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Brit

Good evening,

     I have chosen Soybeans as the main topic for Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) and have researched that the CP4 EPSPS gene was inserted within soybeans.  Additionally, 2S Albumin is present as the storage protein and is newly discovered on the market currently.  There is also Glycinin and Beta-Conglycinin proteins that are found within soybeans as well.  These genes and proteins are approximately 70 percent of total soy seed protein which presents the quality of tofu that is currently on the market for consumers (Li et al., 2019).

     According to International Food Information Council, it is stated that there are 10 other GMO crops in the United States with more than 90 percent being produced on the market as of 2021  (Beans and Biotech: Why Soybeans Are the Stars of Genetically Modified Foods, 2021).    Farmers and agricultural companies are typically the individuals that enjoy the benefits of the GMOs that are being utilized since they do not need to apply pesticides on a daily basis and is avoidable.  Consumers enjoy the luxury of purchasing medicines and treatments that prevent diseases also known as GMOs.  

     Furthermore, the risks that are unapparent include the potential long-term on human health as scientists are still researching into this matter.  "Some health groups say there are unanswered questions regarding the potential long-term impact on human health from food derived from GMOs" (A List Of The Potential Risks, Issues & Concerns With GMOs 2021).  There are afraid that the GMOs are a risk for contamination in the long run.

Resources:

Beans and Biotech: Why Soybeans Are the Stars of Genetically Modified Foods. Food Insight. (2021, February 10). https://foodinsight.org/soybeans-are-the-stars-of-genetically-modified-foods/#:~:text=Soybeans%20are%20currently%20the%20only%20GMO%20beans%20that,has%20been%20experimenting%20with%20genetically%20modified%20pinto%20beans.

Better Meets Reality. (2021, January 13). A List Of The Potential Risks, Issues & Concerns With GMOs. Better Meets Reality. https://bettermeetsreality.com/a-list-of-the-potential-risks-issues-concerns-with-gmos/.

Li, C., Nguyen, V., Liu, J., Fu, W., Chen, C., Yu, K., & Cui, Y. (2019, March 27). Mutagenesis of seed storage protein genes in Soybean using CRISPR/Cas9. BMC Research Notes. https://bmcresnotes.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13104-019-4207-2.

Laet

 What are some of the potential benefits of genetically modified organisms?

Genetic modification is one of the most controversial revolutionary developments in the biotechnological sector. Production, processing, marketing, and consumption of GM food and common advocation that they have benefits still manage to cause a huge conflict of opinions among the scientific, research groups, and the general public.

However, many studies claim that with knowledge and education, the acceptance of biotechnology is increasing; the concerns of the public and consumers would seem to arise from a lack of knowledge and misunderstanding of biotechnology. When discussing GM food, it is important to understand not only the content and circumstances in which these developments take place, how they spread, and the production and processing of GMOs, but also the interests of different society groups and decision makers.

- What are some of the potential risks of genetically modified organisms?

Some people believe that GMO foods have more potential to trigger allergic reactions. This is because they may contain genes from an allergen — a food that prompts an allergic reaction.

The World Health Organization (WHO) discourageTrusted Source genetic engineers from using DNA from allergens unless they can prove that the gene itself does not cause the problem.

It is worth noting that there have been no reports of allergic effects of any GMO foods currently on the market.

Some researchers believe that eating GMO foods can contribute to the development of cancer. They argue that because the disease is caused by mutations in DNA, it is dangerous to introduce new genes into the body.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) have said that there is no evidence for this. However, they note that no evidence of harm is not the same as proof of safety and that reaching a conclusion will require more research.

References:

https://impakter.com/potential-benefits-genetically-modified-food/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324576#cons

Vict

The GMO product I will be discussing is the Arctic Apple. The Arctic Apple is not in stores yet, but it could be soon! The reason why this apple was genetically modified, was because people noticed how the color of apples change the longer that they are exposed to air, and some consumers find that discoloration unappetizing (Investor’s Business Daily). So, the Arctic Apple was created to withstand the discoloration and maintain its color while exposed to open air (Investor’s Business Daily). The theory is that if there is no discoloration, consumers won’t feel the need to throw the apple away, thinking that it is rotten or gone bad, but will eat it instead. This could mean less waste (Investor’s Business Daily).

Some of the potential benefits of genetically modified organisms is that a product could last longer/have a longer shelf life. Another, is that you might not even know that it is in the products you eat. With the Arctic Apple, the transgene genetic material present in the paples is quickly degraded by your digestive system to the point where it is indistinguishable from traditional apples (Arctic Apples). One of the potential risks of GMOs is their unpredictability. In regards to a food product, it could pass all of the normal standard tests, but there’s nothing that could prove how the modification will react with everyone. You could be a person who is not allergic to anything, but once you take a bite of that product, you could have a severe allergic reaction. 

The Arctic Apple actually started out as a Golden Delicious apple. To make this kind of apple, Golden Delicious apple buds were inserted with the anti-PPO gene (Arctic Apples). Once this happened, scientists then allowed the buds to grow into mature trees which then produced the apple called the Arctic Golden (Arctic Apples). The protein in these apples is a protein called NPTII, which has been deemed nontoxic and non-allergenic by the FDA (Arctic Apples).

Sources:

Investor’s Business Daily. (2013, December 24). GMO apple on sale soon? Investors Business Daily, A02.

says:, R. W., Says:, L., says:, J. A., says:, S. S., says:, D., says:, D. J. B., says:, D., says:, J., says:, W. S., says:, L. :), says:, H., Says:, N. N., says:, M. E., says:, B. A. B. A. B. B. A. B. A. B. A. B. A. B. A., Says:, M., says:, K., Says:, M. B., says:, J., Says:, A., … *, N. (2018, January 13). Arctic Apples: A fresh new take on genetic engineering. Science in the News. https://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2018/arctic-apples-fresh-new-take-genetic-engineering/.