Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Food - Assignment Example

Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Food Genetically modified (GM) foods are produced from both plants driven fromorganisms whose DNA have been genetically modified. In other words, such food materials do not occur naturally. Genes from different organisms are usually introduced to these plants and animals (Freedman 29). Notably, currently the MG foods are mainly from plants where genes are introduced in these plants’ stems. However, the developers of the MG foods have future plans of introducing MG animals or the MG microorganisms in the stores for consumption. The genetic modification of foods is intended towards improving their yield (Wolfensohn & Lloyd 91). This is done by making the crops or plants resistant to diseases and or increasing their tolerance to herbicides. The future genetic modification aims at modifying the plants and or animals’ nutrients and reducing their allergenic potential mainly through improving food production efficiency. With these modifications, it is apparent that the production of GM foods are not healthy to the environment and their consumption is not good for the human health. There are many reasons why the production and consumption of GM foods should be minimized. Different research studies have indicated that the production of GM foods has numerous environment effects and health hazard to the consumers. For instance, GM food have been associated to multiple toxins that have been detected specifically in the fetal and maternal blood. This danger was shown in 2010 studies on the effects of the GM foods (Wolfensohn & Lloyd 158). The research identified the presence of Bt proteins the Cry1Ab in the fetal and maternal blood. This protein is usually found in the GM food products. This experiment was based on a research to detect the presence of Bt’s Cry1AB proteins in plants. In connection to the research, the same proteins were found in the blood of pregnant women who had taken several of GM foods specifically corns (Freedman 186). Notably, human beings usually have no receptor for this protein; thus, it might have fatal effects to the body. The GM foods are generated from modification of crops’ DNA, there are possibilities that these modifications can be transferred to the consumers. These conclusions were drawn from a 2013 study that detected a whole new gene in the human plasma. However, this realization did bot means that these foods were integrated into the human body system, but rather floating between cells (Liang & Skinner 177). Additionally, these floating elements were not from GMOs, but from the natural food and since GMOs are also expected to behave in the same way, there are likelihood that their presence on the surface blood cell will eventual lead to incorporation into the cells. Hence, interfering with such cells’ structure, DNA, or functionalities thereby posing health complications from the individuals. There are some current studies from the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) that have associated GMOs with gluten disorders that is affecting mainly Americans. According to these studies, GMOs are mainly gluten to allergies (Wolfensohn & Lloyd 88). It should be noted that IRT is a nongovernmental organization that mainly advocate for reduction in use or possible elimination of the supply of GMOs into the markets (Sherlock & Morrey 234). Despite not being operative globally, its contributions are very vital since their contribution are research based. Notably, the Celiac Diseases Foundation echoed these concerns. In addition to the above contributions, other independent studies on animal have revealed stunted growth, blooding stomachs, impaired immune systems, and abnormal disorders with potential precancerous cell growths. The abnormal disorders associated with possible precancerous growths of cells as associated with intestinal cells and impaired development of blood cells, and misshaped structures of liver cells (Sherlock & Morrey281). Other cells that are most likely to be affected by DNA mutation resulting from GM foods are the testicles and pancreas cells. These alterations in cells developments and shapes are likely to lead to gene alteration and cell metabolic problems including the inflammation in kidney, reduced digestive systems and its associated organisms due to fewer developments of organisms (Brossard, Shanahan & Nesbitt 226). Interference with the digestive and metabolic systems are likely to lead to high blood pressure from high blood sugar as well as inflamed lung tissues. These health effects are likely to lead to intense deaths and increased offspring mortalities. For instance, some farmers reported on their stock (cows and pigs) sterility and subsequent deaths after being feed on GM corns. Nearly 71 shepherds have since 1980s reported 25 percent increased death rates on their sheep particularly those fed on Bt cotton plants. This is an indication that Bt cotton plants that are genetically engineered plants products are proving to be unhealthy to living organisms (Freedman 421). Moreover, some reports from UK farmers have indicated these GE foods have led to numerous deaths of their chickens, cows, horses, and water buffaloes. According these UK farmers, these deaths have rocked to nearly 50 percent since the introduction of GMO produce for the livestock use. During the same period, US reported that GM food supplements killed many leaving a figure between 5 and 10 thousand disabled and or sick. Breeding GMO plants have resulted to super pests and weeds that have spread across USA farm fields. Currently, nearly 50 percent of these farmers are fighting roundup resistant pests and weeds specifically soy and corn fields. This is an indication that use or production of GM plants and crops have led to new form of problems where newly founded problems that is, pests and weeds cannot be eradicated easily. Therefore, the resulting effects are the usage of large volumes of pests and herbicides thereby making farming expensive (Sherlock & Morrey 351). Additionally, fighting of some of these super resistant pests and weeds require use of highly toxic herbicides and pesticides. For instance, the use of Agent Orange 2, 4-D or the Dicamba. These situations put the lives of the farmers at risk as well as the lives of other living organisms that may get in contact or rather consume these chemicals. Furthermore, it was realized that some of these new herbicides and pesticides were not or less biodegradable; thus, remaining in the soil and environment for longer time; hence, spreading their effects over long period of time. These extended effects are likely to affect living things inappropriately. For instance, the GMO Bt seeds are usually soaked in highly toxic fungicides, the neonicotinoids. This action has been since linked with massive death of bees in America and its surrounding nations. Additionally, this effect threatens nearly 70 percent of the United States’ food supply especially in line with vegetables, fruits, nuts, and berries that usually depend on bees for pollination. Notably, the crops and flowers have recorded tremendous reduction in production globally (Liang & Skinner 152). Therefore, it can be noted that the main intent of increasing production through MG food production is not factual in some of the crops. On the contrary, it has led to eliminations of vital organisms in the food chain (Brossard, Shanahan & Nesbitt 198). Massive killing of bees will lead to reduced production of crops and plants that depend on cross pollination for fertilization. Moreover, bees are honey producers hence their immense and continued eliminations will reduce their populations thereby affected the availability of honey. Apparently, the main reasons and advantages of producing GM foods have been outweighed by the resulted disadvantages; therefore, the productions and consumption of the GM food and plants by all kinds of organisms should be minimized with main goal of eradicating the same completely. Any technology that seems to be disastrous to the lives of human beings among other living organisms should be discouraged at all cost. The GM foods and plants have proven to be health hazard and killer of human beings among other living organisms as well as interfering with food chain and eco-balance; hence, its application should be reduced with intention of eliminating GM foods and products. Works Cited Brossard, Dominique, James Shanahan, and T C. Nesbitt. The Public, the Media and Agricultural Biotechnology. Cambridge, MA: CABI, 2006. Internet resource. Freedman, Jeri. Genetically Modified Food: How Biotechnology Is Changing What We Eat. New York, NY: Rosen Pub. Group, 2009. Print. Liang, George H, and Daniel Z. Skinner. Genetically Modified Crops: Their Development, Uses, and Risks. New York: Food Products Press, 2004. Print. Sherlock, Richard, and John D. Morrey. Ethical Issues in Biotechnology. Lanham: Rowman& Littlefield, 2002. Print. Wolfensohn, Sarah, and Maggie Lloyd. Handbook of Laboratory Animal Management and Welfare. Oxford: John Wiley & Sons, 2007. Internet resource. Read More