Mavellia 1 Juliana Mavellia Malcolm Campbell English 1103 31 October 2013 Yes or No to GMOs: o !e Nee" to !

orr#$ % &as &al'ing in the (amiliar) cramme" aisles o( the supermar'et "oing some much* nee"e" grocer# shopping+ ,he re(rigerator at home &as loo'ing a little lo& on (ruits an" vegetables so % "eci"e" to go to those aisles (irst+ Out o( habit) % starte" loo'ing (or the (ruits an" vegetables that ha" the organic label+ -or the past (e& #ears m# (amil# has been eating strictl# organic (oo") because recentl# the# have been hesitant about eating other (oo"s that are geneticall# mo"i(ie" .GM/) or coul" be GM an" not be labele" as such+ 0ccor"ing the Environmental Commons) Geneticall# Mo"i(ie" Organisms .GMOs/ are organisms) such as (oo" crops that have altere" genetic material through arti(icial insertion o( genes (rom bacteria) viruses) an" other animals .1!hat You 2houl"3/+ ,he Natural 4ealth Maga5ine also e6plains that b# manipulating the N0 o( common (oo" crops) engineers can ma'e the crops have larger #iel"s) a""e" nutritional value) sel(*pro"uce" insectici"es) an" resistance to herbici"es) such as 7oun"up) that are able to 'ill other natural*gro&ing plants .Young/+ %n the article 1GM -oo"s: ,he 7eal 2tor#3 in the 0ustralasian 8iotechnolog# Journal) 2imran 9aur hali&al e6plains that engineers can obtain a "esire" characteristic through a process calle" mapping) &hich the# can i"enti(# an" isolate the gene that triggers a certain trait+ ,he gene then goes through a process calle" a pol#merase chain reaction .:C7/ in or"er to cop# the "esire" gene so that it can be inserte" into plant tissues an" other target organisms+ 0s % grabbe" the organic apple) % began thin'ing) 10re there reall# an# concerning ris's

Mavellia 2 to eating GM (oo"s$ !h# go through the hassles o( loo'ing (or a more e6pensive t#pe o( (oo" &hen GM (oo"s are ;ust as nutritious) ma#be even more so$ 3 % have never reall# <uestione" m# (amil#=s vie&s on GM (oo"s) because it seeme" obvious to me+ O( course) % &oul" &ant to eat something naturall# gro&n+ 4o&ever) coul" technolog# provi"e a"vantages in (oo" pro"uction that coul" be use(ul (or our health an" the environment$ % pic'e" up the GM apple in the other han") &eighing each apple in m# han"s as % contemplate" &hich apple to ta'e home+ 0ccor"ing to The New York Times) GM (oo"s &ere (irst intro"uce" in the >nite" 2tates in the mi"*1??0s) but have been available commerciall# since 1??@ &hen Calgene) a compan# in Cali(ornia) intro"uce" the -lavr2avr tomato+ ,he -lavr2avr tomato &as the (irst geneticall# mo"i(ie" crop available to the public) in &hich it &as altere" to slo& "o&n its "ecomposition a(ter being pic'e"+ Yet) it &as later remove" (rom the mar'et &hen Monsanto) a compan# 'no&n (or it=s GMO see" pro"uction) bought the compan# "ue to controvers# over Monsanto re(using to label it as GM .!inerip/+ %n spite o( this) genetic mo"i(ication has become &i"esprea" in the >nite" 2tates &ith ?@ percent o( so#beans) an" AA percent o( corn being geneticall# altere") along &ith other common (oo"s such as so#) corn) canola oil) an" cottonsee" oil that are (re<uentl# use" as ingre"ients (or meals .2mith) 1GMO 7ealit#3/+ ,he >nite" 2tates is one o( the largest pro"ucers o( GM pro"ucts) &ith B0 percent o( (oo"s in grocer# stores containing b#pro"ucts o( GMOs .Young/+ ,his increase in GM (oo" pro"uction causes concern (or the environment because &ith this increase comes the increase o( 7oun"up 7ea"# Crops) &hich are crops "esigne" to be tolerant to gl#phosate) an active ingre"ient in 7oun"up .Young/+ Even though man# GMO activists agree that the use o( 7oun"up has increase") the# argue that it is less to6ic than the herbici"es use" previousl#+ On the other han") man# counter that GMOs "o pose a threat to the

