Principle

GMO are organisms that are genetically engineered by incorporating new genes from one species into a
completely unrelated species. It may optimize agricultural performance or facilitating the production of
valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil bacteria are some of the more
prominent examples of organisms that have been subject to genetic engineering.

Potential Application

 Produce recombinant vaccines

 Plant derived vaccines
 Production of valuable protein in plants such as spider silk protein
 Enhance growing capabilities of plants under different environmental conditions.
 Prevents diseases and harmful toxins caused by insect damage
 Provide more profit and yields
 Increased availability of quality food and medicine

Issues

 Possibility of human exposure to new allergens

 Antibiotic-resistant genes in the gut flora
 Reduction of viability in wild and genetically modified organisms
 Monoculture practices of large companies will dominate against local farmers that will lead to
lower diversity. Death of natural soil bacteria which include nitrogen fixing bacteria
 Superbugs and superweeds – rise of pesticide-resistant organisms because of the genetically
engineered to withstand pesticides
 Government can allow control of international companies over land that are also for local
farmers
 In the US and Canada, GMO products are not labelled due to the increased number of
commercially sold GMO products.
 Dependence on GMO is increased.

Sources

https://www.nongmoproject.org/gmo-facts/

https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/genetically-modified-organisms-gmos-transgenic-crops-
and-732

http://www.gmoinside.org/10-problems-genetically-modified-foods-wall-street-cheat-sheet/
Inquirer.net