Is Gm food harmful to the society?

Genetically modified food are food that has their DNA change through genetic engineering. Unlike conventional genetic modification that is carried out through conventional breeding and that have been consumed for thousands of years, GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990's For example, a typical GM Food could be a strawberry that has to survive in cold climates. Therefore, the farmer would get its DNA altered so it could survive in the frost. They would take DNA from a frost resistant cell, and transfer it into the strawberry cells genes. Therefore, the cells of the strawberry are now frost resistant and will survive the frost, so the farmer does not lose money.

The world population has topped 6 billion people and is predicted to double in the next 50 years. Ensuring an adequate food supply for this booming population is going to be a major challenge in the years to come. GM foods promise to meet this need in a number of ways:

# Pest resistance Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment.

# Disease resistance There are many viruses, fungi and bacteria that cause plant diseases. Plant biologists are working to create plants with genetically-engineered resistance to these diseases

# Cold tolerance Unexpected frost can destroy sensitive seedlings. An antifreeze gene from cold water fish has been introduced into plants such as tobacco and potato. With this antifreeze gene, these plants are able to tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings

# Nutrition Malnutrition is common in third world countries where impoverished peoples rely on a single crop such as rice for the main staple of their diet. However, rice does not contain adequate amounts of all necessary nutrients to prevent malnutrition. If rice could be genetically engineered to contain additional vitamins and minerals, nutrient deficiencies could be alleviated.

However there are some criticisms about the GM food. manly. Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all raised concerns about GM foods, and criticized agribusiness for pursuing profit without concern for potential hazards, and the government for failing to exercise adequate regulatory oversight. It seems that everyone has a strong opinion about GM foods.


Human health risks

# Allergist Many children in the US and Europe have developed life-threatening allergies to peanuts and other foods. There is a possibility that introducing a gene into a plant may create a new allergen or cause an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. A proposal to incorporate a gene from Brazil nuts into soybeans was abandoned because of the fear of causing unexpected allergic reactions31. Extensive testing of GM foods may be required to avoid the possibility of harm to consumers with food allergies. Labeling of GM foods and food products will acquire new importance, which I shall discuss later.

# Unknown effects on human health There is a growing concern that introducing foreign genes into food plants may have an unexpected and negative impact on human health. A recent article published in Lancet examined the effects of GM potatoes on the digestive tract in rats32, 33. This study claimed that there were appreciable differences in the intestines of rats fed GM potatoes and rats fed unmodified potatoes. Yet critics say that this paper, like the monarch butterfly data, is flawed and does not hold up to scientific scrutiny34. Moreover, the gene introduced into the potatoes was a snowdrop flower lectin, a substance known to be toxic to mammals. The scientists who created this variety of potato chose to use the lectin gene simply to test the methodology, and these potatoes were never intended for human or animal consumption.

On the whole, with the exception of possible allergenicity, scientists believe that GM foods do not present a risk to human health.

Genetically-modified foods have the potential to solve many of the world's hunger and malnutrition problems, and to help protect and preserve the environment by increasing yield and reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides. Yet there are many challenges ahead for governments, especially in the areas of safety testing, regulation, international policy and food labeling. Many people feel that genetic engineering is the inevitable wave of the future and that we cannot afford to ignore a technology that has such enormous potential benefits. However, we must proceed with caution to avoid causing unintended harm to human health and the environment as a result of our enthusiasm for this powerful technology.

Raya

This year, raya is diffrent. It would only be My mummy and I. As my brother decided to leave for switzerland for his "internship" and not spend raya with us few months back. The mix feeling of joy and hapiness blends in with the feeling of sadness as reality hits me back. First day of raya usually is the hardest for me to face for the past 2 raya. I envy those people who celbrated raya as one family. I miss thoses days as when i had a father around to bring us here and there.


First day of raya is a ritual for us to go to My grads. What made it special this year is when we had a family group photo with the whole family. Seeing the face of joy made me forget about what had happen about a year ago. Just wished that my father was in the picture. Moving on, we went back to Tutong, we came in abit late. My grand fater tought we had forget about him. It was even more harder for him as he lost his first son. I spent a couple of mins talking to him in his room. We missed out a couple of houses as it was raining havely and that mummy is not a big fan of driving in the rain.


We came back home early that night. it was not normal. But then i had a long day so i agreed to go home. Yet again, i went out that night With a friend. We went to the Mall. haha (tell me about it) It was just for me to kill time, it hurts to be home hearing the sound of "takbir". It just kills me softly inside.


My 2nd day was very weird. I had lost my raya mood. I feel like i was just going to an occasion or something. We went back to masin, to visit my father's side. Right after that i went back to my second family's place. Because they had their open house. So i spend the whole night there. It was someone's birthday at the same time and he came. It was funny, i kinda get the hang of seeing him every now and then. lols.


My 3rd day raya was "busy". We had an open house, it was tirying.





This is some extract from my personal blog;

I've been having mix feelings these few days. I don't know whats wrong but i
know it has to do with the up coming event.

So, People keep on asking if i am excited for Hari raya but clearly i dont
know what to say. Part of me says "yes i am" another part of me says that im
not.

Raya this year will be different. Knowing the fact that we have school on the
6th of raya. *joyy. And that Its only going to me Mummy & I. Abang decidec
to leave and not to join us for raya so he went back to Switzerland few months
back. On the other hand, my first brother will start his raya days in tutong at
my sister in law. So basically Mummy and I will be the only one who will be
visiting my "pertuan". I cant wait for the argument about how stupid this person
drives and the stressful moment on how mummy will park the car. LOLS.

Another thing is that i feel left out. I miss my friends.

sighIm gonna end it here.

"Tiada kata-kata yang indah selain "ku minta maaf". Tiada bulan yang inda
selain ketibaan bulan syawal. Di sini ku inda mengucapkan kata-kata yang indah
iaitu selamathari raya idul adha, maaf zahir dan batin."

happy Eid Mubarak.

**i'll be on hiatus. will post pictures soon after i settled down.

wooo

im loving this layout. hmph. lols

newbies

Heys, this is my second blog as you can see. but dont get me wrong the tittle says it all. "THIS IS WHAT WE DO IN GP" and look at the URL add "part of gp". But this is not my so called daily blog. lols. but hey. enjoy. free information