result in toxic residues

Myth vs. TruthMYTH:

GM crops decrease pesticide use

TRUTH:GM crops increase pesticide use

GM crops have been responsible for an increase in 383 million pounds of herbicide use in the US over the first 13 years of commercial use

Primary cause of increase is the emergence of herbicide-resistant weeds

Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and Roundup-tolerant

genetically modified maize 100 male and 100 female rats were randomly assigned on a weight

basis 10 equivelant groups

For each sex, one control group had access to plain water and standard diet from the closest isogenic non-transgenic maize control

Six groups were fed with 11, 22, and 33% of GM NK603 maize either treated or not with R

Final three groups fed with control diet and had access to water supplemented with respectively 1.1x10-8% of R (the contaminating level of some regular tap waters) 0.09% of R (level in most GM feed) 0.5% of R (half of the minimal agricultural working dilution)

This was changed weekly

Long term toxicity of a Roundup herbicide and Roundup-tolerant

genetically modified maize2 year detailed rat feeding study

10 rats per group (200 rats measured)

Up to 11 blood and urine samples from control and experimental rat groups

Tested 3 doses (rather than two in the usual 90 day long protocols) Roundup-tolerant NK603 GM maize aloneThe GM maize treated with RoundupRoundup alone at very low environmentally relevant

doses

RESULTSMortality

Control male animals survived 624 days on avg. Control females lived for 701 days during experiment Before average date:

50% males and 70% females died in some groups on diets containing the GM maize

First two male rats that died in both GM treated groups euthanized due to kidney Wilm’s tumors Over 25% of body weight

First female death resulted from a mammary fibroadenoma

Females more sensitive to the presence of R in drinking water

RESULTSSimilar degrees of pathological symptoms were

noticed in this study to occur from the lowest to the highest doses suggesting a threshold effectCorresponds to levels likely to arise from

consumption or environmental exposureCan be found in some contaminated drinking tap

watersFall within authorized limits

The first large detectable tumors occurred at 4 and 7 months into the study in males and females respectively

RESULTSLower levels of complete herbicide formations

(Roundup), at concentrations well below officially set safety limits, induced severe hormone-dependent mammary, hepatic an kidney disturbances

Pathological effects of these GMO and R treatments in both sexes, with different amplitudes

It is proposed that agricultural edible GMOs and formulated pesticides must be evaluated very carefully by long term studies to measure potential toxic effects

How to Avoid GMO FoodsPurchase organic foods labeled “non-GMO”

Focus the diet on fruits and vegetables

Buy free-range meats and wild-caught fish

Educate yourselfFood manufacturers are not required to say if a

food contains GMO

Sources- all PDFs http://earthopensource.org/index.php/news/60-

why-genetically-engineered-food-is-dangerous-new-report-by-genetic-engineers

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-57517377-10391704/study-says-genetically-modified-corn-causes-tumors-but-other-scientists-skeptical-about-research/

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CEAQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Farch.ttu.edu%2Fw%2Fimages%2Fd%2Fd8%2FGenetically_Modified_Foods.pdf&ei=LsonUdGmL8aw2QWQsoCgDA&usg=AFQjCNF_em2uP9Hpt_nFZ89lN-I1K2ud8A&bvm=bv.42768644,d.b2I

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10408390701855993

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0278691512005637