GMO: background AND History

Genetically Modified Organisms: Background and History Learning Goal: I will be able to understand the history of GMOs and recognize the tension between altering the DNA in our food sources and the impact that can have on our lives and environment Genetically Modified Organism (GMO): organisms in which genes from another organism are inserted into the targeted organism’s DNA Has the potential to both positively and negatively affect the environment and human health.   Plants can be genetically modified easily because they can be grown from a single cell or small pieces of tissue.  Thus, one only needs to modify a single cell to produce an entire genetically modified organism

Bill Nye- Genetically Modified Foods History of Genetically Modified Foods:   8000 BCE- Ancient farmers in what is now Mexico took the first steps in domesticating maize when they simply chose which kernels (seeds) to plant. Source: Rangel, Gabriel. "From Corgis to Corn: A Brief Look at the Long History of GMO Technology." Science in the News. Harvard University, 2015. Web. 25 Apr. 2016. Found at: http://sitn.hms.harvard.edu/flash/2015/from-corgis-to-corn-a-brief-look-at-the-long-history-of-gmo-technology/

7800 BCE- Artificial selection has also been utilized with a variety of plants. In archaeological sites found in southwest Asia, scientists have found domestic varieties of wheat  1973- First Modern GMO produced- Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen worked together to engineer transfer a gene that encodes antibiotic resistance from one strain of bacteria into another  

1975 – Asilomar Conference- A group of biologists get together with a few lawyers and doctors to create guidelines for the safe use of genetically engineered DNA.  

1980 – First GMO Patent Issued- Supreme Court case between a genetics engineer at General Electric and the U.S. Patent Office is settled by a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ruling, allowing for the first patent on a living organism. The GMO in question is a bacterium with an appetite for crude oil, which would help eat up oil spills   1982 – FDA Approves First GMO- Humulin, insulin produced by genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, appears on the market.

1994 – GMO Hits Grocery Stores- The FDA approves the Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves. The delayed- ripening tomato has a longer shelf life than conventional tomatoes  

1996 – GMO-Resistant Weeds- Weeds resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide used with many GMO crops, are detected in Australia. Research shows that the super weeds are seven to 11 times more resistant to glyphosate than the standard susceptible population.  

1997 – Mandatory Labels- European Union rules in favor of mandatory labeling on all GMO food products, including animal feed. 1999 – GMO Food Crops Dominate- Over 100 million acres worldwide are planted with genetically engineered seeds. The marketplace begins embracing GMO technology.  

2003 – GMO-Resistant Pests- A Bt-toxin resistant caterpillar is found eating GMO Bt cotton crops in the southern US. BT- toxin: a pesticide which is a protein that is toxic to insects. Bt can be sprayed on crops or it can be added to the DNA of genetically modified crops. In less than a decade, the bugs have adapted to the genetically engineered toxin produced by the modified plants.  

2011 – Bt Toxin in Humans- Research in eastern Quebec finds Bt toxins in the blood of pregnant women and shows evidence that the toxin is passed to fetuses.   2012 – Farmer Wins Court Battle- French farmer Paul Francois sues Monsanto for chemical poisoning (caused by inhaling weed killer) He suffered from dizziness, headaches and other problems after examining a sprayer in 2004 which contained Lasso, part of the Roundup Ready line of products. Lasso is now banned Francois wins and sets a new precedent for future cases.

2014 – GMO Patent Expires- Monsanto’s patent on the Roundup Ready line of genetically engineered seeds will end in two years. Roundup is widely used by both people in their backyards and farmers in their fields. Roundup Ready plants are resistant to Roundup, so farmers that plant these seeds must use Roundup to keep other weeds from growing in their fields. In 2009, Monsanto introduced Roundup 2 with a new patent set to make the first- generation seed obsolete.  

Nov. 2014 – Oregon residents vote on labeling GM foods- 51% voted against labeling and 49 percent for labeling Ethical Question: Should Genetically Modified Foods be required to be labeled in the United States?

Arguments for/against labeling GM Foods: Proponents: Consumers have a right to know what they are putting into their body There aren’t a lot of studies which show the health effects of eating GM foods, so it could have harmful effects on the health of the consumers and unborn babies Some people want to be strictly GMO free because they want to be strictly organic or don’t like GM companies  

Opponents: Costs of labeling is too expensive which will increase the cost of food for the consumer In some places you don’t need to label GMOs and some you do; so having two different labeling systems could be costly If you want to make a baked good or meal product to sell, you’d need to go through every ingredient and where you source it from to check whether they are GM foods; this will take time and employees to do the job  

2. There is no proof that GM foods are not safe to eat 3. Consumers might be scared away from products that they have already been using   HW: Think about the Ethical Question and on the bottom of your notes, list what information you would need to know in order to answer the ethical question