By Sean Merrett and

Melissa Slingerland

 are also known as genetically modified or GM crops

A transgenic crop plant contains a gene or genes which have been artificially
inserted instead of a plant acquiring them through pollination.
The inserted gene sequence (transgene) may come from another
unrelated plant, or completely different species.
Throughout history all crops have been genetically modified from their
original wild state by domestication, selection, and control of breeding
over long periods of time.
Genetic engineering speeds up the process and increases the variety of
genes which can be inserted into a particular plant.

An Overview of the Crop Genetic Engineering cycle

This was the first genetically modified food approved by the

FDA in 1994. It was eventually pulled off the market in 1997
because of the controversy surrounding it. Questions arose
about its effects on human health, the environment, potential
gene transfer, and the creation of Frankenfood.

Flavr Savr
The Flavr Savr tomato ripens
on the vine resulting in fuller
flavour. It is modified so that it
remains firm after harvesting.

Traditional
The traditional tomato must be
harvested while it is still green
and firm so that it is not crushed
on the way to the supermarket.

The traditional tomato is

sprayed with ethylene
after shipping to induce
ripening.

Ripe and Increased Flavour.

Ripe but decreased Flavour.

Worldwide production area of transgenic crops and traits (source: Science 286:1663, 1999).
Crop

Area planted in 1999 (millions of acres)

Soybean

53.4

Corn

27.4

Cotton

9.1

Canola

8.4

Potato

0.3

Squash

0.3

Papaya

0.3

Trait
Herbicide tolerance

69.4

Bt insect resistance

22.0

Bt + herbicide tolerance

7.2

Virus resistance

0.3

As of 2003, the Canadian government has approved over 60 genetically modified

foods for sale in Canada. Some of these include:
insect resistant corn
herbicide tolerant soybean, sugarbeet, corn, and rice
virus resistant squash
insect and virus resistant potato

Control Mechanisms used by Seed Companies

Technology Protection System, also known as the terminator,
incorporates a trait that kills developing plant embryos so seeds
cannot be saved and replanted in subsequent years
Traitor, also known as Trait-specific Genetic Use Restriction
Technology incorporates a control mechanism that requires
yearly applications of a propriety chemical to activate desirable
traits in the crop
the farmer can save and replant seeds but cannot gain the
benefits of the controlled traits unless he pays for the
activating chemical each year

 improved nutritional quality

increased crop yield
insect resistance
disease resistance
herbicide resistance
salt tolerance
biopharmaceuticals

Weed-infested soybean plot (left) and

Roundup Ready soybeans after Roundup
treatment. Source: Monsanto

saving valuable topsoil

ability to grow plants in harsh environments

Damage to human health

allergies
horizontal transfer and antibiotic resistance
eating foreign DNA
changed nutrient levels
Damage to the natural environment
crop-to-weed gene flow
leakage of GM proteins into soil
reductions in pesticide spraying: are they real?
Disruption of current practices of farming and food production
in developed countries
crop-to-crop gene flow
Disruption of traditional practices and economies in less
developed countries
Lack of research on consequences of transgenic crops

 disruption of natural ecosystems

introduction of diseases
creation of biological weapons
ethical dilemmas
ie. Could human genes be
inserted into new crops?

http://dragon.zoo.utoronto.ca/~jlm-gmf/T0501D/introduction.html
http://www.colostate.edu/programs/lifesciences/TransgenicCrops/animation.html#
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/T/TransgenicPlants.html#Terminator_Genes
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=www.carascissoria.com/images/poli/frankenfood.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.
carascissoria.com/general/singles/6173.htm&h=310&w=234&sz=33&tbnid=4aYYWnTCTGMJ:&tbnh=111&tbnw=
84&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dfrankenfood%2Bpictures%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%
3DN
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/biotech/safsal/gmoogme.shtml
http://www.greenpeace.ca/e/campaign/gmo/backgrnd/index.php
Whitney, E.N. and Rolfes, S.R. (2002). Understanding Nutrition (9th edition). Belmont, CA:
Wadsworth/Thomson Learning.