Transgenic organisms are genetically modified (GM) organisms that have been engineered to express a gene from a different species. A classic example is transgenic corn containing a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. A toxin, known as (Bt) toxin, is inserted from the bacterium into the corn’s genome acting as a biological pesticide. Spores and crystalline insecticidal proteins produced by B. thuringiensis have been used to control insect pests since the 1920s. Quickly reading though what is written about the (Bt) toxin technology, most of the past and present material states that it is environmentally friendly and has little to no effect on humans, wildlife or beneficial insects.
I came across an article on ScienceDaily entitled, Lethal Effects of Genetically Modified Bt Toxin Confirmed On Young Ladybird Larvae. The article summarizes a paper in the science journal Environmental Sciences Europe on February 15, 2012 published by Angelika Hilbeck and a team of Swiss researchers. The paper original is entitled, A controversy re-visited: Is the coccinellid Adalia bipunctata adversely affected by Bt toxins? The study finds that (Bt) toxin is deadly to the larvae of lady bugs, one of the beneficial insect species it was proported not to effect. Some may shrug at the death of lady bugs, the point is that all life is connected and that we as humans do not have immunity.
ScienceDaily begins:
“Swiss researchers of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zürich confirm earlier findings that the Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) toxin Cry1Ab produced for pesticidal purposes by genetically modified (GM) Bt maize increases mortality in the young ladybird larvae (Adalia bipunctata L., two-spotted ladybird) in laboratory tests. These ladybird larvae are typical ‘non-target’ environmental goods which are not supposed to be harmed by the GM maize.”
By no means the only conclusion of the academic paper, the study also addresses a previous study by a different research team whose methods were found to be faulty. The poor methods yielded a false negative giving a green light of safety for the (Bt) toxin technology. The point is there are valid scientific studies showing the harmful effects of ingesting genetically modified food. The studies exist.
Considering that monsters like Monsanto do not permit their patented seeds and plants to be tested without their supervision, the US does have a pathetically small library of data about GMOs in regards to human and animal health. With few studies to prove or disprove the safety of GM crops, the PR machines of biotech corporations can simply poo-poo foreign studies and encourage the mass media to continue their mediocre coverage. More studies are underway and will continue to surface about the hazards and shortcomings of current biotech foods. I hope that in the future, sustainable, well thought out and tested biotechnology will lead the way uniting science with nature. It is not that biotechnology is bad, it is a relatively young science taken over by the greedy motivation and lack of vision that funds it.
The debate about genetically modified foods is hotter than I have seen it. The US public is still waking up to what “GM” even means, it is not an automobile company. Slowly but surely, people are realizing the true costs of industrial agriculture and are educating themselves about GMOs. Listening to what Indian and many European countries have already learned is of increasing value to Americans.
By no means does being against the current genetically modified agricultural methods mean benign again science or biotechnology all together. Improving crop efficiency and creating sustainable practices that nourish our bodies and the land on which the food is grown is common sense. The pros of producing and eating crap GM foods (high fructose corn syrup, sugar beets for white table sugar or allergy ridden wheat proteins) does not outweigh its multitude of cons.
The ongoing statement that growing GM food is the only way to feed the world is one of the grandest deceptions of our time. The corporations that benefit, continue to blare this and other manipulations over their loud-speaker, brainwashing the consumer over and over like high-pitched Chinese propaganda in occupied Tibet.
By avoiding GMOs you support local, organic chemical-free food. This is good for you, your community and the land. GM crops do not support life, the technology is created around poisons…literally.
The big problem is that in just a few decades, GM foods have taken over. They hide unlabeled in so many of our day to day foods. Some 70% of products, on an average American supermarket shelf, contain genetically modified ingredients. Labeling food that contains GMOs is a powerful way to put the brakes on this steamroller. What you don’t know won’t hurt you? It will slowly toxify the body, cause allergies, autoimmune responses, cancer, diabetes, obesity and general dis-ease.
Can anyone respond with a solid, thoughtful rebuttal defending genetically modified crops? I am serious, I would like to read it…
I can not defend GMOs. To say that they are the only way to produce enough food to feed this crowded world is absurd. We can do it if we set our minds to it. About a year ago I watched a movie “The Beautiful Truth” which began to educate me about this problem we have with our food being poisoned by Monsanto. It was really scary. What’s even scarier is to hear about farmers that are being sued into bankruptcy by Monsanto because these GM seeds have blown from the farm next door to their farm and have produced GM produce rather than the organic that was planned. Holding your breath and waiting for our political leaders to fix this is a death sentence. They are bought by Monsanto already. Vote with your wallet, buy organic. It might cost you a little more (sometimes not much more) now but save you a fortune in the future. Live well!
Thanks Cassie, I agree that voting with your wallet is the way to make a real difference in America and eating organic is not that expensive especially if you stop buying and eating all the junk you don’t really need. I just added “The Beautiful Truth” to my Netflix queue, thanks for suggesting it. If you get a chance read another recent post I wrote on PoliticalFruit about California’s 2012 Right to Know initiative. California labeling is a great solution to the GM foods problem in America, if California can pass it, GMO labeling will spread like a wildfire.
politicalfruit.com/2012/02/23/vote-california-right-to-know-about-genetically-engineered-food-initiative-2012/
-Heather Sickels
“Twenty-two leading scientists, experts in pest resistance, have written an urgent letter to the EPA asking the agency to warn farmers about the hazards of Monsanto’s genetically engineered Bt corn, planted on millions of acres across the U.S. and Canada. The corn has been gene-spliced with bacterial DNA that produces Bt insecticide in every cell of the plant. Monsanto’s misleading promise was that farmers could plant Bt crops and not have to spray pesticides, but predictably, corn rootworms have begun to develop resistance. Scientists warn of massive yield loss and surging corn costs if the EPA doesn’t act quickly to drastically reduce Bt crops’ acreage and force Monsanto to make non-GMO varieties of its high-yielding hybrid corn available to farmers.
Now’s our chance to ask the EPA to ban Bt crops! Let’s urge the EPA to look at the danger to human health, as well as farming. Monsanto’s insecticide-producing bacterial DNA survives digestion and is now found in the blood of more than 80% of North American women – and their fetuses! Scientists say the exposure comes from a typical (non-organic) diet, primarily through the consumption of animals fed GMO crops. The chronic health impacts of exposure to GMO Bt genes is unknown, but Monsanto’s own study of rats fed Bt crops showed liver and kidney damage. ”
This was sent to me via email from Organic Consumers Association, go to their website link to submit a letter urging the EPA to take action:
http://www.organicconsumers.org/articles/article_25049.cfm