I NGLES
TRANSGENIC FOODS
Genetically modified (GM) foods have a modified DNA
using genes from other plants or animals. Scientists take
the gene from a desired trait of a plant or animal and
insert that gene into a cell of another plant or animal.
Functions
Genetic engineering can be done with plants or bacteria
and other very small microorganisms. Genetic
engineering allows scientists to pass the desired gene
from one plant or animal to another. Genes can also be
passed from an animal to a plant, and vice versa.
Another name for this is genetically modified organisms,
or GMOs.
The process to create GM (transgenic) foods is different
from selective breeding. This involves the selection of
plants or animals with the desired traits and their
breeding. Over time, this results in offspring with the
desired traits.
One of the problems with selective breeding is that it can
also result in traits that are unwanted. Genetic
engineering allows scientists to select the specific gene
to implant. This avoids introducing other genes with
unwanted traits. Genetic engineering also helps
accelerate the process of creating new foods with
desired traits.
The possible benefits of genetically modified foods include
More nutritious foods
More appetizing foods
Plants resistant to drought and diseases, which require less
environmental resources (such as water and fertilizer)
Less use of pesticides
Some people have expressed concerns about GM
foods, such as:
•Create foods that can cause an allergic reaction
or that are toxic
•Unexpected and harmful genetic changes
•Genes are transferred from a GM plant or animal
to another plant or animal that is not genetically
modified
•Foods that are less nutritious
t has been proven that these concerns have no basis. None
of the transgenic foods used today have caused some of
these problems. The Food and Drug Administration of the
United States (FDA) evaluates all GM foods to ensure they
are safe before they go on sale. In addition to the FDA, the
United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and
the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
regulate plants and animals resulting from bioengineering.
They evaluate the safety of transgenic foods for humans,
animals, plants and the environment.
Next, we will mention some of the foods that use
transgenics, and the reason why their genes are altered.
Soy: Modification in the seed, to be more resistant to
herbicides.
Corn: Genes inserted in the genome of the plant, to make it
more resistant to insects.
Meats: Increase the size and weight of animals, and
accelerate
the
speed
of
their
growth
Wheat: Make it more resistant before droughts.
Potatoes: Starch enzymes are invalidated.
Tomatoes: Enzymes are inhibited to make the decomposition
time slow down.