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What's the difference between genetically modified and non genetically modified foods

What's the difference between genetically modified and non genetically modified foods

4hw.org: in recent years, Cui Yongyuan, once a famous host of CCTV, often has a scolding fight on Weibo. The core of the problem is genetically modified food. What are the differences between genetically modified and non genetically modified food? Is genetically modified food harmful to human body? Let's take a look at it!

Genetically modified food is to change DNA in plant seeds through genetic engineering, and then transfer these modified recombined genes to other plant seeds, so as to obtain plant species that cannot grow automatically in nature. In the late 1980s, scientists began to apply the results of more than 10 years of molecular research to genetically modified food. In 1995, they successfully produced weed resistant soybeans and sold them on the market. After another 7 years of efforts, they have now mass produced transgenic corn, soybean, rape, potato, zucchini, etc. that are resistant to insect pests, virus and weeds by using gene technology. At present, the main producing areas of genetically modified food are the United States, Canada, the European Union, South Africa, Argentina, etc.

Genetically modified food is a new thing, most people know little about it, and the publicity is not enough, so people have doubts about the safety of genetically modified food. In the world, especially in Western Europe, there is a strong trend against genetically modified food. The European Union has formulated a series of laws and regulations on the production and sale of genetically modified food, which requires that the gene change shall not exceed 1% of the total gene amount. The genetically modified food sold on the market must be labeled, and the relevant international organizations are required to conduct scientific tests on the harmlessness of genetically modified food and its impact on the environment The evaluation of the harmlessness of transgenic food mainly includes the following aspects: whether there is toxicity, causing allergic reaction, the characteristics of nutrition or toxic protein, the stability of injected gene, the nutritional effect caused by gene change and other unnecessary functions. In terms of human health, experts believe that it is mainly necessary to review the non-toxic nature of genetically modified food and its impact on the environment Experts believe that because transgenic crops can better control diseases and insect pests, resist drought and improve yield, the development prospects are very broad. In 2015, the global population increased to 9 billion. Only by improving agricultural productivity can we meet the demand of human beings for food. Modern biotechnology is undoubtedly one of the important means to improve agricultural productivity. People can also use gene technology to produce fast-growing fish and vaccines needed by the pharmaceutical industry to meet the needs of human life. But experts also stressed that the development of genetically modified food must have strict supervision, scientific inspection and international legislation to avoid damage to human health and the environment.

Why do so many developed countries resist? I think you also want to understand this problem. First of all, we have developed genetically modified America and other developed countries. The goal is to sell them to some developing countries. After all, the output is high and the price is low. This is the main reason. Northeast soybean of China is the best soybean in the world. Food safety, low output, the corresponding price is very high, often only foreign people to buy. Export the best in your own country and then buy genetically modified soybeans from other countries to extract oil. How can we guarantee the health of Chinese people? Cui Yongyuan just wanted everyone to know more and have a better quality of life before he went to America to make such a documentary. The purpose is to hope that we can pay more attention.

Hazards of genetically modified food

1. Resistant weeds

Crops grown from genetically modified seeds can affect weeds in the same area. The recombinant genes that can improve crop resistance are introduced into weeds, and weeds will also have resistance in a few years. This requires the use of more chemicals, which can affect the safety of crops. If the chemical content is too high, the food is not edible.

2. Increase of phytoestrogen content

The use of glyphosate can improve the grass resistance of crops, but also lead to the increase of phytoestrogens in agricultural products. Phytoestrogens are harmful to all mammals, including human beings. Children are very vulnerable to high levels of phytoestrogens, which can cause danger and long-term health hazards.

3. Unknown toxin

Genetically modified seeds and foods may contain unknown toxins and allergens never found in humans. The L-tryptophan additive produced in 1989 is a good example. The additive killed 37 people and harmed the health of more than 1500 people. The bacteria in the additive have been genetically recombined, resulting in a new type of toxic amino acid.

4. Risk of negative effects

The danger of genetically modified food is that it will bring a negative effect that has never been seen before. This negative effect may exist between two different genetically modified foods, or between food genes and some drugs. Due to the short time of transgenic crops and the emergence of new varieties, this negative effect has not been fully proved.

5. Lack of long-term research

Transgenic food lacks long-term research and short-term information. The government assumes that the harm of genetically modified food is the same as that of non genetically modified plants, so it is absurd that it is not against the use of genetically modified food in the food chain. After recombination of plant genes, there will be serious risks and safety risks. However, there is no long-term risk information to show whether these foods have long-term hazards.

6. Genetically modified food is not marked

Lack of product labeling is one of the greatest dangers of genetically modified food. In the United States, genetically modified food accounts for a quarter, maybe more, of the total food supply. These foods are not labeled as genetically modified, so you don't know which foods are at greater risk, so you can't help buying them and protecting your family's health 7. Unknown impact on human genes

We don't know whether genetically modified food will affect human genes. At first, scientists and researchers thought that the digestion process would destroy the recombinant genes, but recently they found these recombinant genes in the brains of some young mice. This is very dangerous for infants and children, and brings unknown risks to all consumers 8. Increase of fat content in some foods

Feeding animals with genetically modified crops will have unpredictable results. The fat content of milk will increase after the cows eat some transgenic soybeans. This shows that the safety of genetically modified food can not be compared with traditional food.

9. insect resistance

In the long run, genetically modified food for the purpose of reducing pesticide use will lead to an increase in the use of chemicals, and insects will also have resistance to commonly used pesticides. This will bring insect harm, affect food supply and lead to food shortage.

10. A small amount of existing information is distorted

The existing information of a small amount of genetically modified food is often distorted and lack of accuracy. When the anti Nongda transgenic soybean is allowed to enter the market, the information of the product is based on the safety level of traditional soybean and the concentration level of compounds rather than its own experimental data.