Abstract On GMOs
Abstract On GMOs
Charu Verma1, Surabhi Nanda2, R.K. Singh, R.B. Singh and Sanjay Mishra
Abstract: Biotechnology offers a variety of potential benefits and risks. It has enhanced food
production by making plants less vulnerable to drought, frost, insects, and viruses and by
enabling plants to compete more effectively against weeds for soil nutrients. In a few cases, it
has also improved the quality and nutrition of foods by altering their composition. However, the
use of biotechnology has also raised concerns about its potential risks to the environment and
people. For example, some people fear that common plant pests could develop resistance to
the introduced pesticides in GM crops that were supposed to combat them. Genetic engineering
provides a means to introduce genes into plants via mechanisms that are different in some
respects from classical breeding. A number of commercialized, genetically engineered (GE)
varieties, most notably canola, cotton, maize and soybean, were created using this technology,
and at present the traits introduced are herbicide and/or pest tolerance. Gene technology
enables the increase of production in plants, as well as the rise of resistance to pests, viruses,
frost, etc. Gene transfer is used to modify the physical and chemical composition and nutritional
value of food. Gene transfer in animals will play a part in boundless possibilities of improving
qualitative and quantitative traits. The yield, carcass composition and meat characteristics the
use of nutritive substances ? not sure what is being said here?, and resistance to diseases can
be improved. On the other hand, negative effects of gene technology on animals, human, and
environment should be considered. The present review article is the compilation of various
studies that present both positive and negative impacts of genetically modified food on human
health.
alternatives to feeding high doses of pure protein may be needed. These alternatives are
discussed here.
Potential Adverse Health Effects of Genetically Modified Crops
Anita Bakshi (Biology Department, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA)
Abstract: Genetically modified crops have the potential to eliminate hunger and starvation in
millions of people, especially in developing countries because the genetic modification can
produce large amounts of foods that are more nutritious. Large quantities are produced because
genetically modified crops are more resistant to pests and drought. They also contain greater
amounts of nutrients, such as proteins and vitamins. However, there are concerns about the
safety of genetically modified crops. The concerns are that they may contain allergenic
substances due to introduction of new genes into crops. Another concern is that genetic
engineering often involves the use of antibiotic-resistance genes as "selectable markers" and
this could lead to production of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains that are resistant to available
antibiotics. This would create a serious public health problem. The genetically modified crops
might contain other toxic substances (such as enhanced amounts of heavy metals) and the
crops might not be "substantially equivalent" in genome, proteome, and metabolome compared
with unmodified crops. Another concern is that genetically modified crops may be less nutritious;
for example, they might contain lower amounts of phytoestrogens, which protect against heart
disease and cancer. The review of available literature indicates that the genetically modified
crops available in the market that are intended for human consumption are generally safe; their
consumption is not associated with serious health problems. However, because of potential for
exposure of a large segment of human population to genetically modified foods, more research
is needed to ensure that the genetically modified foods are safe for human consumption.
New Analysis of a Rat Feeding Study with a Genetically Modified Maize Reveals Signs of
Hepatorenal Toxicity
Gilles-Eric Sralini, Dominique Cellier, Jol Spiroux de Vendomois
Abstract: Health risk assessment of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) cultivated for food
or feed is under debate throughout the world, and very little data have been published on midor long-term toxicological studies with mammals. One of these studies performed under the
responsibility of Monsanto Company with a transgenic corn MON863 has been subjected to
questions from regulatory reviewers in Europe, where it was finally approved in 2005. This
necessitated a new assessment of kidney pathological findings, and the results remained
controversial. An Appeal Court action in Germany (Mnster) allowed public access in June 2005
to all the crude data from this 90-day rat-feeding study. We independently re-analyzed these
data. Appropriate statistics were added, such as a multivariate analysis of the growth curves,
and for biochemical parameters comparisons between GMO-treated rats and the controls fed
with an equivalent normal diet, and separately with six reference diets with different
compositions. We observed that after the consumption of MON863, rats showed slight but doserelated significant variations in growth for both sexes, resulting in 3.3% decrease in weight for
males and 3.7% increase for females. Chemistry measurements reveal signs of hepatorenal
toxicity, marked also by differential sensitivities in males and females. Triglycerides increased by
2440% in females (either at week 14, dose 11% or at week 5, dose 33%, respectively); urine
phosphorus and sodium excretions diminished in males by 3135% (week 14, dose 33%) for
the most important results significantly linked to the treatment in comparison to seven diets
tested. Longer experiments are essential in order to indicate the real nature and extent of the
possible pathology; with the present data it cannot be concluded that GM corn MON863 is a
safe product. (Sralini, et. al, 2007)
environment and risk to human health. As GM plants are gradually being introduced into the
European Union there is likely to be increasing public concern regarding potential health issues.
