B. The what's and whys of genetic engineering

     According to Wikipedia, "Genetic engineering (GE), also called genetic modification, is.....the changing of an organism's genome using biotechnology. These methods are recent discoveries....  

 ^{An organism that is altered by genetic engineering is a genetically modified organism (GMO).  The first GMOs were bacteria in 1973..."} 

    ^{GMO s are NOT the result of cross pollination or hybridization.}

    ^{According to www.dictionary.reference.com/browse/, "A GMO is an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that its DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there."  The World Health Organization defines GMO as "organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally."} (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism)

^{A FEW EXAMPLES OF GE}

  According to the USDA the production of genetically engineered (GE) crops such as cotton, soy beans, and corn has increased dramatically in this country since 1996.  In 2013, 76-85% of corn, 75-82% of cotton, and 93% of soybeans grown in the country were GMOs.  The Obama Administration has approved the unrestricted growing of genetically engineered alfalfa.  Herbicide-tolerant crops are those that are genetically engineered to survive the effects of herbicides that kill weeds and which are strong enough to kill the crop as well except for the genetic modification.   The corn, cotton, and soybean GE crops referred to above include herbicide tolerant varieties.  The corn and cotton GE crops also include insect-resistant varieties.  These crops contain a gene from soil bacteria which produces a protein that is toxic to specific insect pests.

      GMO Yellow Crookneck Squash and Zucchini contain protein genes that protect against viruses.

     "To increase the quantity of milk produced, cows are often given rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), which is also banned in the European Union, as well as in Japan, Canada, New Zealand and Australia." (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/builtlean/diet-and-nutrition_b_4323937.html)

   

   GE is not limited to plant and animal food.  There is cotton, of course. (Although cottonseed oil is an ingredient in a number of processed foods.)  There are the cats that are modified to glow in the dark and multi-colored, glow-in-the-dark aquarium fish.

WHY?

        You may be wondering why anyone would want to manipulate genes.  The short answer is money.  There is money to be made selling Genetically Engineered products.  Monsanto, the largest manufacturer of Genetically Engineered products, earned almost $1.5 billion dollars in the three months ending on February 13, 2013.

      The "official" reason for growing GMOs is to save people in third world countries from starving, to lower food costs, to save water, to increase crop productivity.

       So why are some of us opposed to GMOs?  Some people believe GMO consumption can and/or has made some people ill.  Some people think gene manipulation is contrary to God's will.  Some think GMOs threaten the quality of the environment.   Some fear that GMOs will make the world's overpopulation crisis worse.  Some people don't like being treated as human guinea pigs.

     

       Are GMOs absolutely necessary?  In my opinion, no. (I just read the nation of Bhutan has decided to go 100% organic.)  The alternative, however, would require a massive shift to humans living in harmony with Nature, which those in power would not favor.  I can't imagine how the American Upper Class would survive such a shift.

GMOs AND THE LAW

An article in the August, 2009 issue of Scientific American (http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/do-seed-companies-control-gm-crop-research/) explains that big agrotech companies such as Monsanto, Pioneer and Syngenta  require the purchasers of genetically modified seeds to sign an agreement that prohibits the seeds from being used for independent research.  "Under the threat of litigation, scientists cannot test a seed to explore the different conditions under which it thrives or fails. They cannot compare seeds from one company against those from another company. And perhaps most important, they cannot examine whether the genetically modified crops lead to unintended environmental side effects."  From the companies' viewpoint such measures are necessary to protect intellectual property, and they certainly don't want anyone else producing and selling "knock-offs".

      According to this article, research on genetically engineered seeds,  presumably those supplied to scientists by the seed companies, has been published.  But only those studies approved by the seed companies are published in peer-reviewed journals.  I suspect that the researcher is required to agree not to publish findings until the seed company approves the research.

       This may be related to the following incident.  There was a congressional bill passed by Congress and signed by President Obama in March, 2013.  In an article entitled "Critics Slam Obama For 'Protecting' Monsanto" by Lindsey Boerma, CBS News (March 28, 2013) , it was reported that a provision was surreptitiously included in that bill which "protects genetically modified seeds from litigation suits over health risks posed by the crops' consumption."  That should have read "protects the manufacturer" (one of which is Monsanto).  If Monsanto is so convinced that GMOs are safe, I can't help wondering why they would be worried about losing law suits.  In their defense, it is costly even for a multi-billion dollar international corporation to defend itself in court.  On the other hand, I can't imagine Congress taking away the right of American citizens to sue car companies that decide to suppress information about safety defects rather than issuing prompt recalls. 

         Monsanto does not want people to sue it, but it is not shy about suing farmers for patent infringement.  According to its own website (http://www.monsanto.com/newsviews/pages/saved-seed-farmer-lawsuits.aspx), Monsanto has filed lawsuits against American farmers 145 times since 1997.  These suits are prompted by farmers who save seed from GMO crops they have grown in order to plant the seed next season.   Monsanto claims it "catches" most violators as a result of other neighboring farmers reporting the GMO seed savers.  It seems to me that if a farmer discontinues buying Monsanto seed each year, all Monsanto needs to do is send investigators onto the farmer's property to get a crop sample which will be analyzed to see if it is a Monsanto GMO.  This is not limited to the farmers who buy the GMO seeds directly.  The Monsanto GMO pollen can be carried by the wind to neighboring farms who don't want to grow GMO crops.  When Monsanto has found GMO crops grown from the seed these farmers have saved and subsequently planted, Monsanto has pursued legal damages from them, as well.

      The Grocery Manufacturers Association has introduced a bill (HR 4432) in Congress that would block states from enacting GE food labeling laws.  It would give the FDA the exclusive power to decide if a GE food should be labeled.  If the FDA deems the product safe, the manufacturer will not have to label it as a GMO.  (http://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/4432/text)

     Sixty-four countries, including members of the European Union, "enforce consumer 'right to know laws for GE foods" according to the Center for Food Safety    (http://www.centerforfoodsafety.org/... international-labeling-laws).

 

 NOTE: For a discussion of the GMO right to know and GMO labeling law provisions go to Post F. GMO Labeling - No Excuses at www.classwarfarerg.blogspot.com.