Effects of Genetically Modified Organism

Genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification or genetic

manipulation, is the use of biotechnology to directly manipulate an organism's genes. It
is the method of changing an organism's genetic code using recombinant DNA (rDNA)
technology. Through biotechnology, we can now modify an organism's genetic material
allowing us to move genes through boundaries that usually distinguish animals, families,
groups, phyla, and sub-kingdoms.

For several years, people have used traditional breeding methods to change the
genomes of plants and animals. Artificial selection has resulted in a wide range of
species, from sweet corn to hairless cats. However, this artificial selection has been
restricted to naturally occurring mutations, in which species with unique characteristics
are selected to breed subsequent generations. Advances in the field of genetic
engineering, on the other hand, have provided for more detailed control over the genetic
modifications incorporated into an organism in recent decades. Via genetic engineering,
we can now introduce new genes from one species into a totally unrelated species,
improving agricultural success or encouraging the manufacture of useful medicinal
substances. Crop plants, agricultural animals, and soil bacteria are only a few of the
most well-known species that have been genetically modified.

Agricultural plants are one of the most commonly cited examples of GMOs
(GMOs). Increased crop yields, lower food and drug production prices, decreased
pesticide use, improved nutrient composition and food safety, pest and disease
tolerance, greater food stability, and medical benefits to the world's population are only
a few of the advantages of genetic engineering in agriculture.

Despite the fact that the genes being transmitted exist spontaneously in other
organisms, the effects of changing an organism's natural state by foreign gene
expression are uncertain. After all, such changes have the potential to modify the
organism's metabolism, growth rate, and/or reaction to external environmental
influences. These implications have an effect not just on the GMO but also on the
natural environment in which it is able to thrive. The possibility of emerging allergens in
genetically engineered plants, as well as the transition of antibiotic-resistant genes to
gut flora, are also potential health threats for humans. Horizontal gene transfer of
pesticide, herbicide, or antibiotic resistance to other organisms would not only place
humans at risk, but it would also create ecosystem imbalances by causing previously
stable plants to grow unchecked, encouraging disease transmission in both plants and
animals.

Although the probability of horizontal gene transfer between GMOs and other species
cannot be ruled out, the chance is generally regarded as minimal. Horizontal gene
transfer happens at a very low rate in nature and, in most circumstances, cannot be
replicated in a lab setting without active alteration of the target genome to enhance
susceptibility.

The case of Bt corn is one example of a national controversy about the use of a
genetically modified plant. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis produces a protein in Bt
corn. The protein has long been considered to be poisonous to a variety of pestiferous
insects, including the monarch caterpillar, and it had been successfully used as an
environmentally friendly pesticide prior to the construction of the recombinant corn. The
decline in the amount of insecticide that farmers would add to their crops is an
advantage of corn plants expressing this protein. Seeds containing recombinant protein
genes, unfortunately, may result in the unintended dissemination of recombinant genes
or the introduction of non-target species to new toxic compounds in the setting.

For some reason, I am both a supporter and a doubter of GMOs for commercial
use. I support them because they can provide more nutrients, need less pesticides to
produce, and are typically less costly than non-GMO alternatives, all of which can
benefit us and our economy. But on the other hand, I am opposed to them because they
can cause allergic reactions as a result of their altered DNA and may increase antibiotic
tolerance, which is dangerous not only to humans but also to certain animals and to our
environment.

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

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