The Dark Science of GMO: Pillaging Nature

GMO are three letters that I am always on the look out for when I am grocery shopping. Unfortunately, they are not always easy to find. The United States does not require labeling, despite the fact that 89% of Americans polled by the Mellman Group, Inc. in 2015 favored mandatory labeling on all foods that have been genetically engineered or contain genetically engineered ingredients. [1]

What are GMOs?

GMO stands for genetically modified organism. This means that scientists modified the DNA of the plant, animal, or microorganism in question. [2] These scientists use a laboratory process in which the genes from the DNA of one species are “extracted and artificially forced” into the genes of another plant or animal. [3]

This type of genetic manipulation differs from traditional crossbreeding and grafting. Farmers have bred plants together to enhance favorable traits, such as sugar content. For example, traditional methods may breed two varieties of corn to produce an ultra sweet corn. Alternately, a pig may be bred with another pig to create a new variety. But, it would be impossible to breed said corn with said pig naturally.

However, in the genetic modification (GM) or genetic engineering (GE) process, the combinations may involve the mixing of genes from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, and humans. [4] So that pig’s DNA could be forced into the corn!

Humans aren’t giving their consent for eating unlabeled GM products any more than the organisms whose DNA is being altered.

In nature, living organisms have natural barriers that protect them against DNA from other species. [5] Nature knows that fish genes have no business being mixed with tomato genes. As a result, scientists must force the introduction of foreign DNA to create plants or animals with traits that would be impossible to obtain naturally.

Scientists may use viruses to infect plant cells with the new DNA. [6] Alternately, they may coat DNA onto tiny metal pellets and shoot the pellets into the plant cells with a gun. They may inject the new DNA into fertilized eggs. Or, they may use electric shocks to perforate the membrane of sperm and squeeze the new DNA through these holes.

Sounds a lot like rape to me.

But GM is safe, right?!

Unfortunately, the technology is very imprecise, creating unstable combinations of genetic material. Moreover, it is impossible to predict and control any unintended side effects.

For example, the foreign gene could be selected to enhance a plant’s herbicide resistance. It may very well do a great job of “helping” the plant survive copious amounts of pesticides, while all surrounding plant and animal life dies. However, the new gene may disrupt the DNA of the plant, alter chemical reactions within the cell, and disturb cell functions, yielding new toxins and allergens.

This reminds me of Western medicine and big pharma. A drug is created to treat depression by “correcting” the chemical imbalance in the brain. The drug effectively produces the intended effect: it inhibits the reuptake of serotonin, allowing serotonin to circulate in the synapse longer ostensibly to “treat” the depression. Additionally, the drug produces unintended side effects: constipation, diarrhea, increased suicidality, weight gain, acne, changes in blood pressure, insomnia, irritability, fatigue, low libido, inability to orgasm, etc. But we’re curing depression right?! I’m not so sure. That’s a topic for another blog post entirely.

To date, there is no scientific consensus on the safety of GM and GE. [7] The majority of the research to date is funded by the same biotechnology companies selling the GMOs, which is a major conflict of interest in the production of unbiased scientific literature.

What do you think about GMOs? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

References:

[1] http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/976/ge-food-labeling/us-polls-on-ge-food-labeling
[2] http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/what-is-gmo/
[3] http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/issues/976/ge-food-labeling/us-polls-on-ge-food-labeling
[4] http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education/the-ge-process/
[5] http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education/the-ge-process/
[6] http://responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education/the-ge-process/
[7] http://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/science/

Disclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.