ethical_issues_concerning_GM_foods

1. 1
CENTRAL UNIVERSITY OF PUNJAB, BATHINDA
TOPIC- ETHICAL ARGUMENTS RELEVANT TO THE USE OF GM FOODS
COURSE CODE- LMS.504- ETHICS FOR SCIENCE (VAC)
SUBMITTED BY-
NAME- MONALISA MATHAN
M.SC. BOTANY 2ND YEAR
ROLL- 20MSLSPS34
SUBMITTED TO-
PROF. MONISHA DHIMAN
PROFESSOR AND HEAD OF DEPARTMENT
DEPARTMENT OF MICROBIOLOGY, CUPB

2. 2
Introduction:
The genetically modified foods are the products of genetic engineering which are designed
from genetically modified crops. The genetically modified organism is defined as the living
modified organism or transgenic organism in which the genetic material has been altered in a
way that does not occur naturally or a novel combination of genetic material is obtained.
Several modified foods are being designed by use of recombinant DNA technology and Genetic
engineering. Crops like- soybean, corn, maize and cotton are in high demand by farmers. There
are several regulating bodies world-wide for production, management and commercialization
of Genetically Modified Foods (GM foods).
Abstract:
Use of genetically modified food for human consumption has been a major topic of discussion
around the world. But the scientific consensus has proved that the currently available GM foods
poses no greater risk to human health than conventional food. But before exposing a GM food
for commercialization, the food should be tested case-by-case basis and proper labelling should
be done. Biosafety measures and predictable risks should be monitored thoroughly. Several
other aspects also need to be regulated carefully. Like- environmental impact, labelling,
research methods, food safety etc.
Key words: Genetic Engineering, Target DNA, genetically modified genome, Biosafety,
Labelling, Golden rice

3. 3
History:
The first genetically modified approved food was the Flavr Savr tomato in 1994. In 1993 China
was the first country to introduce virus-resistant tobacco as a transgenic crop. In 1995, Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) Potato got the approval of first pesticide producing crop in the US.
Other genetically modified crops of 1995 era were: canola with modified oil
composition, Bt maize/corn, cotton resistant to the herbicide bromoxynil, Bt cotton,
glyphosate-tolerant soybeans, virus-resistant squash, and another delayed ripening tomato. By
2010, US was one of the leading countries to produce GM foods with twenty-five GM crops
having received regulatory approval. In 2015, 92% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 94% of
cotton cultivated in the US were genetically modified varieties.
Fig-1: GMO crops in United States
Source-
https://www.google.com/search?q=gmo+crops+in+United+States+list+year+wise&client=ms
-android-oppo-rvo3&prmd=nisxv&sxsrf=AOaemvJbhdtAzL
Process for making of GMO:
Process of making a genetically modified crop is relatively complex and it involves some steps-
The first step is to find out gene of our interest from the desired organism. The gene can be
extracted from a cell or artificially synthesized and then in further step, a promoter and
terminator region and a selectable marker are combined to it. In the next step, the genetic
elements are allowed to be incorporated into the target genome. In plants the DNA can be
inserted using several techniques like- Agrobacterium-mediated recombination, biolistics or
electroporation. The organism is now regenerated from a single cell as only a single cell is
transformed with genetic material and it’s accomplished by tissue culture technique.

4. 4
By using PCR, Southern hybridization, and DNA sequencing, we can confirm whether
the organism contains the new gene or not. The natural homologous recombination repair
systems have been designed these days that helps in target insertion to exact locations.
Artificially engineered nucleases are used in genome editing that create breaks at specific
points. There are generally four families of engineered nucleases: mega nucleases, zinc finger
nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and the Cas9-guideRNA
system (adapted from CRISPR).
Fig-2: Process for making of genetically modified organism
source-
https://www.google.com/search?q=process+for+making+of+genetically+modified+organism
s&client=ms-
By organism:
Crops:
The first generation of crops were utilized as animal or human food and supplied resistance to
certain pests, diseases, environmental conditions, spoilage or chemical treatments (e.g.,
resistance to a herbicide). The second generation of crops were designed for the improvement
of the crop quality by altering the nutrient profile. Third generation genetically modified crops
were used for non-food purposes, including the production of pharmaceutical agents, biofuels.
Most currently available genes used to engineer insect resistance was derived from the Bacillus
thuringiensis (Bt) bacterium and code for delta endotoxins. E.g.- Bt-cotton: It’s the first GM
crop and got approval in 2002. It’s a genetically modified pest resistant variety.

5. 5
Fig-3: List of genetically modified crops
Source-
https://grain.org/media/BAhbBlsHOgZmSSIrMjAxOC8xMS8yMC8xM18zN18yN184NTdf
VGltZWxpbmVfMS5wbmcGOgZFVA
Fruits and vegetables:
Genetic modification in papaya was done in order to resist the ringspot virus (PSRV). "SunUp"
is a transgenic red-fleshed Sunset papaya cultivar which is homozygous for the coat protein
gene PRSV; "Rainbow" is a yellow-fleshed F1 hybrid was developed by crossing 'SunUp' and
nontransgenic yellow-fleshed "Kapoho".
In 2013, the USDA approved the import of a GM pineapple that is pink in colour, which
"overexpresses" a gene derived from tangerines and suppress other genes and leads to increased
production of lycopene. In October 2020, it was marketed under the name "Pinkglow". In
February 2015 Arctic Apples were approved as the first genetically modified apple approved
for sale in the US by the USDA. The expression of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was reduced by
gene silencing, that prevent the fruit from browning.
Fig-4:‘Sunset’- genetically
modifiedpapayacultivar
Fig-5:Pinkglow- genetically
modifiedpineapplecultivar

