Question

Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a manner that does not occur naturally. The technology allows individual genes to be transferred from one organism into another, also between non-related species.

1. Describe two specific examples of a commercially used GMO.

2. What are the benefits of GM foods, in general?

3. What are the main issues of concern for human health?

4. Where do you stand on the use of GM foods?

ANSWERS MUST BE ORIGINAL AND NO PLAGIARISM

Answer 1

Answer-

1. Two commercially available genetically modified organisms are -

• Bt cotton which is resistant to cotton bollworm and is prepared by using bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis.
• Genetically modified soybean for producing more oil.

2. Benefits of genetically modified foods are as follows -

• Genetically modified food can be produced for a particular nutrient enrichment. for example we cannot prepare rice having protein content along with carbohydrate.
• Genetic modification makes our crops healthy and resistant to harmful insect pests.
• By genetic modifications we can add new qualities to crop such as early maturation and multiple crops in a year and thus can increase yield and produce large quantity of food for increasing population.

3. Main issues related to health -

• Sometimes when we prepare a resistant variety for a particular insect then that variety may be harmful for humans also.
• Sometimes when we produce a genetically modified high yielding crop than the quality of crop declines and its nutritional value becomes very low which is harmful for human health.
• When we prepare genetically modified crop producing some toxin which improves survival of that crop plant, then that toxin also affects human health.

4. How to use genetically modified foods -

• Genetically modified foods should be prepared by considering the ecological factors associated with it and also thinking about its long term effect on human health.
• Genetically modified food can be used for enriching a particular nutrient, without affecting other qualities of that food.
• Genetically modified food plants should be prepared in such a way that it should not produce any kind of toxins which may be harmful for human health.
• Genetically modified food items can be prepared for increasing yield but without compromising with their quality.