Genetically Modified

Organisms (GMOs)

What are they & how they affect health,

bodies, animals & the environment
Raise Your Hand

 Do YOU know what a GMO is?

Genetically Modified Organism
Genetic Engineering
Genetically Modified

 Hint: it’s NOT evolution

GMO: What is it?

 DNA from two different species are combined

to create a new species
 Examples that exist:
 Goat & spider
 Salmon & ocean pout
 Soybean & BT (bacteria) is daily!
e EAT th
 Corn & bacteria W

+ =
GMO: Why are they made?
 Pest/insect resistant crops
 Ex: BT Corn or BT Soy
 Weed resistant crops
 Ex: Round-up Ready

 Increased yields for first 2-3 years, then decreasing

yields thereafter
 Chemical fertiziler + chemical plant = chemical crop
 Crops need more & more chemicals to control the
superweeds
 Agent orange resistant crop is awaiting approvals
 2009 Failure to Yield, UCS Study
 Rodale Institute, Chemical vs. Organic, 30-yr Farming Trial
GMO: Who makes them?
 Bio-tech companies:
(Monsanto, Dow
AgroSciences, ConAgra,
DuPont)
 Make chemical
fertilizer and chemical-
resistant crops
 Sell both products to
farmers

 FDA role:
 Expects the bio-tech
companies to test their
own products
GMO: How are they made?
 Equipment:  Ingredients:
 DNA gun  Species 1 DNA
 Petri Dish  Species 2 DNA
 Virus
 Promoter
 Marker Gene
GMO: Do they affect the environment?

 Increased herbicides in ground & water

 Cross pollination with other plants
 Contaminates organic crops
 Increased super weeds
 Push heirloom crops into extinction
 Creates nutrient-deficient soil
 Kills insects
GMO crops DO NOT feed the world
GMO: Why do some people avoid them?

 No long term human feeding studies done

 It kills bugs (we have good bugs in our
digestive tracts)
 Unpredictable side effects of
genetic engineering
 Increased infertility and
miscarriages amongst farm
animals when fed GMO feed
GMO: How to Avoid GMOs

 Buy Organic, when products contain corn, soy, canola,

sugar, cotton, squash, & hawaiian papaya
 Look for the NON GMO Verified Logo
 Download free app from
www.nongmoshoppingguide.com
 Avoid at-risk ingredients
GMO: More information, Q&A
 Local Label GMOs Chapter (http://www.labelgmos.org/ ),
 Email me at sas.hadden@gmail.com
 More information
Movies: ovies!
Must watch m

 Food Inc.
 King Corn
 Genetic Roulette
 Future of Food
 Interview:
 Dr. Mercola Interviews Dr. Don Huber about GMO ~(2 parts)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4swW9OFmf8
 Websites:
 GMO crops & sources –
http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-basics/gmos-in-food
 GMOs FAQs - http://www.responsibletechnology.org/faqs
 Educational Brochures and more - http://seedsofdeception.com/store/