Are Genetically Modified Organisms Really Your Friend?

# Genetically Modified Organisms: What are They and How are They Created?

Genetically modified organisms produced by transferring a gene or multiple genes are transferred from one organism to another to improve or change the later. This umbrella term includes cisgenic or transgenic microbes, plants, or animals.

Selective breeding is the traditional method to transfer genes from one plant or animal to another to improve specific traits. With the advent of sophisticated technology, genomes can be altered to produce desired biological products or express specific physiological characteristics. These new genes might be sourced from a related organism or a completely unrelated and deliver results much faster than conventional breeding.

Modified bacteria were the first genetically modified organisms that are now routinely used as model organisms in genetic engineering or to test synthetic approaches. Most importantly, they are now being used in industry to synthesize human proteins in pure form and large amounts for medical use, e.g., insulin apart from biofuels and enzymes which find use in the food industry.

The first genetically modified crop to be used as the food was tomato released in 1994 as Flavr Savr by Calgene, USA. The first intentional biofortified food crop was Golden Rice, while the development of herbicide-resistant plants, whether for food or oil, dates way back to the 1970s.

The technology for genetic modification of animals was first developed by Ralph Brinster and Richard Palmiter, which produced transgenic mice, pigs, rabbits, and sheep to study human diseases. Transgenic animals have been modified and bred for research purposes and combine desired characters from two different species, e.g., mice used for cancer studies carry cancer-causing mutations.

But now transgenic animals have been modified to grow faster and provide better quality meat (increased omega-3 fatty acids), eggs, or produce certain drugs (Biopharming). The first GE animal was a mouse, created in the 1980s, and now endless avenues have opened up in this field.

# Impact of Genetically Modified Organisms on Environment and Health

Genetically modified organisms are commonly known for raging debate for decades and a bone of contention for politicians and policymakers. But is it worth all the drama?

There are contradictory views on this issue. The environmentalists, NGOs, like Greenpeace, Non-GMO Project, India Organic, No GMO, call them a nuisance for the environmental balance while the scientists back their claims furiously, which are believed to give genetically modified organisms a clean chit.

# Positive Aspects

Genetic engineering has played a vital role in human life. There are numerous areas where these techniques are regularly employed to make life easier.

• Microbes have been selected and engineered to produce various products to alleviate health concerns as the immunity and metabolism of humans and animals depend on the microflora of the intestine.
• These genetically altered microbes produce potent compounds for food or drug industries.
• Lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria are usually present in fermented foods and the gastrointestinal tract.
• They are being used to prevent pathogenic infections, produce antimicrobials and neutraceuticals, and reduce blood pressure, among others. For instance, genetically modified Lactococcus lactis that expresses Staphylococcus hyicus lipase in the cytoplasm shows enhanced lipid digestion.
• Genetically modified probiotics can revolutionize the drug industry if carefully designed, and safety concerns are pre-addressed.
• Genetically modified yeasts and molds are used in the cheese industry to produce an enzyme called chymosin for milk clotting.
• Genetically modified enzymes such as Alcalase^TM or Neutrase^TM are used to clean bones of the meat before their conversion into gelatine.
• Genetically modified enzymes are also used to breakdown the fruit structure and clarify fruit juices.
• The most prominent example in the pharmaceutical sector is that of human insulin produced by genetically modified E. coli.
• Genetically modified Streptococcus mutans helps prevent cavities of teeth.
• Interferons, Hepatitis B vaccine, and human growth hormones are other products of genetically modified microbes.

In the agricultural scene:

• Bt cotton has been a revolutionary example that brought a phenomenal change in cotton yield and reduced insecticide use drastically.
• Genetically modified bananas, tomatoes, and potatoes produce edible vaccines, are being developed. Monoclonal antibodies against HIV were produced in GM tobacco and is undergoing human trials.
• We now have crops that are disease, pest, cold, heat, salt, drought, herbicide-tolerant apart from those that have been modified for increased food value or biomass.

With the increasing population rise rates, the land area and land quality are continuously reducing, and the world is struggling to feed the present population. By 2050, we’ll not have enough food if we do not resort to alternative strategies like genetically modified crops suited to give good yields in various hostile environmental and land conditions affected by biotic and abiotic stresses.

Genetically modified animals produce novel proteins, drugs, vaccines, and have also been routinely used to study various diseases. They are also modified to improve their health and well-being. Industrial products of high value, such as spider silk, is also being produced for medical purposes.

However, the FDA has not approved any genetically modified animals for food purposes yet.

# Negative Aspects

Despite the enormous scale of the benefits of genetically modified organisms, there are also many cons. Whether it is crops, microbes, or animals, environmental and safety issues prevent these products from becoming accepted by society.

• Flavr Savr, the first genetically modified food product, was a technical and financial failure and was discontinued as it was not very different in firmness from its non-genetically modified counterpart, and the production costs were very high.
• Recently, modified Trichoderma atroviride was used to control plant pathogens. Although it achieved the purpose, the food crop’s overall safety and quality were not analyzed.
• Golden rice, which has high amounts of Vitamin A met with biosafety and environmental issues, and its field trials were stopped in the Philippines by Greenpeace.
• Another unaddressed major environmental issue is the containment of transgenes present in genetically modified crops. As, there is a hypothesis that gene transfer might occur between other non-genetically modified plants and soil bacteria, rendering them antibiotic-resistant.
• In addition to ethical objections, there is a flouting of labeling laws where genetically modified food is passed on as non-genetically modified without thoroughly analyzing the effects of specific proteins and genes on human health.
• The dominance of a few biotechnology giants is a big fear in the agricultural world, which ultimately means the dependence of developing and underdeveloped countries on developed nations.

