Food Modification: Is It Safe or Not?

In the race against time, there are various things which are trying to compete through required change. They not only competes against the time but also with the demand of society. Taking the help of technology to tackle the pace serves the purpose for the longer run. Simultaneously, population level also calls for increased demand of food supply. And the perfect example to explain this is Genetic modification.

Genetic modification (GM) is a biological process of altering the change in the characteristics of plant, animal or organism. This technique is carried out with the help of molecular engineering Technique or Recombinant DNA technology. It manipulates the genetic material by transferring a piece of DNA from one organism to another. Process of GM involves laboratory tools for Insertion, alteration, or cutting out pieces of DNA containing one or more genes of interest.  

Another definition given by WHO, “Organisms with the genetic material (DNA) is altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating or natural recombination”. 

In plants, there is a distinction between cisgenesis and transgenesis within genetic modification. Cisgenesis is the transfer of genetic material derived from related plant whereas transgenesis the transfer of genetic material derived from a different plant. 

Genetic modification helps in adding desired characters to living organisms can also be achieved by crossing species with each other. A new variation with exactly the right properties can be developed in a short time, as only the desired gene is transferred. 

• Insect resistance target pests and reduces the need for pesticide applications. It also lowers input costs. 

• Drought resistance helps plants grow in much drier areas, conserving water and other environmental resources. 

• Herbicide tolerance fights weeds through herbicides, when needed and preserve topsoil, prevent soil erosion, and reduce carbon emissions. 

• Disease resistance helps in protecting the plants from diseases. 

• Increased nutritional content in plants especially food items. 

• Provides economic benefits to the consumers by higher yield. 

BT cotton is the only genetically modified crop legal to be cultivated. Bt is derived from bacillus thuringiensis which is a foreign gene helpful in protecting the plant from pest, bollworm. It has increased the yield of cotton in the country.  

BT Brinjal is also known as transgenic eggplant. It is produced by introducing crystal protein gene (Cry1Ac) from soil bacterium to protect the fruit and shoot attacking insects. The cultivation of Bt brinjal has been banned in India. 

BT Rice is modified in by expressing the CryIA(b) gene of the Bt bacterium to protect the crop from pest and, also elevate the iron and vitamin A levels along with several other enhancements nutritionally. 

The question arises, why genetically modified crops have been banned in India?  

With various benefits, genetically modified food facilitates risks on consumption as well. Transgenic food is believed to trigger some allergies in an individual. It might contain the allergens which promote the allergic reaction in the body.  

Another risk is making the crop more tolerant to antibiotics which could be further transferred to humans. This can build resistance against antibiotics in human, could affect the defending ability against any disease. 

One of the major consequences of genetically modified food is Cancer. Researchers believe that these modifications can develop into cancer. As the modification is taken out by altering DNA, it could be dangerous to introduce new genes in the body. 

Though it is necessary to produce enough amount of food for people in the world but that should not be done by compromising the quality of food. The demand for food for consumption is high and it is going to increase every year. What required to be done is to have an efficient and long-term plan to fulfil the inadequacy of edible food among people.