GMO Genetically Modified Organisms Against GMOs The War

GMO Genetically Modified Organisms

Against GMOs • The War • • One side 1: Independent scientists 2: Environmentalists 3: Small farmers

For GMOs • • 1: Monsanto 2: Bayer Syngenta US and UK governments

What is ignored • Abnormal proliferation of cells : precursor of cancer. • Horizontal gene transfer into gut bacteria or human DNA. • Mortality data on animals who fed from GM crops is suppressed.

Motive ? • GM seed companies seek to the money from trying to control the world’s food supply • Led by the United States • International network of ministers, officials, and some scientists

Initial Enthusiasm to Scientists Feeding the world Cleaning the environment Swapping genes between species Creating designer organisms to reduce manufacturing waste • Producing lifesaving drugs to insect-resistant plants • •

FDA 1992 • “The agency is not aware of any information showing that foods derived by these methods differ from other foods in any meaningful or uniform way. ” • This was the basis of claiming no food studies were necessary. • The food producer was responsible for assuring safety.

What was kept secret • Scientists agreed there were risks • GM foods might create unpredictable side effects • Wanted long term safety studies to guard against allergies, toxins, new diseases, and nutritional problems. • Only a lawsuit made the deception public

UK finally made long term studies in mid 1990 s • 1998 they discovered potatoes produced a harmless insecticide caused great damage to rats • UK study was cancelled • Lead scientist was fired • Research team dismantled

Hidden bad data • Most research covered under “confidential business information” • 2003 – research showed side effects after feeding in only 10 – 14 days.

Gene damage • Genes can be mutated, deleted, turned on and off, hundred might change their expression. • Inserted genes can become shorter, fragmented, mixed with other genes, inverted, and create new unknown proteins our bodies don’t know how to handle.

Animal Studies Show • Ingested DNA can get into a fetus • Transgenes GM crops fed to animals have been found in the blood, liver, spleen, and kidneys • Animals feed from GM food had • Stunted growth • Impaired immune systems • Bleeding stomachs • Abnormal precancerous cell growth

More damage • Misshapen cells in the liver, pancreas, and testicles • Altered gene expression • Liver and kidney lesions • Partially atrophied livers • Less developed brains • Inflamed lung tissue • Higher offspring mortality

Farmers Reported • Farmers reported GM corn caused their pigs and cows to become sterile • The pigs and cows died • Buffaloes, chickens, and horses also died from GM foods

One company example : Monsanto • Monsanto reported to the US Public Health Service that their experience was free of difficulties. • Lawsuit revealed cover-up. • Company memos referred to liver disease, skin problems, and deaths. • They stopped their own workers from eating food exposed to their own PCBs.

All about money • US Navy refused the product because their study animals all died. • But they refused to warn the public because one executive said, company cannot afford to lose one dollar. • All about money and control of food supply.

Project Ideas • GM potatoes damaged rats • Rats fed GM tomatoes got bleeding stomachs, some died • Rats fed Bt corn had many health problems • Mice fed GM Bt potatoes had intestinal damage • Workers exposed to Bt cotton developed allergies

Project Ideas • Sheep died after grazing in Bt cotton fields • Inhaled Bt corn pollen may have triggered disease in humans • Farmers report pigs and cows became sterile from GM corn • Twelve cows in Germany died when fed Bt corn • Mice fed Roundup Ready soy got liver problems

Project Ideas • Most offspring of rats fed Roundup Ready Soy died within three weeks • Soy allergies shot up in the UK, soon after GM soy was introduced • Twice the number of chickens died when fed Liberty Link corn

Animals Avoid GMOs • Farmer run tests • Cows and pigs passed up GM corn • Other animals which instinctually avoid GM foods are • Geese, squirrels, elk, deer, raccoons, mice, and rats

Genetic Roulette • By Jeffrey M. Smith