Genetically Modified Foods: How Do They Affect You?

Most people would have come across the term "genetically modified" food or GM foods for short. The introduction of GM food to the world for consumption has created a huge controversy globally. Many citizens across the world have resisted their government attempt to adopt the use of GM crops to produce food in the country. Powerful non-governmental organizations that have posed stiff opposition include Friends of the Earth, Green Alliance, and Green Peace.

These groups have prevented the commercial production of GM crops in the United Kingdom, by creating awareness and helping citizens to oppose a blanket introduction. In 1998 approximately 27 million hectares of GM crops were grown world wide, 75 percent of it in the United States. Soya beans from the United States are banned in the United Kingdom because they are genetically modified, (many other GM foods are available, but legislation insist that they must be labeled as GM for he consumer to know). The other major growers of GM crops are; Argentina, Canada, china and Mexico. On the African continent, South Africa grows a number of GM crops. I have actually watched an international programme where some South African farmers were protesting against the use of GM crops in their country and "terminator technology" which forces them to buy new seeds each planting season.

The term Genetic modification simply means the 'changing or alteration' of genes. All living things have genes. Genes are coded instructions passed down from parent to offspring and they help to determine how we are (tall, short, light or dark), as well as run our bodily functions. Genes ensure that the living thing produce their own kind. In GM food, scientists alter genes of plants from which the food is made e. g genetically modified yam and Soya beans. Why do they fidle with the genes of plants? The genetically modifications of plants is done in an attempt to produce crops that are resistant to pest, that do not ripen quickly and spoil, hat look better, bigger, etc. the bottom line is the search for short cut o get better yield and spend less money on fertilizers and pesticides. How is this done? Biotechnology means are been used to copy and transfer genes between plants and animal, or between plants and plants e.g. a type of maize called But maize is genetically modified to produce a protein from a bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis. His protein kills insects that eat he growing maize, the corn borer insect. This helps the maize to grow without being destroyed. This is a simple example of genetic modification.

Critics of GM foods ask what is the effect of this protein on human being who ingests the corn? What will it kill or affect inside him like it did to the corn borer insect? Does it kill the normal flora in him? Many people are concerned about the possibility of irreversible damage. Moral and ethical issues raised by critics question the transfer of animal gene (form the bacterium) into the plant specie. What are the long-term effects of such genetically manipulations on the environment and on the human beings eating these GM foods? One of my lecturers said that he biggest Gm experiment is going on in the North America. They have embraced the use of GM technology like no other country. Despite he fact that he use of Gm technology is new, the research hat made GM possible was made over 50 years ago. GM foods are new indeed and it will take decades before we know the true effect on human and on the environment. Part of the problem with it is he contamination of regular organic food crops by GM crops. This phenomenon has been described as 'jumping genes'. In this situation, a farmer with a regular organic farm site not far from a GM farm site is at risk. The GM genes could escape through cross pollination or seed dispersal and mix with he non-GM seeds, hereby transferring modified genes to them and thereby contaminating them. I will also mention one problem which could be hilarious if it was not taken serious, that is the acquisition of some of the resistant genes by weeds. Weeds derived from GM cross-pollinated plants may be real menace and more resilient that the food cops. How do they feel about people breeding super weeds? I have barely scratched he surface where GM is concerned. I hope I have aroused your curiosity on he issue.