1. Yes we should.

Because Genetic modified plants are plants whose DNA is modified

using genetic engineering techniques. In most cases the aim is to introduce a new
trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in this species. Examples include
resistance to certain pests, diseases or environmental conditions, or the production of
a certain nutrient or pharmaceutical agent.

Genetically engineered plants are generated in a laboratory by altering the genetic

makeup, usually by adding one or more genes, of a plant'sgenome using genetic
engineering techniques. Most genetically modified plants are generated by
the biolistic method (particle gun) or byAgrobacterium tumefaciens mediated
transformation.

In the biolistic method, DNA is bound to tiny particles of gold or tungsten which are
subsequently "shot" into plant tissue or single plant cells under high pressure. The
accelerated particles penetrate both the cell wall and membranes. The DNA separates
from the metal and is integrated into the plant genome inside the nucleus. This
method has been applied successfully for many cultivated crops,
especiallymonocots like wheat or maize, for which transformation using 
Agrobacterium tume faciens has been less successful. The major disadvantage of this
procedure is that serious damage can be done to the cellular tissue.

Agrobacteria are natural plant parasites, and their natural ability to transfer genes is
used for the development of genetically engineered plants. To create a suitable
environment for themselves, these Agrobacteria insert their genes into plant hosts,
resulting in a proliferation of plant cells near the soil level (crown gall). The genetic
information for tumour growth is encoded on a mobile, circular DNA fragment
(plasmid). When Agrobacterium infects a plant, it transfers this T-DNA to a random
site in the plant genome. When used in genetic engineering the bacterial T-DNA is
removed from the bacterial plasmid and replaced with the desired foreign gene. The
bacterium is a vector, enabling transportation of foreign genes into plants. This
method works especially well for dicotyledonous plants like potatoes, tomatoes, and
tobacco. Agrobacteria infection is less successful in crops like wheat and maize.

Genetically modified plants have been developed commercially to improve shelf

life, disease resistance, herbicide resistance and pest resistance. Plants engineered to
tolerate non-biological stresses like drought, frost and nitrogen starvation or with
increased nutritional value (e.g. Golden rice) are currently in development. Future
generations of GM plants are intended to be suitable for harsh environments, produce
increased amounts of nutrients or even pharmaceutical agents, or are improved for the
production of bioenergy and biofuels. Due to high regulatory and research costs, the
 majority of genetically modified crops in agriculture consist of commodity crops,
such as soybean, maize, cotton and rapeseed.However, commercial growing was
reported in 2009 of smaller amounts of genetically modified sugar beet, papayas,
squash (zucchini), sweet pepper, tomatoes, petunias, carnations, roses and
poplars.Recently, some research and development has been targeted to enhancement
of crops that are locally important in developing countries, such as insect-
resistantcowpea for Africa and insect-resistant brinjal (eggplant) for India.

In research tobacco and Arabidopsis thaliana are the most genetically modified plants,

due to well developed transformation methods, easy propagation and well studied
genomes. They serve as model organisms for other plant species. Genetically
modified plants have also been used for bioremediation of contaminated
soils. Mercury,selenium and organic pollutants such as polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs) have been removed from soils by transgenic plants
containing genes for bacterial enzymes.

2. yes we need to release it but not with excessive amounts and not for human
consumption materials example foodstuffs. because eating transgenic foods will harm
the body. I think GM just needs to be released and developed for the needs of research
only. to find diseases that may be present in the human, animal, or plant and find a
cure. because GM also useful to find the species that we consider perfectly with the
original isolate DNA with alien DNA.

