Eating GMOs change your DNA

Other View vs Mainstream View

There is a non-mainstream point of view that "eating genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can change your DNA". Let's take a look into pros and cons of this statement:

1. Pros: GMO foods contain artificially modified genes, so consuming them introduces altered genetic material into the body that could potentially change human DNA.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): There is no scientific evidence that eating GMOs can change human DNA. Most DNA from food is destroyed during digestion before it reaches the intestines. Small fragments of DNA may enter the bloodstream, but they do not incorporate into our genome or alter our genetic makeup.

2. Pros: If GMOs were to alter human DNA, those changes would be passed down to future generations, leading to permanent genetic modifications in the population.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): Eating GMOs cannot modify human DNA in reproductive cells (eggs and sperm), so it is not possible for any theoretical changes to be inherited by children.

3. Pros: GMOs are created using advanced techniques like CRISPR gene editing, so these precisely altered genes could have unknown effects on human biology if consumed.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): The source or method of a genetic modification does not change the fact that food DNA cannot integrate into human cells and genomes. Whether a gene is altered using CRISPR or traditional breeding, it will not become part of a person's DNA by eating it.

4. Pros: Many governments around the world require GMO products to be labeled, indicating there are valid concerns about their safety and potential effects on health and DNA.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): GMO labeling laws are often driven by public perception and political pressure, not scientific evidence. Numerous scientific authorities have concluded that GMOs are safe and labeling is not necessary for health reasons.

5. Pros: Consuming GMOs could potentially make the modified genes spread to other plants or animals, altering natural ecosystems and food chains.
   – Cons (Mainstream View): GMO crops and animals are carefully studied and monitored to prevent unintended ecological consequences. Cross-breeding between GMOs and wild species is rare, and safeguards are in place to minimize any potential gene transfer.

Terms

• Genetically modified organism (GMO): An organism whose DNA has been altered using genetic engineering techniques to exhibit a desired trait.

• CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats): A precise gene editing tool that can be used to modify DNA sequences by removing, adding, or altering sections of the genome.

• Selective breeding: The process of breeding plants and animals for particular genetic traits by choosing parents with desired characteristics. This has been used for millennia to shape the genomes of crops and livestock.

• Genetic engineering: The direct manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology to modify specific characteristics.

• Genome: The complete set of genetic material present in an organism, including all genes and non-coding DNA sequences.

• DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): The hereditary material in humans and most other organisms that carries genetic instructions for development, functioning, growth, and reproduction.

Analogy

Worrying that eating GMOs will change your DNA is like worrying that getting a blood transfusion will change your appearance to look like the donor's. Even though the donor blood contains their DNA, it will not alter the recipient's genes. Similarly, the DNA in GMO foods is broken down and cannot become part of your genome, just like DNA from any other foods you eat.

History

1. 1973: The first genetically engineered organism is created using recombinant DNA technology in bacteria.

2. 1982: The first genetically modified plant is produced (an antibiotic-resistant tobacco plant).

3. 1994: The first GMO food, the Flavr Savr tomato, is approved for sale in the U.S.

4. 1996: GMO crops like Bt corn and Roundup Ready soybeans are commercialized and planted widely.

5. 2010s: Use of CRISPR and other advanced gene editing techniques becomes more common in developing new GMOs.

6. 2020s: Most scientific authorities conclude that GMO foods are safe and do not pose health risks compared to non-GMO counterparts. However, public perception of GMO safety remains mixed.

How to use it

1. When grocery shopping, check food labels to identify if a product contains GMO ingredients if you wish to avoid them for personal reasons. In the U.S., GMO foods are labeled as "bioengineered."

2. Consider buying GMO products when grocery shopping, as many GMO crops are engineered to require fewer pesticides or have enhanced nutritional value. Look for "bioengineered" labels in the U.S. to identify GMO foods.

3. If a person believes GMOs are harmful despite scientific consensus, they should examine their understanding of the science behind genetic engineering and critically evaluate other non-mainstream beliefs they may hold. Consulting trusted, evidence-based sources is key to making informed decisions.

Facts

• Over 70-80% of processed foods in the U.S. contain ingredients derived from GMO crops.

• 12% of global cropland was planted with GMO crops in 2019.

• A 2016 report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found no evidence that GMOs pose unique health risks.

• Some GMO crops are engineered to improve nutritional value, like golden rice with added vitamin A.

• 65 countries require labeling of GMO foods, including the U.S. as of January 2022.