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discourse. Genetically modified organisms, (also known as GMOs,) are living beings that have
had their genetic code changed in some way (Purdue University, n.d.). According to the
Institute for Responsible Technology (n.d.), genetically modified organisms are in many types of
food due to many factors including usage in crops that go into many types of produce; mainly
corn, and soybeans because they are used to produce so many other types of consumable items.
The Institute also states that pollination from GM flower pollen and other types of pollen to other
organisms that were not originally modified lead to GM honey as well as seeds. Dairy products
can also be modified by hormone injections into cows, as explained once again by the Institute
for Responsible Technology. There are many arguments for and against the use of modified
organisms based on concern for health however before analyzing an argument fully, it is
important to understand the main aspects of modified organisms which are the uses of GMs, the
labeling of them, as well as their actual effect on health which this paper will serve to fully
The uses of genetically modified organisms are incredibly broad, due to their versatility.
In 2015, Genetics Generation, a company dedicated to informing the public of recent genetic
developments in a nonbiased form, provided a list of different types of modified organisms and
what they are used for. Golden rice is a GMO that produces beta-carotene, the precursor to
vitamin A (Genetics Generation, 2015), this is useful to countries such as Africa and Southeast
Asia, where vitamin A deficiency effects many citizens and causes the highest number of infant
mortality worldwide (Potrykus, 2017). There are modified goats which already create proteins
that are important without modification, but with modification can create a plasma protein that
can help those who have vascular disorders by helping their blood cells coagulate. (Genetics
THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED USE OF GMOS ON HEALTH 3
Generation, 2015). GMOs arent used only for medicine though; some goats can be modified to
produce silk that is used to create bullet proof vests, and there are modified roses that are blue
rather than the normal red, yellow, white, and pink (Genetics Generation, 2015).
Blue roses, bullet proof vests, and treating deficiencies arent where the controversy lays
with the concern for heath due to modified organisms, however. Most arguments about health
concerns from modified organisms funnel into a concern for the lack of government regulations
about usage and labeling of GMOs. In 2016, a law was put into place in the United States that
requires a label that states that the food contains modified organisms, which many were unhappy
about because the label was in the form of a QR code, which still provides all the same
information, given the shopper has a smart phone (Charles, 2016). According to the Responsible
Technology Institution (n.d.), this poses a health concern for food allergies, because there is a
fear of an unknown allergen lurking in mislabeled modified foods. However, all consumers are,
as of 2016 given access to the information about whatever modified product they are purchasing.
Also, there are many cases of paranoia and the fear of the unknown rather than physiological
Biotechnology, About 30 people claimed to have suffered an allergic attack from the product,
although subsequent laboratory studies failed to confirm even a single case of allergy (2002).
Labeling regulations and a few health concerns tie together when it comes to modified
organisms, but there are others potential that come to light when examining GMOs. Many
concerns for health tie in with those for the environment, where there is a fear of modified
organisms growing faster, or taking over non-modified crops, however, In the longest term
experiment so far, four different crops (oilseed rape, potato, maize and sugar beet) were grown in
12 different habitats and monitored over a period of 10 years. In no case were the genetically
THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED USE OF GMOS ON HEALTH 4
modified plants found to be more invasive or more persistent than their conventional
counterparts (Braun, 2002). Many concerns are of the unknown rather than anything with
backed information, because, as with any new scientific finding, there must be precautionary
measures, just in the event that the worst could happen. Many consumers believe there is a
toxicity prevalent in GMOs due to them being injected with unknown toxins. An article from
Harvard University addressed this concern of toxins, where they had a test to counter an
argument that claimed, that rats fed a diet containing a GMO potato had virtually every organ
system adversely affected after just ten days of feeding, (Norris, 2015) when Harvard conducted
the study that after They fed the rats over 7,000 times the average human daily consumption of
either GMO or non-GMO tomato or sweet pepper for 30 days and monitored their overall
health, (Norris, 2015) and it was found that there were no differences in the stomach, liver,
heart, kidney, spleen, or reproductive organs of GMO versus non-GMO fed rats. Despite massive
ingestion of GMO potato, tomato, or sweet pepper, these studies demonstrated no differences in
the vitality or health of the animals, even at the microscopic level (Norris, 2015). There is a
response to many claims that modified organisms are harmful to human health, as well as that of
the earth, but many are inconclusive when tested, showing much of the harm is from fear.
