GMOs: Medically Helpful or Harmful?
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GMOs have been a hot topic for quite a while now, majorly because of their medical effects. Regardless of facts or fiction, when there is emerging knowledge of medical information it reaches the forefront almost immediately through the media. The key is to know what information can be trusted and what is just an image.
Heard any of these?
GMOS cause autism, cancer, allergies.... the list goes on and on.
Clearly people are concerned across the boards about consuming GMO products. They have a right to be too. I would be hesitant to feed my kids certain foods after hearing it can cause all sorts of medical problems. In fact, I wouldn't be too keen on eating it myself either. Even after doing further research, there are still many factors to be concerned about from both perspectives.
Heard any of these?
GMOS cause autism, cancer, allergies.... the list goes on and on.
Clearly people are concerned across the boards about consuming GMO products. They have a right to be too. I would be hesitant to feed my kids certain foods after hearing it can cause all sorts of medical problems. In fact, I wouldn't be too keen on eating it myself either. Even after doing further research, there are still many factors to be concerned about from both perspectives.
GMOs to the Rescue
Ultimately, the goal of GMOs is to help. They were not produced with the intentions of harming anyone or anything. This is an attempt to find solutions at, quite frankly, a lot of medical problems already in the world today.
Here are a couple ways GMOs are geared to help:
RoundUp Ready Corn
The idea behind this is that corn can grow it's own pesticides/herbicides to prevent putting them out in the environment. This was designed so that farmers could produce higher yields of their crops. Although there is some controversy over if there is actually higher yields produced, the idea is there. It is a step in trying to find a way to prevent starvation and meet the growing demand for food as the world's population proceeds to grow.
Golden Rice
This is a GM rice that has a gene from corn put into that of rice in order for it to be a source of Vitamin A. There is Vitamin A deficiency in many third-world countries that is causing blindness and this GM is aimed to fix the problem using their current food source to their advantage.
Malaria Anti-spreading Mosquito
Other than just food, GMOs are being used to try to solve other medical problems across the world. With Malaria being such a prevalent problem for many African countries as well as elsewhere, using GM mosquitos may just be the answer or at least a step in the right direction. Scientist are now successfully working to modify mosquitos so they prevent spreading the disease. The future goal, however, is to use mosquitos to actually counteract spreading disease, essentially by vaccinating the insects. In the end, though, the goal is to use GMOs to solve a worldwide medical crisis.
Here are a couple ways GMOs are geared to help:
RoundUp Ready Corn
The idea behind this is that corn can grow it's own pesticides/herbicides to prevent putting them out in the environment. This was designed so that farmers could produce higher yields of their crops. Although there is some controversy over if there is actually higher yields produced, the idea is there. It is a step in trying to find a way to prevent starvation and meet the growing demand for food as the world's population proceeds to grow.
Golden Rice
This is a GM rice that has a gene from corn put into that of rice in order for it to be a source of Vitamin A. There is Vitamin A deficiency in many third-world countries that is causing blindness and this GM is aimed to fix the problem using their current food source to their advantage.
Malaria Anti-spreading Mosquito
Other than just food, GMOs are being used to try to solve other medical problems across the world. With Malaria being such a prevalent problem for many African countries as well as elsewhere, using GM mosquitos may just be the answer or at least a step in the right direction. Scientist are now successfully working to modify mosquitos so they prevent spreading the disease. The future goal, however, is to use mosquitos to actually counteract spreading disease, essentially by vaccinating the insects. In the end, though, the goal is to use GMOs to solve a worldwide medical crisis.
A Great Thing gone Bad
Though GMOs are out to save the world, there is lots of apprehension about if they are causing more bad than good.
Many people argue the benefits are not worth the risks, and there are serious reasons to be concerned.
Gene crossing confusion
Food allergies have been on the rise for quite some time and there are a number of reasons it could be happening. However, there is certainly reason to believe GMOs are causing or at least contributing to the increase in food allergies. As genes get crossed the boundaries are becoming less clear as to what things really are. Now rice has corn DNA, and corn has Roundup ready DNA. As more modification take place, the contents of products become complicated and less easy to distinguish. It is like "world wide inbreeding of plants". This is a problem for two reasons:
Food allergies
Let's say a person has a peanut allergy. What if the peanut plant has a characteristic that would be great to help corn grow? So, peanut genes are implanted into corn. Now that person has a reaction to corn because it contains peanut DNA. Now think about all the things that are made of or with corn. The person could potentially start having reaction to those items. What if we take the already genetically modified corn and implant its DNA into a different plant, like rice? Then the peanut DNA is potentially in the GM rice. To be clear, this example is fictional and over exaggerated, but this is the idea. Exchanging genes is a slippery slope that can get complicated really quickly. It may not be the only reason, but it definitely can be a contributor in the spread of allergies.
