ETHICS AND SAFETY
OF GM FOODS
PRESENTED BY
RAMYA N
4th sem
MR190018
MSC MICROBIOLOGY
UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF,
Dr.V.SNEHA LATHA mam,
Asst prof, Dept of Microbiology,
Ramaiah college of arts, science, and commerce
E
CONTENTS
Genetically modified foods
Gene modification-Process
Ethical issues of GM foods
Biosafety of GM foods
Conclusion
References
What do you mean by Genetically
Modified?
Containing a genetic material that has been
artificially altered so as to produce a desired
characteristic.
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Genetically modified (GM) foods derived from
organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has modified
in a way that it does not occur naturally by
introduction of a gene from a different organism.
It does not occur naturally.
GM foods are described in many different names:
Genetically Engineered crops
Transgenic or Biotech crops
Genetically modified organism (GMO)
How the Genes are Modified ?
By Recombinant DNA Technology – Steps
1. Restriction enzymes used to cut DNA
segments from a desired genome.
2. DNA ligases are used to paste the DNA
segments on to the other genome.
3. Thus, we get a recombinant genome.
Process
GMO’s are generated and tested in the laboratory for
desired qualities.
Modification- add, removed, expression is increased or
silenced or number of copies of a gene is increased or
decreased.
Satisfactory strains produced are applied for regulatory
approval to field- test them (“Field release”).
Approved specimens (seeds, cuttings, breeding pairs
etc.) are cultivated and sold to farmers.
The farmers cultivate and market the new strain.
LABELLING
GM Food labeling was introduced to give consumers the freedom to
choose between GMOs and conventional products.
Essentially, if a foodstuff is produced using genetic engineering, this
must be indicated on its label.
Labeling empowers the buyer. In order to choose between products
with or without genetically modified organisms, consumers need
transparent, controllable and straight forward labeling regulations.
Labeling requirements: for neutral information only - not for warning
ETHICS AND SAFETY OF GM
FOODS
ETHICS: A set of principles concerning right and wrong and how
people should behave/accepted standard of behaviour.
SAFETY: The condition of being safe(protected from danger or
risk) not leading to harm or injury or not risky.
ETHICAL ISSUES
Five sets of ethical concerns have been raised about GM crops:
1. Potential harm to human health
2. Potential damage to environment
3. Negative impact on traditional farming practice
4. Excessive corporate dominance
5. Unnaturalness of the technology
ETHICAL ISSUES CONT…
Concerns about the social and ethical issues surrounding genetic
modifications include:
The possible monopolisation of the word food market by large
multinational companies that control the distribution of GM seeds.
Using genes from animals in plant foods may pose ethical,
philosophical or religious problems.
Animal welfare could be adversely affected ‘life’ itself could
become commercial property through patenting
UNNATURALNESS:GM Crops are associated with a sense of
“unnaturalness”.it is wrong in itself to alter the “essence” of
species or to interfere with the natural order.
ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS: Genes can flow from modified
plants to wide plants leading to potential threat in biodiversity.
BIOSAFETY
Biosafety of GM Crops Policies and procedure adopted to ensure
environmental safety during the course of development and
commercialization of genetically modified organism.
RISK OF TOXICITY OR
ALLERGINEICITY
Addition of new genetic material may activate toxic pathways
Appearance of novel metabolites
Introduction of new protein Non immunogenic protein could become
immunogenic
Brazil nut allergy in soybean
A well-known case of a GM soybean allergy
2S albumin gene from Brazil nut to soybean (enhanced methionine)
Allergen transferred unintentionally from Brazil nut to GM soybean
Investigations with GM soybean revealed immune reactions in people with
Brazil nut allergies 41
ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Marker gene could induce antibiotic resistance
Would reduce effectiveness of antibiotics to fight diseases
Conditions for HGT (horizontal gene transfer) :
DNA must be free from the cells
Bacterial recipient must be competent
Integration depends on sequence homology
Acid environment of human stomach
HGT of nptII gene can occur 1 in 10 billion
Specificity of promoter
EATING OF FOREIGN DNA
DNA present in all living things and eaten by humans with every
meal
Broken down during digestion process
Small amount absorbed in blood stream or excreted
According to WHO amount of DNA ingested- 0.1 to 1 g/day
(novel DNA represents 0.0001%)
IMPACT ON DIVERSITY
Reduction in genetic diversity by development and global spread of
improved varieties
Sustainable agriculture depends on mixed cropping and crop rotation
Not unique to GM but is relevant to all improved varieties
Bt protein is highly unstable rapidly degraded in stomach juices of
vertebrates and in soil
CONCLUSION
GMOs provides potential benefits responsible to contribute the
reduction of poverty and to improve food security and profitable
agriculture in developing countries.
Can potentially solve hunger, malnutrition problems in the world
Reduces reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides.
However it is important to proceed with caution to avoid
unfavourable consequences for the surroundings and our health.
REFERENCES
Online library-wiley.com. Genetically modified foods and ethical
issues
www.slideshare.net.in
Research articles
https://www.springer.com/journal/13197
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2408621/
www.biologydiscussion.com