Mavellia 3 environment because GM plants coul" cross*pollinate &ith another species o( crop or &il" plant+ ,his contamination ma# create a public health threat &ith the creation o( 1super&ee"s3 &hich coul" re<uire (armers to use an increase" amount o( stronger herbici"es+ ,his increase in to6ic chemicals to the environment coul" result in the e6tinction o( rare species o( plants that allo& nature to have bio"iversit#+ :amela 7onal") :h+ +) pro(essor o( plant patholog# at the >niversit# o( Cali(ornia) rea((irms that 1organic pro"uction an" geneticall# engineere" crops have coe6iste" si"e b# si"e (or 20 #ears) an" both t#pes o( crop pro"uction are thriving+3 2till) the National 7esearch Council claims that an overuse o( 7oun"up 7ea"# is presentl# causing cross* pollination) an" there(ore causing an increase in 1super&ee"s3 .Young/+ Man# GMO activists agree that GM (oo"s can be "etrimental to the environment) but onl# i( the# are not manage" correctl#+ ,he# conclu"e i( monitore" correctl#) GM crops re<uire (e&er pestici"es an" herbici"es+ :G Economics) a >9 compan# that speciali5es in plant biotechnolog# an" commonl# provi"es a"vice to natural resource base" in"ustries) con"ucte" a stu"# that conclu"e" that countries that have been using GM crop pro"uction metho"s have re"uce" their use o( pestici"e an" herbici"e b# 1C an" 20 percent respectivel# . hali&al/+ 4o&ever) GM crops re<uire such little herbici"es an" pestici"es because the# alrea"# have those genes built into them) there(ore causing us to <uestion &hether there are harm(ul health e((ects in"uce" b# the consumption o( GM (oo"s+ Man# corporations an" regulation agencies li'e the - 0) >2 0) an" E:0 argue that there is no evi"ence o( harm(ul si"e e((ects in consuming GM (oo"s .2mith) 12a# No3/+ Other numerous stu"ies have been con"ucte" that agree that there are no a"verse si"e* e((ects as &ell+ ,he E> Commission) the e6ecutive bo"# o( the European >nion) (inance" A1 scienti(ic stu"ies over a 1C*#ear perio" to "etermine &hether GM pro"ucts &ere unsa(e+ No evi"ence &as (oun" that prove" that GM (oo"s &ere causing harm

Mavellia 4 to humans . hali&al/+ Even though man# GMO a"vocates claim the 7oun"up is not as harm(ul as other herbici"e) other stu"ies have suggeste" other&ise+ ,#rone 4a#es) :h+ +) pro(essor in the epartment o( %ntegrative 8iolog# at the >niversit# o( Cali(ornia) 8er'ele#) (oun" that 0tra5ine) the most &i"el# use" herbici"e (oun" in 7oun"up) is causing (rogs to mutate "ue to trace amounts o( the chemical being absorbe" in the &ater+ %t &as "iscovere" that the chemical mostl# a((ecte" male (rogs) in &hich males &ere (oun" to have eggs in their testes instea" o( sperm+ 4e (oun" that the same gene that cause" (rogs to lose their testosterone is also (oun" in humans) an" involve" in the "evelopment o( breast cancer .7i((e/+ 0s a result) this sho&s that there are potential si"e*a((ects o( pestici"es not onl# on the environment an" other animals) but also possible conse<uences (or humans as &ell+ 2imilar results &ere (oun" &hen the 0merican 0ca"em# o( Environmental Me"icine .00EM/) an organi5ation ma"e up o( ph#sicians) "i" a stu"# on rats in &hich the rats &ere (e" GM so#+ Male rats that &ere given GM so# e6perience" changes in the structure an" (unction o( their testes that involve" the hin"ering o( sperm "evelopment) &hile in pregnant (emale rats) more than C0 percent o( their o((spring "ie" &ithin the (irst three &ee's compare" to onl# 10 percent o( those &ho ha" mothers that ate non*GM so# .2mith) 12a# No3/+ %n a""ition) non*GMO activists an" some ph#sicians claim to have evi"ence there are potential si"e*a((ects o( GM (oo"s on humans as &ell+ ,he 00EM "eclare" that there are serious health ris's associate" &ith eating GM (oo"s that inclu"e in(ertilit#) immune s#stem problems) accelerate" aging) "isruption o( insulin) cholesterol regulation) an" gastrointestinal s#stems) an" even organ "amage through on*going e6periments involving rats+ ,he organi5ation also complete" a stu"# on humans) &hich reveale" that in some people) the herbici"e*resistant genes