Concerns with body systems
Clearly, genetically modifying plants causing them to have a different composition. Another concern that is being brought to the forefront to the GMO health debate is how the human digestive system is being effected. Dr. Bellonzi gives a descriptive explanation of how new composition of old things can be confusing to the body. He explains, GM tomatoes may not be recognized by the body the same way regular tomatoes are. Though there is not tons of research on the subject yet, it is a reason to be apprehensive. Plus, research can be hard on the subject because it is highly individualized by product. This idea is what has sparked the idea that GMOs can cause Gluten disorders, autoimmune disease, or even neurological problems.
Toxicity
Dr. Bellonzi also points out the interesting topic of eating plants that produce their own toxins. With plants like Roundup ready, plants are making pesticides so that when insects try to eat them, they die. Well, what does that do to humans? The plants clearly do not have enough toxins to kill humans like they do insects, but they are still there. Even at low levels, what are these toxins doing to the human body?
Many people argue the benefits are not worth the risks, and there are serious reasons to be concerned.
Gene crossing confusion
Food allergies have been on the rise for quite some time and there are a number of reasons it could be happening. However, there is certainly reason to believe GMOs are causing or at least contributing to the increase in food allergies. As genes get crossed the boundaries are becoming less clear as to what things really are. Now rice has corn DNA, and corn has Roundup ready DNA. As more modification take place, the contents of products become complicated and less easy to distinguish. It is like "world wide inbreeding of plants". This is a problem for two reasons:
Food allergies
Let's say a person has a peanut allergy. What if the peanut plant has a characteristic that would be great to help corn grow? So, peanut genes are implanted into corn. Now that person has a reaction to corn because it contains peanut DNA. Now think about all the things that are made of or with corn. The person could potentially start having reaction to those items. What if we take the already genetically modified corn and implant its DNA into a different plant, like rice? Then the peanut DNA is potentially in the GM rice. To be clear, this example is fictional and over exaggerated, but this is the idea. Exchanging genes is a slippery slope that can get complicated really quickly. It may not be the only reason, but it definitely can be a contributor in the spread of allergies.
Concerns with body systems
Clearly, genetically modifying plants causing them to have a different composition. Another concern that is being brought to the forefront to the GMO health debate is how the human digestive system is being effected. Dr. Bellonzi gives a descriptive explanation of how new composition of old things can be confusing to the body. He explains, GM tomatoes may not be recognized by the body the same way regular tomatoes are. Though there is not tons of research on the subject yet, it is a reason to be apprehensive. Plus, research can be hard on the subject because it is highly individualized by product. This idea is what has sparked the idea that GMOs can cause Gluten disorders, autoimmune disease, or even neurological problems.
Toxicity
Dr. Bellonzi also points out the interesting topic of eating plants that produce their own toxins. With plants like Roundup ready, plants are making pesticides so that when insects try to eat them, they die. Well, what does that do to humans? The plants clearly do not have enough toxins to kill humans like they do insects, but they are still there. Even at low levels, what are these toxins doing to the human body?
So what now?
The tricky part about the GMO health debate is there is no answer. They are both good and concerning which is creating confusion among the public. Yes, they are working to create good, but is it worth the risk to carelessly consume them anyhow?
That is a personal call because, as Dr. Bellonzi points out, there simply isn't enough information out there yet. These products are too new to know what kind of effects they are causing. Tests are being done, but nothing incredibly long term has been done because they haven't existed longterm yet. Therefore, they are unknown. There is no conclusive decision if they are harmful or not.
That is a personal call because, as Dr. Bellonzi points out, there simply isn't enough information out there yet. These products are too new to know what kind of effects they are causing. Tests are being done, but nothing incredibly long term has been done because they haven't existed longterm yet. Therefore, they are unknown. There is no conclusive decision if they are harmful or not.
What's the risk?
The risk is comparable to anything other new technology. Anything that is new can be risky because there is no telling what the long term effects are. The reason for emerging technology is to improve things; however, benefits often come with costs. It is up to individuals to decide how the costs and benefits add up.
Cell Phones vs GMOs
There is reason to believe cell phones are equally if not more risky to human health than GMOs. Some studies show a connection between waves emitted from phone to cancer. On the other hand, people continue to use their cell phones without a second thought. Why do people respond so differently to these two items when they both present potential health risks? Arguably, it is because the benefits outweigh the risks. Phones have become such a convenience for people, they are willing to push aside health concerns to keep them around. How does this differ from GMO products? Because there is no clear good or bad on GMOs, it remains a personal call to weigh the risks.
Cell Phones vs GMOs
There is reason to believe cell phones are equally if not more risky to human health than GMOs. Some studies show a connection between waves emitted from phone to cancer. On the other hand, people continue to use their cell phones without a second thought. Why do people respond so differently to these two items when they both present potential health risks? Arguably, it is because the benefits outweigh the risks. Phones have become such a convenience for people, they are willing to push aside health concerns to keep them around. How does this differ from GMO products? Because there is no clear good or bad on GMOs, it remains a personal call to weigh the risks.
Watch Dr. Bellonzi's interview on GMOs with Corrina Rachel
To learn more about any of the topics discussed check out our sources. Click Here to view sources.
Or check out the full paper, Research Paper
Or check out the full paper, Research Paper
Last updated: 5/15/14
Page created by: Mindy Kelly
Page created by: Mindy Kelly