Facts of the Matter
Facts of the Matter
Transgenics encounters
public opinionTransgenics, also known as gene splicing or genetic modification, is blossoming into one of the most controversial technologies in recent memory. Genetically altered crop plants, despite the potential to increase the world's food supply, reduce the need for pesticide sprays, create plants capable of growing on marginal farmland and lengthen growing seasons, have been under attack.
Critics say changing the genetic structures of plants and animals threatens the natural world. They worry that genetically engineered crops will pollinate organic crops or that plants modified with built-in pesticides will breed stronger insects and contaminate fields. Many say that the federal government has not adequately investigated the long-term consequences of interfering with natural genetic processes.
Many scientists counter that the greatest risk in the equation is delaying the technology. They say that the benefits of increased food production to combat world hunger and improve diets in undeveloped nations outweigh the potential problems.
They note that nearly half the U.S. soybean crop and a quarter of U.S. corn consists of transgenic varieties, so we have all been eating transgenic food products for some time, yet there has not been a single case reported of anyone suffering ill effects as a result.
CRITICS worry that people with allergies may inadvertently eat something that causes a reaction. This shows the need to consider potential health effects in new crops, but it also shows that proper testing can identify risks.
Another fear is that herbicide-resistant transgenic crops might create "superweeds." This is justified, at least in some cases, since gene movement through pollen transfer has been demonstrated for weeds that are related to canola and wheat and which grow alongside these crops.
Some drugs and dietary supplements are genetically engineered, and there have been problems. In 1989 a genetically engineered brand of L-tryptophan, a common dietary supplement, killed 37 Americans and permanently disabled or afflicted more than 5,000 others with a potentially fatal and painful blood disorder before it was recalled by the FDA. The manufacturer, Japan's third-largest chemical company, has already paid out over $2 billion in damages to victims.
On the other hand, insulin used by millions of diabetics nationwide is routinely produced by transgenic technology and has significantly decreased the cost of insulin.
One of the legitimate complaints is that the companies insisting that genetically altered foods are safe often are the same ones who don't want us to know which foods contain transgenic ingredients.
The federal government does not require genetically altered foods to be labeled as such. But polls in the U.S. indicate strong support for labeling of biotech foods.
Regardless of the controversies, it is almost certain that genetically engineered plants and other products will become more common. We can hope that reason prevails and that proper precautions and regulations will be put in place before disaster occurs. The potential for disaster is certainly there.
We could all be a little smarter, no? Richard Brill picks up
where your high school science teacher left off. He is a professor of science
at Honolulu Community College, where he teaches earth and physical
science and investigates life and the universe.
He can be contacted by e-mail at rickb@hcc.hawaii.edu