There is no let up to the anti-GMO hysteria propagated by pseudo-scientific gurus and some in the mainstream media. The clever ploy of fearmongering causes people to get anxious and indignant, and in time if the facts ever do reach them, they are too invested in their position to change their minds. The ego never willingly wants to take a beating. When pressed for solid evidence, GMO alarmists have none, and retreat to unsubstantiated conspiracies and threats of a genetically modified doomsday that will wipe out humanity.
Dr. Paul Offit is head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and the
director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of
Philadelphia. In his recent book, Pandora’s
Lab: Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong, Offit provides an articulate and
coherent overview of the controversy:
“GMO’s are defined as any living organism that
possesses ‘a novel combination of genetic material obtained through the use of
modern biotechnology.’ The key phrase here is ‘modern biotechnology’, because
the truth is that we have been genetically modifying our environment since the
beginning of recorded history. Using breeding or artificial selection, humans
began to domesticate plants and animals around 12,000 BC – all for the purpose
of selecting for certain genetic traits and all a precursor to modern genetic
modification. Nonetheless, for environmentalists, no single act of hubris has
been more terrifying than when scientists decided to recombine DNA in the laboratory
to modify nature.
“Today, the
largest use of generic bioengineering has been in food production. Genetic
engineering has allowed crops to resist pests, tolerate extreme temperatures
and environmental conditions, and be free of certain diseases. Genetically
engineered crops have also been created to improve nutrient profiles, lengthen
shelf life, and resist herbicides. In the United States, 94 percent of soy
beans, 96 percent of cotton, and 93 percent of corn are genetically modified;
in the developing world, 54 percent of crops are genetically modified. The
consequences, especially for farmers in the developing world, have been
dramatic. GMO technology has reduced chemical pesticide use by 37 percent,
increased crop yields by 22 percent, and increased profits for farmers by 68
percent. Although GMO seeds are more expensive, the cost is easily offset by reduced
use of pesticides and higher yields.
“Although
many people fear that genetically modified foods might be more dangerous than
other foods, careful scientific studies show they have no reason for concern.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science and the National
Academy of Sciences have both issued statements supporting the use of GMOs. Even
the European Union, which has never been particularly supportive of GMOs, cannot
ignore the science. In 2010, the European Commission issued the following
statement: ‘The main conclusion to be drawn from the efforts of more than 130
research projects, covering a period of more than 25 years of research involving
more than 500 independent research groups, is that biotechnology and, in
particular GMOs, are not per se more
risky than conventional plant breeding technologies.
“Although
the science is clear, the public remains concerned. A recent Gallup poll found
that 48 percent of the American public believed that genetically modified foods
posed a serious risk to consumers. Many of those polled wanted foods to contain
GMO warning labels so they could know which ones to avoid. This poll showed
that not only are we willing to ignore science, but we’re also willing to
ignore history. Due to selective breeding and cultivation, the crops we raise
today ‘naturally’ have little resemblance to their ancestors. From a practical
standpoint, the farmer taking advantage of a chance mutation to cultivate a
specific crop is indistinguishable from a choice to create the mutation ourselves.
Both have the same mutation.
“Genetic
modification has also been used to make lifesaving medicines. Insulin used by
diabetics, clotting proteins used by hemophiliacs, and human growth hormone
used by children with short stature have all been made using genetic
engineering technology. Previously, those products were obtained from pig
pancreases, blood donors, and the pituitaries of dead people.
“Yet those
who oppose GMOs persist. Recently, the story of a tomato containing a fish gene
made the rounds. The Frankensteinian image galvanized environmentalists to push
harder to label GMO foods. Steven Novella, an assistant professor at Yale University
School of Medicine ….. summed it up best: ‘The real question here is not
whether there is a GMO tomato with a fish gene, but who cares?’ he wrote. ‘It’s
not as if eating fish genes is inherently risky – people eat actual fish. Furthermore, by some
estimates, people share about 70 percent of their genes with fish. You have
fish genes and every plant you have ever eaten has fish genes. Get over it!’”
Source
Dr. Paul Offit, Pandora’s Lab:
Seven Stories of Science Gone Wrong, National Geographic Partners, 2016
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Jerry De Luca is a Christian freelance writer who loves perusing dozens of interesting and informative publications. When he finds any useful info he summarizes it, taking the main points, and creates a (hopefully) helpful blog post.
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