Threats of Frankenfood

Threats of Frankenfood

  • Submitted By: gutsu91
  • Date Submitted: 11/09/2010 9:06 AM
  • Category: Science
  • Words: 1981
  • Page: 8
  • Views: 1

Threats of Frankenfood Research
Are GM(genetically modified) foods a threat to our health? That’s what I wanted to find out with this research. I’m really concerned with what I’m ingesting because in essence, you are what you eat. I already have a hard time taking medicine simply because it’s not a natural substance, I don’t like to rely on anything I couldn’t find out in the wild. If foods start to be modified through scientific means, what will I do then? And if they’re dangerous to eat, then I’ll really have a problem.
The first article I came across titled “Playing With Our Food,” by Lisa Turner, is about the risks GMO’s pose not only to the consumer, but the environment as well. Genetic engineering allows scientists to create strange combinations of genes into produce, such as flounder genes into tomatoes so that the tomatoes can resist cold temperatures writes Turner. However she goes on to note that studies say doing such things may cause “increased allergic reactions and organ damage.” Turner asserts organisms are intricately structured and the result of genetic modification on them cannot be predicted. To support this claim she refers to an experiment conducted in Aberdeen, Scotland in which researcher Arpad Pusztai at Rowett Research institute found that genetically engineered potatoes caused intestinal inflammation in rats. She also talks about how scientists plan to increase the amount of natural level of toxins plants produce to further protect crops from bugs. However Turner goes on to say that higher toxicity can lead to impaired metabolism and goiter. Some companies are even creating produce loaded with pharmaceuticals says the author. Another issue she covers is crop diversity. If genetic engineering flourishes, farmers will only grow the crops that produce the most yield, says Turner. She notes that once GM crops are introduced to the environment they cannot be recalled because their seeds and pollen will spread.
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