3. Yes.
a) The potential toxicity of food. With the occurrence of genetic transfer in the
body of transgenic organisms will emerge new chemicals of potential impact
on food toxicity. For example, a particular gene transfer of fish into the
tomato, which has never taken place in nature, potentially harmful toxicity risk
to health. Genetic engineering of foodstuffs feared could introduce new
allergens or toxins not previously been observed in conventional food. Among
the transgenic soybeans, for example, never reported any cases of serious
allergic reactions. Similarly, toxic contaminants have been found from
transgenic bacteria used to produce supplementary food (food supplement)
tryptophan. The possibility of the emergence of risks that had not previously
been associated with the accumulated results unimaginable metabolism of
plants, animals, or microorganisms that can contribute to toxins, allergens, and
other genetic hazard in human food.
 Some transgenic organisms have been withdrawn from circulation because of
elevated levels of toxic materials. Lenape Potatoes (USA and Canada) and
Magnum Bonum potato (Sweden) are known to have high levels of
glikoalkaloid within the tuber. Similarly, transgenic plants seleri (United
States) who are resistant to insects appeared to have levels of psoralen, a
carcinogen, which is high.
b) The potential cause of disease / health problems
WHO in 1996 stated that the emergence of various new types of chemicals,
both contained in transgenic organisms and their products, potentially cause
new diseases or even be a trigger factor for other diseases. For example, Aad
gene contained in the transgenic cotton to move to the bacterium that causes
gonorrhea (GO), Neisseria gonorrhoeae. As a result, these bacteria become
resistant to the antibiotic streptomycin and spektinomisin. In fact, so far only
two kinds of antibiotics that can kill the bacteria. Therefore, the disease is
feared GO can not be treated again in the presence of transgenic cotton. It is
recommended in women with GO for not wearing pads of transgenic cotton
material.
Another example is known to produce transgenic rubber latex with high
protein content so that when used in the manufacture of gloves and condoms,
can be obtained excellent quality. However, in the United States in 1999
reported there are approximately 20 million allergy sufferers due to the use of
gloves and condoms from transgenic rubber material.
In addition to human, transgenic organisms are also known to cause disease in
animals. A. Putzai in the UK in 1998 reported that rats fed with transgenic
potatoes showed symptoms of dwarfism and imunodepresi. Similar
phenomena are found in poultry in Indonesia, pipil fed corn and soybean meal
imports. Corn and soybean meal are imported from countries which have
developed various transgenic plants so strongly suspected that both these
plants are transgenic plants.

4. Agricultural impact of transgenic plants.

Outcrossing of transgenic plants not only poses potential environmental risks, it may
also trouble farmers and food producers. Many countries have different legislations
for transgenic and conventional plants as well as the derived food and feed, and
consumers demand the freedom of choice to buy GM-derived or conventional
products. Therefore, farmers and producers must separate both production chains.
This requires coexistence measures on the field level as well as traceability measures
throughout the whole food and feed processing chain. Research projects such as Co-
 Extra, SIGMEA and Transcontainer investigate how farmers can avoid outcrossing
and mixing of transgenic and non-transgenic crops, and how processors can ensure
and verify the separation of both production chains.

5. 1. Potential erosion of germplasm.

The use of transgenic tobacco has been denying the pride of Indonesia will Deli
tobacco that has been planted since 1864. Not only germplasm, germplasm animals
underwent a similar threat of erosion. For example, the development of transgenic
plants that have genes with the effects of pesticides, such as Bt corn, it can cause
death of larvae species Monarchs (Danaus plexippus), which is feared will lead to
disruption due to destruction of ecosystem balance germplasm butterflies. This
happens because of pesticide-resistant gene contained in Bt corn can be transferred to
the weed milkweed (Asclepia curassavica) located at a distance of up to 60 m from it.
The leaves of this weed is the feed for the larvae of the butterfly king so the king
butterfly larvae that ate milkweed leaves of weeds that have been possessed by
pesticide resistant genes will experience death. Thus, there have been deaths nontarget
organisms, which sooner or later to provide a threat to the existence of plasma
nutfahnya.

2. The potential shift in gene.

Leaves of transgenic tomato plants resistant to Lepidoptera insects after 10 years
turned out to have roots that can kill microorganisms and soil organisms such as
earthworms. Transgenic tomato plants are said to have undergone a shift since the
beginning only to turn off genes Lepidoptera but then can also kill other organisms.
The shift gene in transgenic tomato plants of this kind can lead to changes in structure
and texture of soil in the area pertanamannya.
3. Potential ecological shift.
Transgenic organisms may also experience a shift in ecology. Organisms that initially
are not resistant to high temperature, acid or salt, and unable to break down cellulose
or lignin, having engineered become resistant to these environmental factors.
Ecological shift transgenic organisms can cause environmental disturbances, known
as interference adaptation.
4. The potential formation of species barrier.
The presence of mutations in transgenic microorganisms cause the formation of
species barrier which has its own peculiarities. One of the consequences that may
result is the formation of superpatogenitas on microorganisms.
5. Potential vulnerable to disease.
 Transgenic plants in nature in general suffered defeat competition with wild weeds
which indeed have long to adapt to various adverse environmental conditions. This
resulted in transgenic plants potentially vulnerable to disease and are preferred by
insects.
For example, the use of transgenic crops resistant to herbicides will lead to increased
sugar levels in roots. As a result, will more and more fungi and bacteria that come to
attack the roots of these plants. In other words, an increase in the number and types of
microorganisms that attack transgenic herbicide-resistant crops. Thus, herbicide-
resistant transgenic crops would require more use of pesticides, which in itself will
create its own problems for the environment.

HANA AFIFAH

M0210029