genetic modification ( GM) - a change in the genome of a living organism using genetic engineering technology, by introducing one or more genes taken from one donor organism to another. After such an introduction (transfer), the resulting plant will already be called genetically modified, or transgenic. In contrast to traditional breeding, the original genome of the plant is almost not affected, and the plant acquires new traits that it did not possess before. Such signs (characteristics, properties) include: resistance to various environmental factors (to frost, drought, moisture, etc.), to diseases, to pests, improved growth properties, resistance to herbicides, pesticides. Finally, scientists can change the nutritional properties of plants: taste, aroma, calorie content, storage time. Using genetic engineering, it is possible to increase crop yields, which is very important, given that the world population is growing every year and the number of hungry people in developing countries is increasing.

With traditional breeding, a new variety can be obtained only within the same species. For example, you can breed a completely new variety of rice by crossing different varieties of rice with each other. In this case, a hybrid combination is obtained, from which the breeder then selects only the forms of interest to him.

Since hybridization is carried out between individual plants, it is almost impossible to develop a variety that would have the characteristics of interest to us, which will be inherited by the following generations. It takes a lot of time to solve such a problem. If it is necessary to develop a new variety of wheat and for this variety to acquire some characteristics of rice, then traditional breeding is powerless here. Came to the rescue, when using it, it is possible to transfer certain characteristics (properties) to the experimental plant, and all this will be carried out at the level DNA, individual genes. In a similar way, for example, wheat can be transferred gene frost resistance.

The method of genetic modification allows, at least theoretically, to isolate individual genes that are responsible for certain properties of living organisms and instill them in completely different organisms, while significantly shortening the time for creating a new species. That is why many breeders and scientists around the world use this technology when breeding new varieties. Pesticide (herbicide), pest and disease resistant commercial crop varieties have now been developed. And also, varieties with improved taste, resistant to drought and frost were obtained.

A genetically modified organism, or GMO for short, is a living or plant organism whose genotype has been altered by genetic engineering in order to create new properties of the organism. Such changes are now being made almost everywhere in the field of food production for economic purposes, less often for scientific purposes.

Genetic modification is distinguished by the purposeful construction of the organism's genotype, which is in contrast to the random, characteristic of natural and artificial mutagenesis.

A common type of genetic change today is the introduction of transgenes for the purpose of transgenic organisms.

Due to genetic modifications, the roots of cassava (Manihot esculenta, Euphorbia family), the main food source for many millions of Africans, have increased by about 2.6 times. American geneticists, having done the above modification, expect that the modified cassava (cassava) will be the solution to the problem of hunger in dozens of countries in Africa.
Professor R. Syre and his team, molecular biologists from Ohio University, removed the E. coli gene that regulates starch synthesis and implanted it into three cassava shoots.
Sayre comments that cassava has almost the same gene, but the bacterial version is about 100 times more active.
As a result, the modified cassava, which was grown in a greenhouse, has enlarged tuberous roots (200 g, while the usual cassava has 75 g). The number of roots (from 7 to 12) and leaves (from 90 to 125) also increased.
Both the roots and leaves of cassava can be eaten. Cassava is the main raw material for cooking for 40% of Africans, and its root is regularly eaten by about 600 million people.
However, Sayre noted that the large size does not provide a commensurate energy value of the product. And GM plants still need to be quickly processed immediately after being removed from the ground, because. the roots and leaves of unprocessed cassava contain a substance that provokes the synthesis of cyanide.

Scientists at the University of California, Oakland have created a specific film made from GMO bacteria.

New Scientist writes that Chris Voight's research team used E. coli (Escherichia coli), which does not need sunlight to survive. To give Escherichia coli the necessary properties, the researchers introduced blue-green algae genetic material into the cell membrane of Escherichia coli. As a result, Escherichia coli began to react to red light.

After that, a colony of bacteria with a genetically modified genome was placed in a medium with specific indicator molecules. When this "biophotofilm" is exposed to red light, one of the Escherichia coli genes is deactivated, which provokes a change in the color of the indicator molecules. As a result, by changing the state of microorganisms at specific places on the film, a monochrome image can be obtained. At the same time, due to the microscopic size of microorganisms, the picture has an incredible resolution - about 100,000,000 pixels per square inch. However, it takes about 4 hours to get a square inch of a drawing.

