The great debate behind frankenfoods

Question

Im just trying to get the facts behind them. All of my sources so far have been extremely one sided. Are they really that harmful as to justify banning GM foods? They do so much for humanity (feeding the hungry, new forms of more nutritious foods ect...) And most of the world has been consuming them for the last 15-20 years. Can anyone help me? Please, only facts supported by reputable sources if at all possible.

-joe

Answer 1

KILL THE FRANKENSTEIN MYTH

Genetically Modified Food, Science and Technology are Good

by By Robert W. Tracinski, The Ayn Rand Institute.

"Farmers have long modified the genetic makeup of their crops and livestock through selective breeding‹choosing to breed the prize bull, for example, or planting seeds from the highest-yielding stalks of wheat. But genetic engineering has made this process much easier and faster. Scientists have discovered how to alter genes directly, allowing them to take advantages possessed by one species of plant or animal and splice them into the genes of another species. So, for example, one popular variety of genetically engineered corn contains a gene taken from a bacteria; that gene produces a chemical toxic to caterpillars, giving the corn an inbuilt defense against harmful insects.

This new technology is already providing farmers with crops that bear higher yields, grow in drier climates, require fewer pesticides, and so on. The result has been bigger harvests and lower costs for American farmers. And scientists have also begun engineering plants that grow better under difficult conditions, such as drought‹promising a new “green revolution” for the Third World.

Genetically modified foods are not merely safe — they are an enormous advance, and we should be applauding the heroes of science who invented them."

Answer 2

What's wrong with Genetic Engineering?

by By Organic Consumers Association

"Genetic engineering is a radical new technology, one that breaks down fundamental genetic barriers -- not only between species, but between humans, animals, and plants. By combining the genes of dissimilar and unrelated species, permanently altering their genetic codes, novel organisms are created that will pass the genetic changes onto their offspring through heredity. Scientists are now snipping, inserting, recombining, rearranging, editing, and programming genetic material. Animal genes and even human genes are being inserted into plants or animals creating unimagined transgenic life forms. For the first time in history, human beings are becoming the architects of life. Bio-engineers will be creating tens of thousands of novel organisms over the next few years. The prospect is frightening. Genetic engineering poses unprecedented ethical and social concerns, as well as serious challenges to the environment, human health, animal welfare, and the future of agriculture."  

Answer 3

Basically when it comes down to it the anti-biotech people are just a bunch of liars.

Looking in the literature it certainly doesn't seem like the luddities have a case against GM foods (with the few objections they have dealt with by regulators).  They may have a case as to how GM food is licensed but that's a separate issue.