Genetically Modified Organisms

GMO is the acronym for Genetically Modified Organisms. GMOs  are organisms that have had their DNA altered artificially. Artificial gene alteration is sometimes referred to as "genetic engineering," "modern biotechnology" or "recombinant DNA technology." During the process of genetic engineering genes from a different organism, either of the same species or different, are embedded into the DNA of the organism that is desired to be altered.
When I think of GMOs, the first example that comes to mind is genetically modified foods such as strawberries. A commercially grown strawberry looks very different from a wild or garden grown strawberry.  The increased size of commercially grown strawberries makes me question if this is a result of genetic modification.

Strawberry from a Calgary Grocery store- Photo by: Holly Harley

Garden grown strawberries- Photo by: SoRMuiJAI

In the agricultural industry high yields are favourable. Larger strawberries and plants that produce a higher number of strawberries are sought after because of their high yields. From personal experience I find the larger store-bought strawberries to be relatively flavourless compared to wild or garden grown strawberries; you may get more strawberry to eat with the store-bought strawberries but only a faction of the flavour.

Another example of genetic modification of strawberries is the addition of genes from fish. So why would scientists add fish genes into strawberries? Well, the fish they have been working with is able to live in below zero water temperatures. The addition of certain genes from the fish into the genome of the strawberries create a frost resistant plant which in turn produces a higher yield due to the extended growing season. There are two downfalls to this with the first being the colour of the strawberry turning from red to blue. The second downfall associated with anti-freeze strawberries is the issue of allerginicity that could be related to inserting fish genes into an otherwise unrelated food.

Some strawberries are being modified with the addition of genes that make it resistant to RoundUp. RoundUp resistance in plants allows farmers to spray their fields with the herbicide killing weeds but not the crop that is intended to grow.  However, Strawberries are not the only foods that are genetically modified for RoundUp resistance.

Monsanto was on of the first companies to develop RoundUp resistant crops including canola and soybean crops.

RoundUp resistant plants are beneficial because they increase yields, increase income, and decrease retail price. The downfall of RoundUp resistant plants is that there is a risk of the weeds developing RoundUp resistance as well, courtesy of mutation in the genes of the weeds and natural selection. RoundUp resistance could cause a genetic disaster creating super weeds that are even harder to kill than the weeds we have currently. Also, I am not so keen to be eating foods that are sprayed with chemical toxins on a regular basis.

Genetic modification of strawberries is just one example of an organism that has had its DNA altered artificially. Genetic modification is a very new field of science  that evokes many questions regarding health and safety. The World Health Organization addresses many of my own questions in their 20 question summary of the most frequently asked questions about genetically modified organisms. There is a lot of scientific research ongoing but due to the early stage of this field it is hard to determine whether or not genetically modified organisms are hazardous to our health.

Personally I believe that there is a time and place for GMOs. An example of a beneficial GMO is the addition of a Hepatitis B vaccine into bananas. The banana vaccine has shown evidence of having benefits over the traditional vaccine.

I find genetically modified organisms to be a fascinating new field in the world of science. What are your thoughts on GMOs?