GMO pros and cons

In this article you shall find arguments that support the producing of GMO food, as well as the ones that do not. Decide which side you are on!

PROS:

The past few days have been very entertaining for me. As usual, I have local fear mongers to thank for that, seeing them create horrid anti-propaganda about something innocuous or downright awesome. The order of the day are transgenic organisms and genetically modified creatures in general. There are many who would deem transgenic organisms unnatural abominations or would call them nightmarish bags of flesh that will spell doom for mankind.

But I say 'nay'! Nay to those without vision and understanding, because the true nature of the matter at hand is quite different from what the sensibilities of those content with status quo would have us believe (although I do think that the apocalypse brought forth by man-eating Franken-tomatoes, as invoked by some fear mongering posters, would be absolutely hilarious).

What exactly are transgenic organisms? They are creatures whose genome has, by accident or by design, acquired a gene or a set of genes from another species, thus possibly adopting some new traits and abilities. Sounds a bit “unnatural“? Here is the catch- we are all transgenic creatures, not fully human for those with obsolete standards! Perhaps you have heard of so-called junk DNA? Quite a bit of it is ancient viral DNA that got fused with ours (same goes for most vertebrates) thus making us all a mishmash of a number of creatures.

And does that make us abominable or unclean? I think not! If anything, it serves as a living reminder of the wondrous journey from atom to „Adam“.

So please friends, the next time you see a glowing mouse or a spider-goat, do not ask if it is unnatural- ask yourselves whether this creature is actually better off that way. Do not let your minds be numbed by the fear of ”new“ things- admire them as a form of art! Do this and a simple transgenic sapling might give you more understanding than years of toadying to the falsely perceived “natural order“.

And besides, a killer tomato would make a wonderful pet, right?

CONS:

Genetically modified seeds’ influence on floral and animal world has not been tested properly. When introducing the gene to its new host, it is essentially impossible to predict the reaction. The genetic intelligence of the host could be disrupted with the introduction of the new gene, creating an adverse reaction. There is truly no way of knowing the long-term effect of genetically modified food, as there are too many variables.

Furthermore, genetically modified seed is a patented seed requiring its own patented pesticide. By using such seed farmers are forced into slavery to the one particular conglomerate producing it (Monsanto). Bees die in the process of pollinating the genetically modified plants. What influence do you think has it got on us humans?

Genetically modified seed is not ‘stronger’ than the ordinary, naturally bred and produced seed. Au contraire, it is much more sensitive, which demands greater amount of expensive pesticides and fungicides and other, leading to a situation in which farmers are not able to make a living from their land anymore.

Also, digestive disorders have skyrocketed since GMOs have entered the food supply: irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, chronic constipation, gastrointestinal infections, leaky gut syndrome and acid reflux have all seen sharp inclines in the last two decades, as has the incidence of gluten intolerance.

EPA has established that the plants treated with EBCD (Calypso tomatoes) are so dangerous that the farmers should handle them wearing special protective clothes.

To continue, designed food plants are able to make new double-stranded RNA. What does the RNA do? It can silence a gene. It can activate a gene that was silent. Genes that were doing their jobs could stop doing their jobs. Other genes that were dormant could spring into action and perform tasks that weren’t meant to be performed.