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What are GM crops / food?

According to World Health Organisation:
Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose
genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way at does not occur
naturally, i.e. through the introduction of a gene from a different
organism.
GM Crops are described by many different names
Genetically Engineered crops(GE)
Transgenic or Biotech crops
Genetically Modified Organism(GMO)

Dr. S. Mohana Roopan

Injected
BT Gene

BT Gene inserted into

DNA of the crop

Genetically
Modified Plant

Advantages of GM Crops

1) Insect Resistance (IR)

Insect
Resistance

Insect pests have become an integral part of agricultural crops worldwide

and significantly reduce yield of the plants. So IR trait is inserted into
crops.
IR trait is helpful in following ways:
Reduction in Insecticide spraying.
Targeting of the insecticide solely to the plant to be protected .

Herbicide
Tolerance

Virus
Tolerance

Toxin is Present

Genetically modified
crops
Nutrient
Enhancement

Drought
resistance
Yield
increase

European Corn Borer

(Insect)

European Corn Borer

Killed

GM plant

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2) Herbicide Tolerance

3) Drought Resistant

Over 63% of Gm crops grown globally have herbicide tolerance traits.

Herbicide tolerance is achieved through the introduction of a gene from a
bacterium conveying resistance to some herbicides. In situations where
weed pressure is high, the use of such crops has resulted in a reduction in the
quantity of the herbicides used.

Genetically Modified Crops requires less

water for their growth , hence are capable
to sustain in drought conditions.

Herbicide Spray

Useful in areas which receive less rainfall.

Result Of
Herbicide Spray

GM
crop

GM Crop
(Unaffected)

Weed

Weed Killed

4) Virus Resistance
Virus resistance makes plants less prone to diseases caused by such
viruses, resulting in higher crop yields.
For Example- Hawaiian Papaya- Hawaiian papaya is made resistant to the

5) Nutrient Enhancement
White rice is a staple food in most countries.
It provides 80% daily calories.

devastating effects of Papaya Ring Spot Virus (PRSV).

Concern Arises
White rice doesnt contain beta-carotene which human body converts it
to Vitamin A.
WHO says 5 Lakh people get blind due to vitamin A deficiency every year .
To tackle this beta-carotene is added to white rice to make Golden Rice.

Hawaiian Papaya

Papaya Ring Spot Virus

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6) Yield Increase

Adding Nutritive Value

Gene added from:1. Maize or Daffodil Plant
2. Common soil bacteria (Erwinia)

Lycopene
Beta-carotene

White Rice

Low yield

Conventional Seeds

Golden Rice is rich in Vitamin A

Yellow-Orange rice grain
Or

Golden rice

Food shell life Increase

High yield

Genetically Modified Seeds

Disadvantages of GM Crops

Allergenicity
Transportation
By various
means
Storage

Spoiling of vegetable decreases.

The first genetically modified crop
approved for sale in the U.S. was
the Falvr Savr tomato.

Super
Weeds

Genetically modified
crops

Gene
transfer

Outcrossing

Ware-House

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1) Allergenicity

2) Out-crossing(Gene Transfer)

In India, hundreds of laborers picking cotton and working in cotton ginning

factories developed allergic reactions when handling the BT cotton. This
didnt happen with the non-Bt varieties. [Ashish Gupta et. al., Impact of Bt
Cotton on Farmers Health (in Barwani and Dhar District of Madhya Pradesh),
Investigation Report, OctDec 2005]
Hospital records: Show that victims of itching have increased massively
this year, and all of them are related to BT cotton farming. [The Sunday
Indian, 10/26/08]

The movement of genes from GM plants into conventional crops or related

species in the wild (referred to as out crossing), as well as the mixing of
crops derived from conventional seeds with those grown using GM crops,
may have an indirect effect on food safety and food security.

Direction of wind

pollens
Itching all over the body, eruptions, wounds, discoloration

GM Crops

3) Super Weeds

Conclusion

Super Weeds :A wild plant that has been accidentally pollinated by a geneticallymodified plant and now contains that plant's abilities to resist herbicides and
insects.
Glyphosate is the chemical name for an herbicide. Certain invasive grasses and
weeds have proven themselves to be resistant to glyphosate, meaning that the
herbicide is no longer effective against these plants.
Examples of weeds resistant to Glyphosate:
Common Ragweed
No Effect of
Italian Ryegrass
Herbicide Spray
pollens

Cross Pollination of
GM crop With Weeds

Conventional crops

Herbicide Spray

GMOs present both positive and negative aspects to society as a whole.

They are a topic of much deliberation and tension; very prevalent in some
parts of the world and banned in others.
GM crops are required for meeting Food Security in todays growing
population.
Ultimately, GMOs are still a relatively premature technology and in the
developmental process. Only time will reveal their ultimate effect on
humans !

GM Crop

Weed

GM Crop

Super Weed

GM Crop

Super Weed

(Play)

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