Mavellia 5 (rom so#beans trans(erre" into the bacteria N0 o( the intestines+ 0 non*GMO a"vocate an" author o( Genetic Roulette) Je((re# M+ 2mith e6plaine" that) 1,his means that long a(ter &e stop eating GMOs) &e ma# still have potentiall# "angerous GM proteins continuousl# pro"uce" insi"e o( us3 .2mith) 12a# No3/+ 0m# ean) +O+) an internal me"icine ph#sician at 0nn 0rbor) Michigan) an" presi"ent o( the 00EM states that she is &orrie" over the increasing numbers o( autoimmune "iseases li'e multiple sclerosis) in(lammator# bo&el "isease an" arthritis occurring to"a# .Young/+ ,he ne& proteins create" b# GMOs ma# activate the immune s#stem an" ma'e the bo"# attac' itsel() &hich can increase the ris' o( GMO*in"uce" (oo" allergies+ 2till) some "isagree &ith ean=s assessments such as) 2teve D+ ,a#lor) :h+ +) co*"irector o( the -oo" 0llerg# 7esearch an" 7esource :rogram at the >niversit# o( Nebras'a) &ho states) 1,he pro"ucts on the mar'et to"a# have been thoroughl# assesse" (or allergenicit#) an" there=s no allergic ris'+3 %n other &or"s) presentl# there are no GM (oo"s that have been "istribute" in the mar'et that have been sho&n to cause harm to humans+ Yet) ,a#lor "oes mention that this might not be the case (or (uture GM (oo"s .Young/+ Conse<uentl#) &e reall# "on=t 'no& &hat the si"e*a((ects o( GM (oo"s &ill be in the (uture 20) 30) @0 #ears (rom no&) &hich ma'es me a little hesitant to stra# (rom organic (oo"+ %t is a little (rightening to thin' that man# people &ho are e6periencing allergies coul" be reacting to GM (oo"s) an" are being &rongl# "iagnose"+ Even though these conclusions are not proven) the# involuntaril# arise in the bac' o( m# min" &hen bu#ing a GM (oo" pro"uct) or not certi(ie" organic pro"uct+ M# (ear o( GMOs is strengthene" &ith the (act that accor"ing to the 8etter Nutrition Maga5ine) ,he Ne& Englan" Journal o( Me"icine (oun" that an allergen (rom a (oo" coul" be

Mavellia 6 trans(erre" to another (oo" through genetic engineering+ %n the >nite" 9ing"om) reports o( s#mptoms relate" to so# allergies have increase" inclu"ing irritable bo&el s#n"rome) "igestive problems) an" s'in con"itions such as ec5ema+ %t &as (oun" that GM so# has more tr#psin inhibitor) &hich is a 'no&n so# allergen) an" higher levels o( herbici"e resi"ues than non*GM so#+ ,hese herbici"e resi"ues have the potential to cause reactions that can trigger allergens not (oun" in non*GM so# .2mith) 12a# No3/+ Even though man# agree &ith ,a#lor that GM (oo"s are being rigorousl# teste") others argue that this is not the case+ Man# claim that GM (oo"s are being regulate" ina"e<uatel# b# the - 0) E:0 an" the >2 0 "ue to these agencies consi"ering genetic bioengineering as tra"itional agriculture+ 0ccor"ing to the Environmental Commons) even though companies must consult &ith the - 0) there is no re<uirement to test the (oo" be(ore "istributing it on a large*scale) unless a Di(e 2cience compan#) a compan# that uses mo"ern biological techni<ues &ith the goal to improve human an" animal health) crop pro"uction) an" current manu(acturing metho"s) consi"er the genetic insertion a 1(oo" a""itive3 .1!hat You 2houl"3/+ %n a""ition) "ue to no man"ator# labeling) man# consumers are eating GM (oo"s an" "o not even 'no& it+ ue to "isagreement over the bene(its an" "ra&bac's o( GM (oo"s) there is much controvers# over labeling+ 0ccor"ing to the 8etter Nutrition Maga5ine) ?0 percent o( 0mericans &ant GM (oo"s labele") an" more than a million people signe" the Just Dabel %t petition that as'e" the - 0 to implement man"ator# labeling .2mith) 1GMO 7ealit#3/+ 0ccor"ing to The New York Times) in Cali(ornia one million voter signatures &ere submitte" to place a GMO labeling initiative on the ballot last #ear+ 4o&ever) corporations li'e :epsiCo an" Coca*Cola spent millions o( "ollars to (ight the e((ort) an" the initiative &as later "e(eate" b# voters .2trom/+

