Great review journal on GM foods

I've summarised the journal content below but I still recommend you guys give it a read.

I'm sorry the formatting is a bit off, I had to copy it from Word. I'll have to email the rest of my journals instead but I'll make sure to link the full references on the blog.

- Tarnnum

Dizon, F., Costa, S., Rock, C., Harris, A., Husk, C. & Mei, J. (2015). Genetically Modified (GM) Foods and Ethical Eating. Journal of Food Science, 81(2), 287-291. doi: 10.1111/1750-3841.13191

• Genetically modified (GM) foods are those whose genetic makeup has been altered unnaturally Genome manipulation involves translocation of genes from various genetic sources
• Techniques include: transformation, phage introduction andnon-bacterial transformation
• Insertion of rDNA in to plant cells uses gene gun method and Agrobacterium method
• Gene gun: Plant cells bombarded with gene-coated (rDNA) gold/tungsten particles using a vacuum chamber for random insertion into cells
• Agrobacterium: Parasitizes plants by inserting its plasmid into host and replacing the DNA strand controlling metabolism with bacterial rDNA strand
• Agrobacterium method is the most commonly used method
• First application: Flavr SavrTM tomato had polygalacturonase (PG) gene which initiated upregulation of PG enzyme which ripened the plant à PG gene was supressed which delayed ripening and tomato had a longer shelf-life
• Little economic stimulation discontinued its production
• Main concerns on GM focus around ethics: Defined as standards of what is right and wrong that appeal to an individual’s beliefs and values. 
• Main reasons against GM foods include:
• Safety of GM food consumption
• Effect on natural evolution of organisms
• Benefits for GM foods increasing food insecurity
• Disruption of natural biodiversity and impact on ecosystems
• 4 main ethical principles to be upheld by food professionals: autonomy, justice, non-maleficence and beneficence
• 85% corn, 88% cotton and 91% soybeans are GM and exist in 75-80% of processed US foods
• Public want such foods to be labelled as the consumer has the right to know
• But this requires evidence Since GM foods don’t significantly differ from regular foods in any meaningful way and don’t produce differing levels of concern
• Should only be labelled if there is a large difference in nutrition or safety between GM and non-GM foods à flexible approach
• UK require GM labelling; this includes GMOs and ingredients produced from GM plants
• GM foods benefits outweigh possible health side effects when it meets the needs of a growing population and are especially useful to countries where the weather, climate and pests interfere with food availability
• Advantages of GM foods which meet ethical standards:
• Increased food production to aid growing population
• Health benefits such as a higher nutritional content and improvement in yield
• Vitamin A deficiency causes blindness, anaemia and a compromised immune system thus leaving individuals vulnerable to other illnesses
• Rice is huge source of food in countries but is deficient in vitamin A so “Golden Rice” with β-carotene in its grains has been produced; β-carotene is a precursor to vitamin A
• Cassava plant is a high-calorie plant commonly eaten in Africa and GM variety has increased minerals, vitamin A and protein content; it also been found to be pest resistant
• Decreasing use of pesticides/herbicides
• Bacillus thuringiensis (B.t.) used – soil bacterium which produces crystal protein or delta endotoxins à lethal to insect larva
• React with lining of gut, paralyze digestive system to halt feeding and cause insect to die from starvation in a few days
• B.t. gene inserted into corn, cotton and potato so no need for excessive pesticide
• Advantages of B.t.: (1) community exposure not resulted in bad effects in 6 decades, (2) non-allergenic due to lack of homology with B.t. toxins, (3) human digestive system lacks receptors to bind toxin so toxin is instantly degrades with no toxicological effects
• Increasing weather tolerant crops
• Farmers have reduced land for cultivation due to more land needed for housing because of a growing population and available land is not suitable for due to lack of nutrients or uncertain terrain
• GM plants can grow in higher yields in areas with drought, cold, high salt conc.
• Antifreeze gene (from cold-water fish) has been introduced into tobacco, potatoes and tomatoes; plants able to survive in lower temps so produced higher yields