The basic arguments against GMOs affecting health are based on lack of knowledge of
the research done showing the lack of harm done by them, Research may prove genetically
modified organisms are safe to eat, but the swelling trend toward non-GMO foods shows many
skeptical shoppers don't care (Malcolm, 2016). According to USA Today, A committee
convened by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine reviewed more
than 900 studies and 20 years worth of data. Despite its thoroughness, it's not likely to drastically
alter consumer opinion, says Darren Seifer, food and beverage industry analyst at NPD Group.
THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED USE OF GMOS ON HEALTH 5
The reason: At the crux of the debate over GMOs is the fact it's one largely based on fear, not
logic, (Malcolm, 2016, and Seifer n.d. as cited by Malcolm). In order to move forward in
Biotechnology and increase modified organisms such as Golden Rice, and many other medically
useful GMOs that help those in need, awareness of genetically modified organisms being safe to
consume, and produce must be raised. Many arguments against GMOs claim that since they are a
relatively new science, modified organisms cannot be trusted yet, however according to Harvard
Universitys Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, humans have been altering the genetics of
organisms for over 30,000 years (Rangel, 2015), while our ancestors had no concept of
genetics, they were still able to influence the DNA of other organisms by a process called
selective breeding or artificial selection. These terms, coined by Charles Darwin, describe
the process of choosing the organisms with the most desired traits and mating them with the
intention of combining and propagating these traits through their offspring (Rangel, 2015).
Genetically modified organisms are not something to be afraid of, as seen in and proven by many
studies from trustworthy universities such as Harvard, and Purdue, and countless other
researchers.
THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED USE OF GMOS ON HEALTH 6
Timeline by Maurer, A. (2015, August 9). Science in the News [Chart]. Retrieved November 5, 2017, from
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-history-of-gmo-technology/
THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED USE OF GMOS ON HEALTH 7
References
Braun, R. (2002). Peoples concerns about biotechnology: some problems and some
http://www.ask-force.org/web/Discourse/Braun-Peoples-Concerns-Biotech-2002.pdf
Charles, D. (Writer). (2016, July 14). Congress Just Passed A GMO Labeling Bill. Nobody's
Super Happy About It [Transcript, Radio series episode]. In The Salt: What's on Your
Genetics generation. (2015). Transgenic organisms. Retrieved November 08, 2017, from
http://knowgenetics.org/transgenic-organisms/
Institute for responsible technology, (n.d.). GMO Education. Retrieved November 07, 2017,
from http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education/
Malcolm, H. "GMOs may be safe, but skeptics say otherwise." USA Today, 19 May 2016, p.
link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A452783568/OVIC?u=txshracd2603&xid=1002e6
Norris, M. L. (2015, August 10). Will GMOs hurt my body? The publics concerns and how
scientists have addressed them [Web log post]. Harvard University, The Graduate School
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/will-gmos-hurt-my-body/
Potrykus, I. (2017). The GMO-crop potential for more, and more nutritious food is blocked by
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2444569X17300148
THE EFFECTS OF CONTINUED USE OF GMOS ON HEALTH 8
Purdue University. (n.d.). The science of GMOs. Retrieved November 08, 2017, from
https://ag.purdue.edu/GMOs/Pages/WhatareGMOs.aspx
Rangel, G., & Maurer, A. (2015, August 9). From corgis to corn: a brief look at the long history
of GMO technology [Web log post]. Harvard University, The Graduate School of Arts
http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-
history-of-gmo-technology/