Download Slide 1

Genetically Modified Organisms
http://www.masternewmedia.org/images/modded.jpg
http://repairstemcell.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/genetically-modified-food-fda.jpg
What are genetically modified organisms
(GMO, GMF, Frankenfoods)?
http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
• Also known as transgenic
• Crop plants created for human or animal
consumption using the latest molecular
biology techniques.
• Create plants with the exact desired trait
very rapidly and with great accuracy.
What could we do with this kind
of technology?
More possibilities
GMO issues are real and in your
grocery store
thanks to Erika Lowery
Advantages of GMOs
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pest resistance
Herbicide tolerance
Disease resistance
Cold tolerance
Drought/Salinity tolerance
Nutrition
Phytoremediation (clean up heavy metals in
soils – gm poplar trees)
• Pharmaceuticals
Pharmaceuticals
What are some of the criticisms of
GMO foods?
• Environmental Hazards
a. Unintended harm to other organisms – Monarch
butterflies and milkweed/corn pollen
b. Reduced effectiveness of pesticides
c. Gene transfer to non-target species
• Human Health Risks
a. Allergies
b. Unknown/Unintended health effects
• Economic Concerns
a. Expense and time bring GMO plants to market
b. Patents and control by agrichemical companies
How are GMO/GMF/Transgenic
Foods Labeled?
• Agribusiness firms believe labeling should be
voluntary – They say, “Let the markets decide!”
• Consumer groups say labeling should be
mandatory – They say, “I want to know what I
am eating!”
• FDA’s current position grounded in the Food,
Drug and Cosmetics Act…
• GRAS
• Generally Recognized As Safe
• What do you think about this?
Why did Monsanto, PepsiCo and Nestlé
spend over $45M to defeat Prop 37 in
California?
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/nov/07/prop-37-californian-gm-labelling
Approximately 90% of US corn and
soybean production is GMO
Growth of GE Crops1996-2009
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Data/BiotechCrops/
GMO Cartoons to Interpret
http://s4.hubimg.com/u/46935_f260.jpg
http://www.bxscience.edu/ourpages/users/Villani/bionic/200
http://www.bxscience.edu/ourpages/users/Villani/bionic/2008/articles/GMF/GMF_files/image001.jpg
8/articles/GMF/GMF_files/image001
.jpg
http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v2/n3/images/nrg0301_217a_i1.jpg
http://weblog.helpware.net/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/monsanto_labelling.jpg
http://www.cartoonstock.com/newscartoons/cartoonists/mba/lowres/mban128l.jpg
http://i.treehugger.com/files/gmo-patent-pending-01.jpg
http://earthhopenetwork.net/frankenfood_monsanto_hungry_man.jpg
Store Wars
Grocery
http://www.green.tv/store_wars
And,now…
www.themeatrix.com