Technology

The three confusing letters G-M-O have already become inseparable from our daily activities. This abbreviation is everywhere on food product labels and is often included in newspaper editorials and headlines. A wealth of literature has been written about how GMOs can resolve food scarcity issues. Dozens of reports were published to confirm the safety of GMOs and their suitability for everyday use. Yet, the definition of GMOs and their safety remain the topics of the major professional and consumer concern.

The widely used letters GMO actually mean Genetically Modified Organisms. The latter are being extensively used in the development of genetically modified products. GMOs are produced by means of genetic engineering and biotechnology, which use living organisms to create a product or run a process (ADA, 2005). In scientific terms, GMOs and biotechnology imply the use of in vitro nucleic acid techniques and direct injection of nucleic acid into cell organelles or cells, or even fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family to which they belong, for the purpose of overcoming reproductive and recombination barriers (ADA, 2005). These complex processes result in the development of modified features and traits in microorganisms, animals, and plants certainly, these traits go beyond the boundaries of traditional selection and cannot be reproduced via conventional breeding techniques (ADA, 2005). As a result, GMOs are the organisms and products that were modified by using genetic engineering or biotechnology techniques. Given the nature and the specificity of biotechnology, GMOs products should and actually possess features and traits that are unusual for their taxonomical family and that cannot be reproduced through conventional breeding and selection. GMOs are divided into the four broad categories foods containing living organisms, foods containing or derived from ingredients that were also derived from genetic modification foods containing single ingredients produced by genetically modified microorganisms and foods that contain ingredients processed by enzymes, which were produced with the help of genetically modified microorganisms (ADA, 2005). The question, however, is not in how to describe and categorize GMOs, but in how safe they are for consumers.

A mountain of research has been performed to confirm and reaffirm that genetically modified organisms are safe. Many organizations have published new statements of policy or reaffirmed or approved the existing statements related to food or agricultural biotechnology (ADA, 2005). This, however, does not mean that GMOs are safe for all age categories and population groups. Organizations actively work to promote the relevance of science-based evaluation methods and techniques, which businesses and companies should use for new plant varieties before they are produced commercially (GMA, 2006), but the promotion of scientific evaluation techniques alone cannot suffice to guarantee the safety of GMOs. In their current state, GMOs are still associated with health risks and controversies. Because these food products have not previously been in the food supply, there is no concerted agreement as to how human organism will react to them (ADA, 2005). Nevertheless, all GMOs that are currently available in the international market have passed all necessary safety assessments and are believed to be safe for human health in all age groups (ADA, 2005). Moreover, with the use of science-based approaches to biotechnology-derived products, GMOs are likely to enhance human health through due to improved nutritional value and reduced use of agrochemicals (ADA, 2005).

GMOs are genetically modified organisms that are produced with the help of genetic engineering biotechnology. Genetic engineering implies the use of in vitro nucleic acids to modify one or more genetic traits in plants, animals, and microorganisms that go beyond the boundaries of their taxonomic family. Such modifications are usually impossible during conventional breeding and selection. The safety of GMOs is still a matter of the hot professional debate. All GMOs currently available in the international market have passed all safety assessments and are believed to be safe for all age groups. However, only the use of science-based approaches can guarantee that GMOs are safe for all age groups and that they enhance human health through better nutritional value and reduced use of agrochemicals.