Mavellia 7 0ccor"ing The New York Times) !hole -oo"s Mar'et) the grocer# chain) became the (irst retailer in the >nite" 2tates to re<uire labeling o( all GM (oo"s in March o( 2013+ ,he ne& labeling re<uirement is to be place" in C #ears+ ,he presi"ent o( !hole -oo"s) 0+C+ Gallo) e6plaine" that this choice &as ma"e in response to consumer "eman"+ Other companies as &ell have sho&n more &illingness to consi"er labeling) &ith 20 (oo" companies) inclu"ing !al*Mart) having met recentl# in !ashington to "iscuss labeling+ Gar# 4irshberg) chairman o( Just Dabel %t) calle" !hole -oo"s "ecision a 1game changer+3 4e e6plaine" that 22 states have some sort o( pen"ing labeling legislation as a result o( the Just Dabel %t campaign) an" no& !hole -oo"s) one o( the most success(ul retailers in the countr# has agree" as &ell+ 4e goes on to compare the !hole -oo"s announcement to !al*Mart=s "ecision to stop selling mil' (rom co&s treate" &ith gro&th hormones several #ears ago+ 0s a result) a small number o( co&s are no& in;ecte" &ith hormones+ 0 "ecline in GM (oo"s have alrea"# occurre") in &hich in response to !hole -oo"s announcement) the 0merican 4alal Compan#) a (oo" compan# &hose pro"ucts are sol" in !hole -oo"s stores) intro"uce" the (irst (ro5en (oo" that has been certi(ie" organic .2trom/+ Other initiatives have <uali(ie" (or the ballot in !ashington 2tate an" Missouri) &hile other non*GMO proponents have been creating more controvers# over the issue b# putting &arning stic'ers on (oo"s suspecte" o( having GMO ingre"ients (rom companies that oppose labeling+ ,he# insist that consumers have the right to 'no& the ingre"ients the# are eating+ 4o&ever) companies that pro"uce GM pro"ucts) an" oppose labeling e6plain that 1these labels coul" mislea" consumers into believing that these (oo" pro"ucts are someho& "i((erent or present a special ris' or a potential ris'3 .2trom/+ 4o&ever) even though the >nites 2tates is no& becoming more a&are o( GM (oo"s) an" pushing to&ar"s labeling) the European >nion an" 0ustralia have al&a#s re<uire" GM (oo"s to

Mavellia 8 be labele"+ %n a""ition) there are (ar less GM (oo"s stoc'e" on European grocer# shelves than the >+2+ %n the E+>+) genetic mo"i(ication is common in animal (ee"s) but not in (oo"s+ %n the past 1@ #ears) the# have approve" onl# one geneticall# mo"i(ie" crop .Galbraith/+ ,his is a huge "i((erence (rom the >+2+) &hich has about B0 percent o( (oo"s in supermar'ets containing ingre"ients o( GMOs .Young/+ 0lthough) no sa(et# or health issues have been proven to be "irectl# associate" &ith GM (oo"s) % (eel there is still ambiguit# concerning GM (oo"s &ith it=s relationship to the environment an" especiall# to humans+ % believe that &e can onl# 'no& the conse<uences o( GM (oo"s in timeE there(ore even though the GM apple &as bigger an" shinier in the "im light o( the grocer# store) % put the organic apple in a grocer# bag an" place" it in m# cart+

NO,E: Overall) % (oun" this paper ver# interesting &ith all o( the research #ou have put in an" e6pan"e" on+ ,here are a lot o( transitions) ma#be (in" a smoother &a# to ma'e the paper (lo& to&ar"s the beginning+ Dove" the &a# #ou tie" it all together at the en" b# mentioning #our "ecision (rom #our intro"uctionF 2ources &ere also ama5ing an" seeme" ver# reliable to have them mentione" in #our paper+ % (eel li'e #ou nee" to mention more counter arguments to the (acts that #ou=re presenting because the# can be seen (rom t&o "i((erent si"es+ % a""e" a comment above &here % thin' #ou shoul" have a""e" more to the counter) or at least shot it "o&n &ith a (act that prove" #our point (urther+ 0ltogether) a great an" interesting paperF *-ar#al !asti

!or's Cite": hali&al) 2imran 9aur+ 1GM (oo"s: the real stor#+3 0ustralasian 8iotechnolog# Journal 22

Mavellia 9 .2012/: n+ pag+ !eb+ 20 October 2013+ Galbraith) 9ate+ 10ttitu"es on Crops 0re Mo"i(#ing+3 The New York Times. 10 Jul# 2013+ !eb+ 2A October 2013+ 4a#es) ,#rone+ 0tra5ine an" the Environment+ 8# Je" 7i((e+ ? June 2011+ !eb+ 20 October 2013+ 2mith) Melissa iane+ 1GMO 7ealit# Chec'+3 Better Nutrition. Cru5 8a# :ublishing) %nc+ 200?+ !eb+ 2B October 2013+ 2mith) Melissa iane+ 12a# No to GMOs+3 Better Nutrition. Cru5 8a# :ublishing) %nc+ 200?+ !eb+ 2A October 2013+ 2trom) 2tephanie+ 1Ma;or Grocer to Dabel -oo"s &ith Gene*Mo"i(ie" Content+3 The New York Times. A March 2013+ !eb+ 2A October 2013+ 1!hat You 2houl" 9no& 0bout Geneticall# Mo"i(ie" -oo"sF3 Environmental Commons+ n+p+ n+"+ !eb+ 1 October 2013+ !inerip) Michael+ 1You Call that a ,omato$3 The New York Times+ 2@ June 2013+ !eb+ 2? October 2013+ Young) 0llison+ 1GMOs: -rien" or -oe$3 Natural Health+ n+p+ n+"+ !eb+ 1 October 2013+