6. 6
Maize:
Maize/corn utilized for food and ethanol has been genetically modified to tolerate various
herbicides and it encodes a protein from Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) that kills certain insects.
By 2010 about 90% of the corn grown in the US was genetically modified.
Rice:
Golden rice was modified in the aim of increasing nutrient value. Three different genes are
involved in golden rice that biosynthesize beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible
parts of rice. Intake of golden rice reduced the shortage of dietary vitamin A, a deficiency which
each year is estimated to kill 670,000 children under the age of 5.
Mushroom:
In April 2016, a white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) was modified using the CRISPR
technique and got approval as edible GM food in United States.
Fig-6: Golden rice
Fig-7:Agaricusbisporus Fig-8:AquAdvantage salmon

7. 7
Salmon:
AquAdvantage salmon is a genetically engineered (GE) Atlantic salmon advanced by
AquaBounty Technologies in 1989. The typical growth hormone-regulating gene in the
Atlantic salmon was replaced with the growth hormone-regulating gene from Pacific Chinook
salmon. This GM salmon can grow year-round instead of only during spring and summer.
Ethics and safety of GM foods:
Bioethics related to the production of GM foods is defined as the set of principles concerning
about positive and negative impacts of genetically modified crops and safety aspects deal with
the condition of being protected from risks.
Ethical issues:
There are set of 5 ethical concerns regarding the GM crops-
 Potential harm to human health
 Potential damage to environment
 Negative impact on farming practices
 Excessive corporate dominance
 The “unnaturalness” of the technology
Biosafety:
Biosafety is a term used to define the efforts to reduce and eliminate the potential risks resulting
from biotechnology and its products. The guidelines and regulations were put in place
regarding the safety of the organisms since the beginning of technology in 1975. First GMO
derived product was insulin, approved in 1982 and first GM crop (tomato) was approved in
1996 in US.
Biosafety regulatory framework:
Under the environment protection act 1986, India's biosafety regulatory setup consists of six
committees at the apex-
 Recombinant DNA Advisory Committee (RDAC)
 Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC)
 Review Committee on Genetic Manipulation (RCGM)
 Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC)
 State Biotechnology Coordination Committee (SBCC)
 District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC)

8. 8
Labelling GM and non-GM FOOD:
The GM nature of the product needs to be certified by a certification agency. Food items
containing 5% or more GM materials as their ingredients needs to be labelled as ‘GM food’. A
proper labelling the additional information regarding the changed characteristics and the
external source of inserted genes.
However, labelling creates confusion among consumers which puts an additional price
on GM products. A basic reference key to identify labelled products in a food market is- If the
sticker starts with a 9, its organic. If it starts with a 3 or 4, its conventional and has pesticides.
If it starts with an 8, its GMO.
Different risks:
I. Antibiotic resistance:
Generally, it was assumed by people that by ingestion of GM foods having antibiotic resistance
markers, the effectiveness of an antibiotic gets reduced gradually. Transfer of antibiotic
resistance marker gene from GMO to intestinal microflora may create the risk of horizontal
gene transfer that may arise the antibiotic resistant microorganisms, although its probability in
acidic environment is extremely rare. In view of above issue, antibiotic resistant markers were
replaced with auxotrophic or food grade markers.
Fig-9:RegulatoryframeworkinIndia
Source-
https://bmcproc.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12919-018-0106-0/figures/1

9. 9
II. Eating exogenous or foreign DNA:
There are also some alarming doubts among people regarding the ingestion of exogenous DNA.
However, there is no scientific reports that DNA from these transgenic crops or foods produce
any risk to human health. We know that through our diet, exogenous DNA from plants and
animals are getting inside our body. But the body has its own defence mechanism, by which
the foreign DNA gets degraded. Similarly, the exogenous DNA creates no harm.
III. Risk of allergies and toxicity:
Before the release of GM foods for human consumption, the toxicity must be evaluated in
animal models. Brazil nut allergy in soybean: a well-known allergy caused by GM soyabean
by incorporation of 2S albumin gene from Brazil nut to soyabean that enhanced the methionine
level.
Conclusion:
GMOs potencially solved crucial issues like word hunger, poverty and improved food security.
It significantly reduced the rate of usage of chemical pesticide and herbicides in algriculture.
Genetically modified crops engineered to resist herbicides are now more available than
conventionally bred resistant varieties.
However, it’s also way important to progress with caution to avoid unfavourable consequences
for the surrounding and our health.
Fig- 10: anti-GMOsaying“Poison- StopGMO” in France,May 23, 2015
Source- https://images.app.goo.gl/RURWpDTRbfZALv4k7

10. 10
References:
 GM Science Review First Report Archived October 16, 2013, at the Wayback Machine,
Prepared by the UK GM Science Review panel (July 2003). Chairman Professor Sir David
King, Chief Scientific Advisor to the UK Government, P 9
 James, Clive (1996). "Global Review of the Field Testing and Commercialization of
Transgenic Plants: 1986 to 1995" (PDF). The International Service for the Acquisition of
Agri-biotech Applications. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
 Nicolia, Alessandro; Manzo, Alberto; Veronesi, Fabio; Rosellini, Daniele (2013). "An
overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research". Critical
Reviews in Biotechnology. 34 (1): 77–88. doi:10.3109/07388551.2013.823595
 Domingo, José L.; Bordonaba, Jordi Giné (2011). "A literature review on the safety
assessment of genetically modified plants". Environment International. 37 (4): 734–742.
Doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.01.003. PMID 21296423
 Marris, Claire (2001). "Public views on GMOs: deconstructing the myths". EMBO Reports.
2 (7): 545–548. doi:10.1093/embo-reports/kve142. PMC 1083956. PMID 11463731.