The environmental and safety risks associated with genetically engineered animals are very subjective and differ on a case-to-case basis.

• A disease-resistant animal might not raise as pressing a concern as in case of a fish, fowl, or pig that is made to grow very fast.
• The FDA had laid down regulations on the industry for genetically modified animals (January 2009), which clearly states that such animals should be safe enough to consume if they are food animals, and the gene construct inserted into them should not harm the animal itself.
• Pigs and chicken have been engineered to grow fast. But their hearts and legs cannot sustain this extra weight, which is ethically wrong.
• Also, imagine the consequence if these genes for growth hormone gets accidentally transferred to humans. Who would want to grow like a pig? Unfortunately, concerns regarding such unwanted incidents were not addressed.

There is hardly any scrutiny or trouble with genetically modified microbes as the regulatory laws governing such bacteria are entirely different from genetically modified crops. So, despite these microbes entering our body and the food chain, there is no controversy, even if the safety is compromised.

• A great deal of caution should be exercised while promoting probiotics as these are organisms well adapted to the human gut, and modifying them might turn them into invasive.
• Additionally, there are chances these genes might get horizontally transferred to other pathogens through the gastrointestinal tract. The same is the issue with microbes engineered for bioremediation.

# The Essence of The Story

Despite the continuous protests against genetically modified organisms and the setbacks that resulted, we cannot ignore the positive prospects that genetic engineering has offered. Genetic modification goes back to ancient times when man selectively domesticated and bred various crop varieties.

Additionally, mutation breeding carried out by agriculturists is also a form of modification that might have health concerns, but we never chanced to look upon it that way. Scientists have confirmed that bacterial genes IbT-DNA1 and IbT-DNA2 have been integrated into the genome of sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) that we eat today through evolution. So genetic engineering is not only the way the transfer of genes can happen.

The world needs genetically modified crops for feeding farm animals. The EU, which has apprehensions regarding growing these crops itself, imports genetically modified soybean to manage more than half of its need for animal feed. The claim that genetically modified organisms reduce biodiversity is baseless as agriculturists’ selective breeding has reduced biodiversity and wild relatives over the years. These are deposited safely in gene banks worldwide to be used in times of need.

Amid the fears of increased pesticide use with genetically modified crops, it is essential to note that even organic food crops use pesticides, which are often not checked for toxicity. We do not have data on the levels of pesticides in organic food. On the other hand, we have Bt crops that reduce insecticides, and Bt isn’t toxic to humans.

The environmental problems regarding agriculture are deep-rooted, and they won’t be alleviated with doing away with genetically modified or a few labeling laws. We need to fix even the traditional agricultural malpractices. Even in a world without GM crops, more insecticides will be sprayed, which will damage the food webs; on a positive note, less glyphosate use will reduce contamination of soil.

But broadly, the current scenario is the same; one always remains high. Increased tilling will release more Greenhouse gases. Maybe, we’ll stop worrying about genetically modified organisms, but scientists may increase mutagenesis and manipulations, bringing other health hazards.

Genetically modified organisms are not always about big companies, but sometimes they have bigger and humanitarian intents. Golden rice was a very aspirational project with a noble intention. That is, to eliminate the deficiency and increase the bioavailability of Vitamin A in ordinary people’s diets globally, which could only be achieved through a staple food item, rice.

Since then, programs like BioCassava Plus at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center aim to increase iron and provitamin A. Another program at the National Agricultural Research Organisation of Uganda, which also aims to increase iron and provitamin A in cooking bananas, has been initiated.

Additionally, an increase in specific amino acids, antioxidant, and carbohydrate engineering, and reduction of gluten in wheat varieties are some other projects in the pipeline that aim to increase the nutritional content through bio-fortification. Agreed that they are not through the breeding process, but the goals are the same, and it might reach us earlier if we shed our inhibitions and misconceptions.

# Concluding Remarks and Personal Opinions

It is to be, noted that there are many vested interests behind the hue and cry of the NGOs and some individuals who lobby hard to hold back the trials and eventually, the entry of genetically modified organisms into the market.

It is so evident that people making big bucks out of the so-called organic food would feel threatened by GMOs’ thought. Because once the public becomes assured of the benefits of genetically modified crops, their earnings will dwindle.

Restricting genetically modified crops’ imports from other countries is one way few countries manage trade and promote their farm income. Therefore, the objections are not always science-based and may hide different motivations too.

One cannot be forced to eat what he does not want to. But, considering the geometric multiplication of population and land degradation, it seems unlikely that we’ll have many options by 2050. Therefore, genetically modified foods, whether probiotics or crops, must be encouraged. But only after appropriately assessing for all environmental and biomedical safety risks. They must be confined in the field to avoid cross-contamination with other non-genetically modified crops.

These crops or probiotics are indeed enhanced in a single nutrient, but one has to keep in mind that these are meant to supplement the diet and are not an entire meal in themselves. Plus, they will prove to be an affordable source of nutrients that are lacking in underprivileged folk diets. Even in animals’ case, biotechnology has helped to select animals with disease resistance or with specific desired characters.

To sum up, I would say that we are hitting the wrong things and cannot use the same yardstick to measure everything. To worry about the environment is not false, but what if genetically modified organisms give us an option to sustain ourselves in worse environmental conditions. After all, we cannot have everything.

Traditional farming is claimed to be environmentally friendly and sustainable, but at the same time, there are regions in the world where there is no food at all or no suitable land for farming. The former can always be done in parallel.

Genetic modification technology will surely save the lives of millions if allowed by the government. Greenpeace was right when it tried to keep the Indonesian forests from the palm’s monoculture, but you cannot always be right, can you?

Written By: Akriti Agrawal

Edited By: Dr. Rishabh Gangwar