Genetically Engineered Food “over 70% of food products in retail stores contain genetically modified ingredients”

First GM Food 1992 –GE Flavr SavrTM tomatoes on the market after approval by FDA. Objective: make tomato with longer shelf life How? adding a gene which interferes with the production of the enzyme that breaks down cell walls and results in the softening of fruit By 1997 no longer grown; bland flavor

Most Common GM Foods in U.S.  Corn    Soybeans    Canola    Cotton    Sugar Beets    Alfalfa    Hawaiian Papaya    Zucchini    Yellow Crookneck Squash Meat- while not GM; raised on GM grain (corn)

Some of the Foods That May Contain GM Ingredients: Infant formula, salad dressing, bread, cereal, hamburgers and hotdogs, margarine, mayonnaise, cereals, crackers, cookies, chocolate, candy, fried food, chips, veggie burgers, ice cream, frozen yogurt, tofu, soy sauce,, tomato sauce, protein powder…..

GM foods not labeled in U.S.

Companies opposed to GMO labeling

GEFs Facts http://www. teachersdomain. org/resource/tdc02. sci. life Genetic makeup of organism modified by rearrangement or removal of genes Incorporating genes from other organisms, called transgenic plant Ex- "Bt corn" contains a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Ex- Genes from animal (fish) inserted into genomes of foods such as strawberries or tomatoes for cold resistance

GMO Facts Advance tissue culture- produce only part of plant such as fruit or oil Transgenomics- insert artificially created DNA into plant DNA to stimulate mutation of specific gene

Advantages Assist food manufacturers Improve storage capacity ex- Flavr SavrTM Tomato Pest resistance ex- virus resistant squash Herbicide-tolerant crops Asbromoxynil-tolerant (controls boll weevil) on cotton

Concerns Proteins in milk, eggs, wheat, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, soybeans, and shellfish cause over 90% of food allergies

Concerns What can go wrong? http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/monarch-butterflies-genetically-modified-gm-crops/story?id=14057436

What about the terminator gene? Prevent seeds from reproducing next year Economics- Grower must purchase GM seeds next year Control by GM company Expense for farmer

Cross Breeding vs. GMOs What is cross breeding? Use closely related species Takes 10-15 years to develop useful variety Useful only 5-10 years; plant becomes more prone disease or pest

Use closely related species Takes 10-15 years to develop useful variety Useful only 5-10 years; plant becomes more prone disease or pest ½ time cross breeding Cuts costs Insert into animal or plant cell