What is genetically modified foods
1 What is genetical engineering ?
2 what are the advantages of genetically modified foods?
3 what are their disadvantages?
4 what do consumer groups around the world demand ?
>> What is genetical engineering and why are consumer groups up in arms against such genetically modified foods or gene foods? Well to put in a nutshell , it is a process of extracting gens bearing a specific
hereditary trait from one organism and artificially inserting them into a completely different organism.
There are several possible benefits from such genetic engineering . You could have foods whose nutritional values are enhanced . Scientists, for example are reported to be working on iron and vitamin fortified rice.
Similarly you could develop crops that are resistant to pests and giving higher yields , or those that survive extreme weather conditions . You could even provide edible vaccine through such engineering.
But on the outher hand , when you start tinkering with nature , you could also be exposing yourself to unknown and unforeseen health and environment risk , which may not be immediately apparent , but in the long run turn out to be not just hazardous, but uncontrollable.
Currently, the unknown health risk from genetically modified foods are the possibility of food allergies and increased resistance to antibiotics . However, in the absence of long term safety testing no one can known for certain what their harmful effects may be . Besides , growing genetically modified crops on a large scale can have certain serious implications for bio - diversity, wildlife , balance of Nature and also environment .
Because of these questions consumer groups around the globe are now
Forcing governments to introduce mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods . Consumer have a right to information , safety and choice And labelling gives them the choice to buy genetically modified foods .
2 what are the advantages of genetically modified foods?
3 what are their disadvantages?
4 what do consumer groups around the world demand ?
>> What is genetical engineering and why are consumer groups up in arms against such genetically modified foods or gene foods? Well to put in a nutshell , it is a process of extracting gens bearing a specific
hereditary trait from one organism and artificially inserting them into a completely different organism.
There are several possible benefits from such genetic engineering . You could have foods whose nutritional values are enhanced . Scientists, for example are reported to be working on iron and vitamin fortified rice.
Similarly you could develop crops that are resistant to pests and giving higher yields , or those that survive extreme weather conditions . You could even provide edible vaccine through such engineering.
But on the outher hand , when you start tinkering with nature , you could also be exposing yourself to unknown and unforeseen health and environment risk , which may not be immediately apparent , but in the long run turn out to be not just hazardous, but uncontrollable.
Currently, the unknown health risk from genetically modified foods are the possibility of food allergies and increased resistance to antibiotics . However, in the absence of long term safety testing no one can known for certain what their harmful effects may be . Besides , growing genetically modified crops on a large scale can have certain serious implications for bio - diversity, wildlife , balance of Nature and also environment .
Because of these questions consumer groups around the globe are now
Forcing governments to introduce mandatory labelling of genetically modified foods . Consumer have a right to information , safety and choice And labelling gives them the choice to buy genetically modified foods .
