Genetically-modified food

Should we be playing God?

Many consumers are worried about genetically-modified (GM) food, but are these worries justified?

Genetic manipulation

For thousands of years, humans have been changing the genes of plants and animals indirectly through selective breeding. We select specimens of living things with certain desired features, and let them reproduce. We then select those offspring with the best desired features and repeat the whole process again and again, until a lineage is produced that can preserve those features in successive generations.

Dogs came from wild wolves through selective breeding. The same for all our food crops and domesticated farm animals. Here is a short video about some of these plants and fruits:

In contrast, modern genetic engineering uses biotech to modify genes directly. This allows genetic modifications that normally will not happen easily in the natural environment, such as adding genes from one species to a completely different species.

This development started in the 1990s. Common genetically modified (GM) crops include soybean, cotton, and corn. Many GM animals are used in science and medical research, such as mice in cancer research. In 2017, GM salmon was approved for human consumption in Canada.

Playing God

Many people regard genetic engineering as unnatural. They think it is wrong for scientists to play God.

However, this criticism is problematic. Not everything that is unnatural is bad. Contraception, vaccines, mobile phones are also unnatural things. Maybe genetic engineering is actually a gift from God?

GMO (genetically modified organisms) often involve transplanting genes from one species into another. Many people find this abhorent because it crosses species boundary. But why is this bad? Mules are the offspring of horses and donkeys but very few people find this objectionable. Plumcots and tangelos are popular bybrid fruits combined from different species.

More importantly, new GMO technology might not even need to transplant genes. "CRISPR" stands for "Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats". This can be used to delete genes without having to add genes from a different species. It has already been used to modify mushrooms so they will not be bruised so easily. But this is just one of the many applications. Here is a short video about CRISPR:

GMO: Pros and Cons

Is GMO a good idea? When it comes to evaluating public policy decisions, it is often a matter of balancing pros and cons. Here are some typical arguments in support of GMO in agriculture:

• GMO increases productivity, benefiting farmers and consumers.
• GM crops use less herbicides and pesticides, which is good for the environment.
• GM crops are more resistant to environmental shocks, such as floods, droughts, temperature changes, etc. This is important for food security especially because of global warming.
• GM food can improve health, and can respond to consumer demands in creative ways.

Growing GM crops does seem to reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides in the short run, but many GM crops rely on glyphosate as herbicide. The widespread use of glyphosate has already led to the rise of "superweeds", weeds that become resistant to herbicides and are difficult to get rid of. There is also the worry that glyphosate is a carcinogen and will contaminate the soil and groundwater.

GM crops are often advertised as being good for developing countries, increasing food supply and contributing to economic development. Critics argue that farmers often have to license GM technology from big companies and it is these companies that stand to benefit most. Furthermore, they believe that there are more sustainable ways to boost agricultural productivity.

Many people are worried that GM food is unsafe. But GM food has been around for about 30 years, and so far no significant adverse effects have been confirmed. A 2016 study by the US National Academy of Sciences found no evidence that GM food pose additional health risks.

However, "gene pollution" is a problem. GM crops grown in a resricted area can spread due to wind, floods, and other natural causes. Their genes can thus spread to non-GM crops. This is a headache for organic farmers who do not want to grow GM crops. It might also threaten biodiversity if non-GM crops become increasingly rare. It can potentially affect food security.

Technology and progress

The debate about GMO brings up many issues about technology. Biotech will change our lives in all kinds of ways. We can grow meat from stem cells without raising animals, and use gene therapy to cure cancer and other diseases. We might also be able to genetically alter ourselves and our offspring, changing our intelligence, personality, memory, lifespan, etc.

Scientific progress can improve our lives in countless ways. But are there potential problems? How should we regulate cutting-edge technology? Should there be any limits? What are the implications for human culture and evolution?