Although it is now commonplace for the press to adopt health campaigns, the information they
publish is often unreliable and unrepresentative of the available scientific evidence. We consider
it important that the medical profession should be aware of the state of the art, and, as they are
often the first port of call for a concerned patient, be in a position to provide an informed opinion.
This review will examine how GM plants may impact on human health both directly through
applications targeted at nutrition and enhancement of recombinant medicine production but
also indirectly, through potential effects on the environment. Finally, it will examine the most
important opposition currently facing the worldwide adoption of this technology: public opinion.
glycoalkaloid and sesquiterpene levels between transgenic and control material and between
infected and noninfected material.
Genetic modification of plant metabolism for human health benefits
Kevin M. Davies
Abstract: There has been considerable research progress over the past decade on elucidating
biosynthetic pathways for important human health components of crops. This has enabled the
use of genetic modification (GM) techniques to develop crop varieties with increased amounts of
essential vitamins and minerals, and improved profiles of nutraceutical compounds. Much of
the research into vitamins and minerals has focused on generating new varieties of staple crops
to improve the diet of populations in developing nations. Of particular note is the development of
new rice lines with increased amounts of provitamin A and iron. Research on modifying
production of nutraceuticals has generally been aimed at generating new crops for markets in
the developed nations, commonly to deliver distinctive cultivars with high consumer appeal.
Most progress on nutraceuticals has been made with just a few types of metabolites to date, in
particular in the production of novel long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in oil-seed crops and
to increase amounts of flavonoids and carotenoids in tomato and potato. However, given the
rapid progress on elucidating plant metabolite biosynthetic pathways, wide-ranging success with
metabolic engineering for levels of human health-related compounds in plants would be
expected in the near future. A key aspect for future success will be better medical information to
guide metabolic engineering endeavors. Although the desired levels of many vitamins are
known, detailed information is lacking for most of the nutraceuticals that have attracted much
interest over the past few years.
Quality and safety evaluation of genetically modified potatoes Spunta with Cry V gene:
Compositional analysis, determination of some toxins, antinutrients compounds and
feeding study in rats
Rafaat ,El Sanhoty, Ahamed Ali Abd El-Rahman, Klaus Werner Bgl
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition, nutritional and toxicology
safety of GM potato Spunta lines compared to that of conventional potato Spunta.
Compositional analyses were conducted to measure the proximate chemical composition with
references to 14 components, total solid, protein, lipid, crude fibre, ash, carbohydrate, starch,
reducing sugar, nonreducing sugar, sodium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and ascorbic
acid. Some toxins and anti-nutrients compounds were determined. Feeding study of GM
potatoes line (G2 and G3) in rats were done for 30 days. Four groups of albino rats were used
for studying the effect and the safety assessment of GM potatoes Spunta G2 and G3. Group (I)
was fed on control basal diet, group (II) was fed on control diet plus 30% freeze-dried
nongenetically modified potato Spunta, group (III) was fed on control diet plus 30% freeze-dried
genetically modified potato Spunta, and group (IV) was fed on control diet plus 30% freeze-dried
genetically modified potato Spunta GMO G3. There were no significant differences between GM
potatoes G2, G3, and Spunta control potato line in the proximate chemical composition. The
levels of glycoalkaloids in transgenic potato tubers and nontransgenic were determined and
there were also no significant differences between the GM potatoes and conventional potato
line, the levels were in agreement with a safety level recommended by FAO/WHO (200 mg/kg)
for acute toxicity. Protease inhibitor activity and total phenol were estimated and no significant
differences between the GM potatoes line and conventional potato Spunta line were found.
During the period tested, rats in each group (I, II, III, IV) grew well without marked differences in
appearance. No statistical difference were found in food intake, daily body weight gain and feed
efficiency. But there is a slightly significant difference in finally body weight between the control
group and experimental groups. No significant difference were found in serum biochemical
value between each groups, and also between relative organs weight (liver, spleen, heart,
kidney, testes). From these results, it can be concluded that the GM potatoes Spunta line (G2
and G3) with Cry V gene are confirmed to have nearly the composition and biochemical
characteristics as non-GM potato Spunta.