Genetic Modification: Fear of the Misunderstood

Please note: I am not an expert in this field, simply a student who has done a LOT of research while writing this argument. So please know that there are many other opinions out there and take the time to research them! Check out my sources below for more information.

Most American (and non-American) consumers have seen labels on products which proclaim “non-GMO,” or they have heard debates about corporations using genetically modified ingredients in our food. But GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, are far from a strange new chemically created lab experiment. Species adapt and genomes are updated frequently through evolutionary processes in nature. Furthermore, genetic modification enables us to engineer new and improved medicines and treatments. It also provides the opportunity for greater stability in agriculture-dependent communities. Genetic modification is one of the most misunderstood and underappreciated areas of science, and it has incredible potential to improve the quality of life for people around the world.

Genetic modification is defined as “the process of changing the structure of the genes of a living thing in order to make it healthier, stronger, or more useful to humans” (Cambridge Dictionary). In common usage, this term refers to the artificial transfer of a gene from one organism to another in a laboratory. But this process also includes the thousands of years that humans have been practicing selective breeding. The genome is not a concrete, unchangeable entity. Rather, it is an ever-adapting and evolving packet of information.

While some consumers worry that genetically modified foods are unnatural, there are several examples from Mother Nature herself of plants whose genetics have been modified. First, we can look at sweet potatoes. Several international scientists have found evidence suggesting that modern sweet potatoes contain parts of a bacterial genome, inserted millennia ago (Kyndt et al.). Another instance of genetic modification in naturally growing foods is the common seedless banana. Ancestors of the banana you and I are familiar with have small black seeds and are much smaller overall. Through a defect in gamete production, some bananas became polyploids, meaning they have a full genome from one of the parents in addition to the normal half from the other parent. These bananas then had difficulty reproducing because of their odd number of chromosomes, and they failed to produce seeds (Tomkins). Humans later noticed the benefits of this anomaly and selectively bred this variety of bananas which we eat today. Without human interference, these bananas would die out because most are reproductively sterile. If our tampering with these plants is unnatural, then so is Mother Nature.

Similar to these examples of nature’s genetically modified foods, animals have also been observed passing genetics to other organisms and species. According to a study of parasitic wasps, caterpillars which have been hosts for these wasps’ eggs have incorporated a piece of the wasp genome (Gasmi et al.). This modification of their genetics has enabled the caterpillars to become resistant to dangerous viruses. Changes to the genome of an organism can be expected in nature as part of the evolutionary process. These caterpillars are now advantaged in natural selection and can survive and thrive more successfully than their non-adapted counterparts.

"A parasitic wasp next to the cocoon of a black swallowtail butterfly." (image and caption taken from Shultz below)

Genetic modification can be a great benefit to the human population as well. One substantial impact genetic modification has created is the development of life-saving antibiotics. In 2001, Stanford University issued a news release authored by Dawn Levy which explained that, “by hijacking the biosynthetic machinery of bacteria, scientists can create antibiotics to kill the bad bacteria that rob us of our vitality” (Levy). Essentially, common bacteria can be used as surrogates to grow antibiotics such as erythromycin by inserting genes into the bacteria’s genome and letting it produce the proteins the gene prescribes. The products are then harvested and can be processed into medicines safe for human use. Future medical applications could include growing human organs in animals to be harvested for transplant. While this technology is still being developed, there is reason to believe that it could be realized in the near future (Vogel).

"Human stem cells about to be injected into a pig embryo. Courtesy of Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmont" (image and caption taken from Vogel below)

In addition to medical advancements, genetic modification can assist in the improvement of sustainable food sources in developing countries. A case study in India showed that genetic modification of cotton crops increased production and decreased the risk of pest disturbance (Qaim and Zilberman). This effect can be especially important in areas of poverty and dependence on local crop harvests. Creating plant varieties which can resist viruses or pests can allow developing regions to have a more reliable source of income without the use of chemical pesticides, which are not always readily available in these communities. While this alone may not solve world hunger, it is an important advancement for unindustrialized countries around the globe.

