Genetically Modified Food (GMF)

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According to the World Health Organization (WHO) Genetic Modification can be define as: The alteration in genetic material (DNA) of an organism, in a manner that is not occur naturally by mating or by means of natural recombination. Genetically modified foods are the food products produce from the genetic engineering of plants or animals.
Before starting the discussion on benefits of genetically modified food it is important to know why the efforts are made to develop GM food. The main reason behind producing the GM food is the expansion of population as the world population is increasing near to 8 billion; the demand for crop consumption is also increasing. Using genetic engineering approaches the crop can be genetically modified to increase their yield [1]. In 2018 Elisa Pellegrino published that genetically engineered maize (corn) yield was 5.6 to 24.5% higher as compared to its near isogenic line [2].
Besides their yield, there are many benefits linked with the GM crop as compared to the traditional crop.
Economically:
·         Pest resistance crops:
Crop loss due to pests means a huge economic loss to harvester, local farmer use the chemical pesticide to control the crop loss but it raises the concern amongst the consumer as it is not safe for human health. Crop which is genetically modified to against pest can reduce the consumer concern related to the use of chemical pesticides and also reduces the cost associated with chemical pesticides. Bt cotton is an example of transgenic crop, which produces an insecticide to clash with bollworm.
·         Herbicide tolerance:
In certain crops, farmers preferred the use of herbicides spray to kill the unwanted weeds which is expensive as well as time consuming. Using genetic engineering the crop can be genetically modified to grown for herbicide tolerant trait and can avoid herbicide spray. Examples include maize and soybean. Maize has been genetically engineered to produce desired trait, including resistance to herbicides.
·         Disease resistance:
Certain viruses, fungi and bacteria are responsible for many plants diseases. Genetic engineering could be a hope for producing diseases free crop.  Examples include wheat and barley in which genetic engineering approaches have been used to combat fusarium head blight disease.
From 2006 to 2012 agricultural income from GM food had reached $116 billion globally. About 58% of the economic gain was increased due to the less cost of production (example: use of chemical pesticides and herbicides) and remaining 42% is due to the increase in yield of crop due to genetic modification, estimated by James and Brookes[3].
Nutritionally:
Some crops are genetically modified to target the pro health value, enrich certain nutrients having high therapeutic substances including pro-biotics, Vitamin A, C & E. Through the use of genetic engineering approaches rice can be genetically modified to produce high value nutrients. Example includes Golden rice, which is genetically modified having high content of beta carotene gene, precursor of vitamin A. Many people are suffering from blindness due to vitamin A deficiency this can be a helpful approach to combat with blindness.
Therapeutic purpose:
GM plants can produce edible vaccine, which is an antigenic protein that is express in edible part of plants (e.g. fruit). It can serve as oral vaccine, capable to boost up the immune system, through mucosal immunity, to produce antibodies. Variety of crops (e.g., potato) is under study, effective against different bacterial and viral infection including, hepatitis B, rabies virus, E.coli toxins etc. Such vaccines can offer easy way to provide vaccine as well it is safe and inexpensive [1].

Socioeconomic Relevance of GMOs:
Although GMOs offer many benefits to society but risks are also associated with them. Many questions are arising from the skeptics about the danger of GM crop. It may pose threat to human health such as genetic modification can modify the allergenic properties of the crop. In genetically engineered crop antibiotic resistance genes are added to ensure the expression of desired gene that may be harmful to the consumer. Risks are also associated with the spread of modified crop gene to the native plant life of the environment and probable evolution of insecticide resistant superbugs [4].

 By Aisha Mehak
REFERENCES:
  1.       https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213453016300295                            
  2.       https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21284-2
  3.           https://www.researchgate.net/publication /260923272_Genetically_modified_organisms_GMOs_in_Pakistan
  4.            https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-21284-2



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