GMOs Made

Simple
By: Danielle Petit

The goal of this presentation is to help you better

understand GMOs or genetically modified organisms
What is agricultural biotechnology or genetic modification?
Why do companies find it necessary to change the natural
genetic makeup of our food?
Why should I pay attention to how my food is produced?

What is agricultural biotechnology

or genetic modification of food?

Picture from: http://

www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

When a gene from the

DNA of one food item
or bacteria is taken
and put into the
genetic makeup
(DNA) of another, a
genetically modified
organism (or GMO) is
created. (Schlenker,
Roth, 2006)

Picture from: http://www.encognitive.com/node/10279

Why do biotech companies find it necessary

to alter the genetic makeup of our food?
To make it more resilient to harsh
growing environments
To make it more affordable and available
To make food more nutrient dense
http://www-naweb.iaea.org/nafa/swmn/topic-crop-nutrition.html

Rice growers in California are

cautious about using genetically
altered crops because they could
cross with conventional crop
varieties. Golden rice is
genetically altered to accumulate
pro-vitamin A in the grain,
http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.edu/landingpage.cfm?article=ca.v060n03p116&fulltext=yes

(Ellstrand, 2006).

To the Left is a graph,

courtesy of the USDA, that
illustrates how farm sizes
have jumped over the past
60 years. But notice how
the number of farms has
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/ag-and-food-statistics-charting-the-essentials.aspx#.
Uvhl8_ldWSo

decreased (USDA, 2013).

Why should I pay attention to

GMOs?
Personal Reasons

Environmental
Reasons

Allergic reactions can

occur when an allergen
is transferred to
another plant, like
peanut DNA to Corn
DNA. (Schlenker, Roth,
2007)

Theres a possible risk

that the alteration in
the genetic makeup of a
plant can transfer to
natural crops (USDA,
2014).

Potential toxicity is a
risk if DNA is taken
from an unsafe bacteria
and put into food.
(Schlenker, Roth, 2007).

Some insects, like the

Monarch Butterfly, eat
the GMO plants and die
(Kaplan, 2008).

For respect for our own

body; enough to make
us want to make
educated decisions
about our food.

Because we should
consider how our
actions will affect the
environment our
offspring will be left
with.

http://naturalnewsblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/the-adverse-effects-of-gm-wheat-and.html

http://bio4esobil2009.wordpress.com/category/biology/dna-biology/

Increased possibility of allergic

reaction from unexpected sources
much like this little boys reaction
to carrageenan, a gelling substance
taken from seaweed and used as a
thickener. (Honeycut, 2013).

Potential risk for toxicity exists

because of genes taken from Bacteria
that is considered to be safe under a
certain amount. The DNA from that
potentially dangerous bacteria are then
infused with a food gene in order to
manipulate its DNA.

You might be wondering,

Whos in charge of monitoring all
of this?

The Food Allergen Labeling

and Consumer Protection Act
requires a notation regarding
any major allergen known to
cause anaphylactic shock in
allergic individuals. These
eight allergens are (1) milk
(casein), (2) peanuts, (3) tree
nuts, (4) fish, (5) shellfish, (6)
wheat, (7) eggs, and (8)
soybeans (see Figure 9-3),
(Schlenker, Roth, 2007, p200).
http://www.loudounallergynetwork.org/label-laws.html

Given the information you have

learned about GMOs, will you pay
more attention to food labels?

References:
Ellstrand, Norman C.University of California.(2006,july-September).When crop transgenes wander in California, should we worry?.
Retrieved from: http://californiaagriculture.ucanr.edu/landingpage.cfm?article=ca.v060n03p116&fulltext=yes
Schlenker, E., Roth, S. (2007). William's Essentials of Nutrition and Diet Therapy. 10th ed.
St. Louis, MO: Mosby Inc.
USDA.(2014, January 14). Biotechnology Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs). Retrieved from:
http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products.aspx#.UvhlcvldWSp
Kaplan.(2008).Lesson 3.Retrieved From: http://extmedia.kaplan.edu/healthSci/HW220_1204C/5_lesson3.pdf

Hernandez E, Ramisse F, Gros P, Cavallo J.(2000, November ).Super-infection by Bacillus thuringiensis H34 or 3a3b can lead to death in mice
infected

with the influenza A virus. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol.29(3):177-81. Retrieved From:

http://

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11064263

Honeycut, Zen. (2013, May 8). Moms Speak Out About GMOs and Family Health [Blog post]. Retrieved From:
www.momsacrossamerica.com/moms_speak_out_about_gmos_and_family_health

http://