[Paper Keywords] genetically modified food, genetically modified food has gradually entered our daily life, food is closely related to human health and safety [Abstract]. With the rapid development of transgenic technology and its expanding application in agricultural production, transgenic agricultural products and their safety have gradually become the focus of attention. Genetically modified food genetically modified organisms, also known as genetically modified food (GMF). Genetically modified food is the product of modern biotechnology. Using modern molecular biology technology, some organisms' genes are transferred to other species, their genetic materials are transformed, some organisms' genes are transferred to other species, and their genetic materials are transferred to target traits, nutritional quality and consumption quality. The processing method of genetically modified food or food produced from raw materials is genetically modified food. Transgenic food (such as transgenic tomato) or transgenic soybean production, and processed food (such as soybean milk) with transgenic as raw materials. Transgenic technology has brought great benefits to human beings, but there are also some potential dangers. From 65438 to 0994, the first patient in the development of genetically modified food entered GMF (genetically modified tomato) and was born in the United States. At least 13 countries have planted 30.3 million hectares of genetically modified food, of which 68% are in the United States, followed by Argentina's100000 hectares, accounting for 23%; 3 million hectares, 7% in Canada, 500,000 hectares, accounting for 1%. More than 60% of processed foods, genetically modified ingredients and genetically modified foods have a sales of $654.38+000 billion, which is 43 varieties determined by the FDA. The results show that most consumers in the United States and Canada accept genetically modified food, and only 27% consumers eat the possible health hazards caused by genetically modified food. China approved six genetically modified foods, including three kinds of foods: virus-resistant sweet pepper and virus-resistant tomato, to delay the commercialization of mature tomatoes. With the research and development of genetically modified foods in China, there will be more and more varieties of genetically modified foods in China. At present, the research mainly focuses on the development of transgenic rice and transgenic fish food. According to the source of genetically modified food, it can be divided into plant-derived genetically modified food, animal-derived GMFH and microbial-derived genetically modified food. At present, the main plant-derived genetically modified foods, foods or food ingredients include: genetically modified soybeans, genetically modified corn, genetically modified tomatoes, genetically modified rapeseed and genetically modified potatoes. The planting area of genetically modified soybeans is the largest in the world, reaching 25.8 billion hectares, accounting for 58% of the global genetically modified foods. Second, the characteristics of genetically modified food compared with traditional food: traditional food is cultivated by natural selection or artificial hybridization. There is no substantial difference between transgenic technology and the basic principle of traditional interspecific hybridization and recent development, but the transgenic technology for producing genetically modified food focuses on genetic manipulation at the molecular level (through recombinant DNA technology, gene modification or transfer), which is more precise, compact and controllable. People can use modern biotechnology to change the genetic traits of organisms and create a new species, which does not exist in nature. For example, you can resist herbicides, kill pests in food factories, food factories and food factories, and produce vaccines for human use. Mainly has the following characteristics: (1) low and high returns. The cost is 40% to 60% of that of traditional products, and the output is increased by at least 20%, sometimes even dozens of times. (2) Resistance to weeds, pests and adversity. On the one hand, it can reduce agricultural production costs, on the other hand, it can increase crop yield. In 2000, the GMC was 44.2 million hectares, of which herbicide resistance accounted for 74%; Insect-resistant traits are 8.3 million hectares, accounting for19%; 32.8 million hectares of herbicide resistance accounted for 7% of drug resistance. (3) Foods with improved product quality and nutritional value. For example, grain with lysine content can be improved by transgenic technology to increase its nutritional value, and wheat gluten content and baking performance (BEI) can be improved by transgenic technology. (4) the freshness is improved. For example, using antisense DNA technology to inhibit enzyme activity, delay ripening and soften antisense RAN transgenic tomatoes, and prolong the possession and preservation time of stored Zhu. Third, the safety of genetically modified food.
1998, Professor arpad Pusztiai of the United Kingdom fed transgenic potatoes to rats and mice, which led to abnormal organ growth and decreased body weight and organ weight. 1in the autumn of 998, the immune system was damaged. Caused an international sensation. This is the earliest genetically modified food, and some scientific evidence questioned it, which triggered a great discussion on the safety of genetically modified food in Britain and even around the world. Although the Royal Society announced in May 1999 that the research was "riddled with holes", it was impossible to draw the conclusion that genetically modified potatoes were biologically healthy.
1998, the United States Patent and Trademark Office approved a so-called "terminator" technology, and the United States Department of Agriculture applied for a patent for agriculture and DPL (delta and loose land) (termination sub-technology). The "terminator" technology patent caused strong repercussions in the international arena. Technology is not ordinary technology. With this technology, the seeds planted in the first year of cutting can be sterile, and the seeds planted in the second year will die automatically. "Terminator" technology is a transgenic crop seed that inserts the terminator gene into the plant genome. Seeds of seed companies are sprayed on the surface of seeds before being sold, which induces farmers to sow, and the seeds can grow into normal plants and produce mature seeds. The role of inducer However, the inserted gene will be activated when the seed matures, producing toxin to kill the embryo of the seed, so the seeds harvested in the second year can't germinate normally, but the fat and protein in the seeds are completely normal.
A spokesman for the US Department of Agriculture claimed that Terminator technology is a genetic engineering technology to protect intellectual property rights. 1998 10 At the meeting held in Washington in June, CGIAR explicitly banned the termination of sub-technology. The main reasons are: the emergence of terminator technology can not identify the seeds produced by terminator technology, which is easy to lead to irreparable losses; Unexpected biosafety risks caused by pollen.
A research team from Cornell University in the United States reported that 44% of the monarch butterfly's food insecticidal protein gene (Bt) died after being transformed by Bacillus thuringiensis corn pollen, which indicated that genetically modified food may have potential safety hazards. This has caused a wide debate among scientists about genetically modified foods. CryLA, a Bt corn insecticidal crystal protein, belongs to monarch butterfly with natural Bt protein of Alice scale insects. In fact, Science naturally refuses to comment on the article of Butterfly, which does not reflect the situation in this field and the nature of the report. However, this incident has become the front page of The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA-Today and other newspapers. Finally, scientific events are negative.
The United Nations Development Plan 200 1 recognizes that GMF may further destroy the ecological balance in terms of the potential dangers of GMF and genetically modified organisms and many security issues. They may produce super weeds and other plants or animals through their own genetically related species, which may have unexpected harmful effects. This study is a necessary conclusion. Therefore, genetically modified and genetically modified foods should be carefully planted, because it may cause incalculable losses to human health and ecological environment.
Although there is no case of genetically modified food harmful to human health, it does not mean that it is harmful, because it has entered people for a short time and there is no potential danger in a very short time. So far, the long-term food safety of human beings is still questionable, but the scientific community has not yet reached a consensus that these foods are safe. FAO, WHO and these authoritative international cooperation organizations have artificially introduced genetically modified organisms into "unexpected consequences", which means that so far, we have not enough scientific means to carry out risk assessment on genetically modified organisms and food. The International Consumers Association (including 250 consumer organizations in 1 15 countries) said: "No government or the United Nations will claim that genetically modified food is completely safe." ; At present, the application of a large number of transgenic technologies has brought us great benefits. From the above analysis, we can still see that the safety of genetically modified food cannot be evaluated, and it needs further research and verification.
Reference:
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[2] Shen Mingxian Bioethics [M]., 2003.