GMO Research
Abstract: Confidential business information (CBI) is a necessary tool to protect commercial interests in the rapidly developing field of gene technology. CBI is also often claimed for documentation and materials supporting the biosafety assessments of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) intended for environmental release, food, and feed use. However, such claims oftentimes marginally serve their legitimate …
Text: Beginning three decades ago scientists learned how to sequence DNA and transfer it from one kind of organism to another. Since that time, claims about the power of the gene to determine and transform the properties of living forms have been unremitting in academic and popular venues. When proposals were first made to improve …
Abstract: Genetic engineering of food plants may carry allergic properties of the donor source into the recipient plant, and current Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations are inadequate to protect the public from exposure to the resultant allergenic foods. A recent study examined the effect of introducing Brazil nut genes into soy beans, which was …
Abstract: Genetically Modified crops were first grown commercially in 1996. This paper explores what genetic modification is, what crops are GM and which traits these crops have. It also shows how GM crops are tested, regulated and monitored in the US and Australia. It details some of the scientific controversy about GM. It clarifies how …
Abstract: Genetically modified (GM) crops require allergenicity and toxicity assessment of the novel protein(s) to ensure complete safety to the consumers. These assessments are performed in accordance with the guidelines proposed by Codex (2003) and ICMR (2008). The guidelines recommend sequence homology analysis as a preliminary step towards allergenicity prediction, later in vitro experiments may …
Abstract: Commercial formulations of pesticides are invariably not single ingredients. Instead they are cocktails of chemicals, composed of a designated pesticidal “active principle” and “other ingredients,” with the latter collectively also known as “adjuvants.” These include surfactants, antifoaming agents, dyes, etc. Some adjuvants are added to influence the absorption and stability of the active principle …
Abstract: The primary responsibility of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to protect public health by ensuring the safety of the food supply. To that end, it sometimes conducts risk assessments of novel food products, such as genetically modified (GM) food. The FDA describes its regulatory review of GM food (of both the …
Abstract: The process of risk assessment of biotechnologies, such as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), has normative dimensions. However, the US’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seems committed to the idea that such evaluations are objective. This essay makes the case that the agency’s regulatory approach should be changed such that the public is involved in deciding …
Abstract: The purpose of this article is to provide nutrition educators with an introduction to a range of considerations and forces that are driving the application of modern biotechnology in the food and fiber sector based on a food systems perspective. In doing so, the following issues are critically assessed: (1) the global debate on …
Text: “Genetically Modified Foods: Breeding Uncertainty” (Schmidt 2005) overlooked many serious concerns about the environmental and health risks of this new technology. Potential problems from antibiotic-resistant genes used in gene-altered crops, risks from unintended effects of the genetic engineering process, the increases in pesticide use stemming from widespread planting of gene-spliced varieties—these and several other …
Abstract: The safety assessment of genetically modified (GM) plants and their derived food and feed is nowadays a matter of lively debate. Any nutritional consequence of GM food consumption needs to be considered, both in terms of possible changes in the levels of nutrients in the food itself, and in terms of direct or indirect, …
Abstract: Biotechnology is providing us with a wide range of options for how we can use agricultural and commercial forestry lands. The cultivation of genetically modified (GM) crops on millions of hectares of lands and their injection into our food chain is a huge global genetic experiment involving all living beings. Considering the fast pace …
Abstract: Since genetically modified food appeared in Chinese market, it has become a big dispute. Scientific experiments has proved that genetically modified food possesses many advantages such as insect resistance, herbicide tolerance and disease resistance. However it is a fact that many Chinese consumers prefer conventional food to genetically modified food when they go to …
Abstract: Objective: In the present study, the functions and edible safety of imported genetically modified (GM) and natural soy oils were comparatively evaluated by the novel BDI-GS (Benefit-Damage Index & General Scores) evaluation system. Methods: The healthy ICR (Institute of Cancer Research) mice during linear growth were selected as subject. The judgment of edible safety …
Abstract: At the end of the year 2012, Food and Chemical Toxicology published a long-term study by Seralini et al., describing the safety evaluation of genetically modified NK603 maize and Roundup herbicide. Contrary to previous, short-term studies, this experiment revealed some negative effects of these substances on the health of experimental animals. GM feeds and …
Abstract: In Poland genetically modified crops are not regulated by law. Polish Parliament has been discussing the proposal of a new act concerning genetically modified organisms (GMO) since 2009 and did not manage to finalize before the end of its term. Regulations concerning GMOs were also contained in the seed act, but it was vetoed by …
Abstract: Genetically modified crops, feed and foods are known from less than two decades. These products were introduced to the market based on the principle of substantial equivalence of traditional and transgenic varieties, without necessary risk assessment concerning its impact on environment and on health of humans and animals. Other potential risks are concerned with …
Abstract: We would be wise to hold off until we know more about the health, ecological and economic effects of genetically modified food. Keywords: Australia, Microbial Drug Resistance, Facility Regulation and Control, Food-Processing Industry, Humans, Nutrition Policy, Genetically Modified Plants, Public Health, Safety, Biomedical Technology Assessment; Organization & Administration, Economics, Standards, Adverse Effects Citation: Leeder, …
Text: Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have become nearly ubiquitous in U.S.-produced corn, soybeans, and canola, and more than two-thirds of the processed foods Americans consume contain such ingredients. Government agencies and international bodies have repeatedly approved the foods for human consumption while arguing that such bioengineered crops help preserve the environment and could save millions …
Abstract: Since the production of genetically modified food has become a reality, more and more attention is being paid to assess the safety and potential risks associated with the introduction of GMOs. Particular attention is paid to the assessment of the direct impact of genetically modified food outlet on human health. The objective of this …
Abstract: The GM debate ranges over a wide spectrum of issues, which can be grouped under three main headings. First, and of most immediate concern, is the debate over the possible effect of GM foods on human health. Second is the debate over the impact of GM crops on the environment. And last is the …
Abstract: Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is facing with growing demands of aquaculture and aquatic products. Although various genetically modified (GM) aquatics have been generated, it is important to evaluate biosafety of GM organisms on the human health before entering into our food chain. For this purpose, we establish a zebrafish wild adult feeding …
Abstract: The cellular level of methylglyoxal (MG), a highly toxic 2‐oxoaldehyde, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells transformed with genes for some of the glycolytic enzymes was determined as an index of the safety of genetically engineered yeast and the level was compared with that in non‐transformed control cells. the phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and triosephosphate …
Abstract: Our regulators are ignoring the precautionary principle, manipulating and corrupting science, sidestepping the law, and helping to promote genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in the face of massive public opposition and damning evidence piling up against the safety of genetically modified (GM) food and feed. Keywords: precautionary principle, potential dangers, potential hazards, food safety, immunogenicity, …
Abstract: A broad community of independent scientific researchers and scholars challenges recent claims of a consensus over the safety of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In the following joint statement, the claimed consensus is shown to be an artificial construct that has been falsely perpetuated through diverse fora. Irrespective of contradictory evidence in the refereed literature, …