A few concerns consumers have expressed over genetic modification of food are valid safety and health considerations. Although there is little evidence to suggest that genetically modified food has adverse effects on human health, there could still be long-term effects which we are unaware of at this time. Other people are worried about the monopolization of the food industry by the owners of patents for genetic modifications. Additionally, some food crops are modified to have a higher tolerance for herbicides. This causes some dispute because of a concern for increased usage of chemicals on these crops. However, the evidence for the careful and considerate use of genetic modification has benefits for the population which far outweigh these possible risks.

Overall, the science of genetic modification is not a new or untested idea. As with the majority of scientific practices, there is an innate risk and margin of error with its implementation. But the potential this technology has is invaluable to the human race. Already it has been used to generate new and more efficient medications and to alter crops to protect and improve harvests. While the techniques are constantly being studied and revised, the idea of a fluctuating genome is millennia old. This undervalued and misrepresented science has the potential to instigate a new kind of technological revolution to raise the standard of living and healthcare worldwide.

Comments and concerns are welcome, as long as they are respectful. I value your opinion and I think a variety of viewpoints is extremely valuable. But please do your research! Also, if you would like more information on the debate over GMO labeling, check out (Cha) below. For more on the safety testing procedures, start at (World Health) below.

Works Cited

Cha, Ariana Eunjung. “New Twist on GMO Debate: Are They 'Natural'?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 19 Oct. 2013, www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/new-twist-on-gmo-debate-are-they-natural/2013/10/19/96ea1b12-29fc-11e3-b139-029811dbb57f_story.html?utm_term=.452f7ebd41d9.

“Definition of ‘Genetic Modification’ - English Dictionary.” Genetic Modification Definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge Dictionary, dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/genetic-modification.

Gasmi L, Boulain H, Gauthier J, Hua-Van A, Musset K, Jakubowska AK, et al. (2015) Recurrent Domestication by Lepidoptera of Genes from Their Parasites Mediated by Bracoviruses. PLoS Genet 11(9): e1005470. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1005470.

Kyndta, Tina, et al. “The Genome of Cultivated Sweet Potato Contains Agrobacterium T-DNAs with Expressed Genes: An Example of a Naturally Transgenic Food Crop.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Sciences, 16 Mar. 2015, www.pnas.org/content/112/18/5844.full.

Levy, Dawn. “Genetic Engineering Speeds Development of New Antibiotics.” Stanford News Service, Stanford University, 1 Mar. 2001, news.stanford.edu/pr/01/khosla37.html.

Qaim, Matin, and David Zilberman. “Yield Effects of Genetically Modified Crops in Developing Countries.” Science, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 7 Feb. 2003, science.sciencemag.org/content/299/5608/900?variant=full-text&sso=1&sso_redirect_count=1&oauth-code=d3f82d70-8f51-4ae5-aa11-f5f99f4bdf95.

Rangel, Gabriel. “From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology.” Science in the News, Harvard University, 23 Oct. 2016, sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-history-of-gmo-technology/.

Shultz, David. “Wasps Have Injected New Genes into Butterflies.” Science | AAAS, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 26 July 2017, www.sciencemag.org/news/2015/09/wasps-have-injected-new-genes-butterflies.

Tomkins, Stephen. “The Botany of Seedless Fruits.” Science & Plants for Schools, Cambridge Sainsbury Lab, 2017, www.saps.org.uk/saps-associates/browse-q-and-a/322-from-which-part-of-the-flower-do-seedless-fruits-develop.

Vogel, Gretchen. “Human Organs Grown in Pigs? Not so Fast.” Science | AAAS, American Association for the Advancement of Science, 26 July 2017, www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/01/human-organs-grown-pigs-not-so-fast.

World Health Organization. “Q&A: Genetically Modified Food.” World Health Organization, World Health Organization, May 2014, www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/.