Scientists believe that their achievement most likely will not be applied in the field of conventional photography. However, these experiments can provoke the appearance of nanotextures that can create any substances specifically in those areas where the light falls.

The community of American scientists decided to patent the first artificially synthesized living organism in history. This is not the first time people have tried to outplay nature, this time starting with obtaining a patent.

Researchers at the Venter Institute have been trying for many years to create an artificial bacterium with the smallest possible number of genes based on the structure of the bacterium Mycoplasma genitalium, in which they registered 250-350 genes necessary for survival. The synthetic organism was to be called Mycoplasma laboratorium (laboratory mycoplasma). The experiments were carried out in secret mode. In 2004, the institute's founder Craig Venter claimed that an artificial microorganism would be created by the end of the year, but he was wrong.

And today a request was received to obtain a patent for both the artificial bacterium itself and its genetic code, says World Science. Patents have been acquired on GMOs before, but now, as scientists from the Venter Institute say, it concerns an entirely artificial genome synthesized by human hands. The patent application states that the artificial microorganism has 382-387 genes.

An artificial microorganism was created by removing its genetic material from a bacterium that serves as the basis, and implanting artificial genes synthesized by laboratory methods. An intractable problem is not only the synthesis of genes, but also their introduction into a bacterium and the regulation of actions.

Michael Seibert, an employee of the American laboratory NREL and his colleagues from the University of Illinois are developing a modification of algae at the molecular level, with the aim of producing hydrogen in large quantities.
Prior to this, scientists had already demonstrated a method for producing hydrogen through domesticated bacteria. In addition, an interesting idea was proposed for the production of hydrogen from sunflower oil.
The researchers found that hydrogen is one of the elements involved in the photosynthesis reaction in algae. But in order to be able to obtain it in industrial volumes, it is necessary to determine the processes and enzymes of hydrogenase necessary for the formation of hydrogen, as well as the reactions for producing oxygen.
To decipher these chains of connections, scientists are using powerful computers and are already planning how to modify the algae. Once modified, they will produce hydrogen 10 times faster than natural algae, Siebert says.
The design scientists calculated that a specialized farm (or several farms) of approximately 20,000 km2 could produce hydrogen for all the passenger cars in the United States, even if they were all equipped with fuel cells rather than internal combustion engines.
But even if such fuel extraction does not become such a global practice, the contribution of GMO algae will still bring great benefits to the environment.

Insect-friendly genetically modified rice on Chinese farms: benefit and impact on human health.

Until now, in no state, the crop of cereals used for food has been grown mostly from GMOs. But practice in China, where GM rice is being grown in ever-increasing quantities, confirms that it benefits small farmers and likely benefits the people.

China is on the cusp of a global expansion of GM rice cultivation and production. In China, a study was carried out on two of the 4 varieties tested by farmers. In a word, such rice is at the final stage before permission for global use.

Randomly selected farms developing varieties of rice unpretentious to harmful insects were studied, and on their own, without resorting to the help of professionals in this field. Compared to traditional rice farms, small and low-income farms were found to benefit from the use of genetically modified organisms, as they harvested more voluminous crops with little use of pesticides. Reducing the amount of pesticides used is also a very positive factor for maintaining the health of the people.

In this article we will understand - what is GMO?

Wikipedia answers us with the following: A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose genotype has been artificially altered using genetic engineering methods. This definition can be applied to plants, animals and microorganisms. Genetic changes are usually made for scientific or economic purposes. Genetic modification is characterized by a purposeful change in the genotype of an organism, in contrast to random, characteristic of natural and artificial mutagenesis.

In fact, these are organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) was artificially modified (added from any other animal organisms) to obtain supposedly useful characteristics of the original donor organism, such as calorie content, resistance to pests, diseases, weather, such products ripen faster and are stored longer, their fertility increases, which ultimately affects the cost of products.

A drought-tolerant wheat that has been implanted with the scorpion gene. A potato containing the genes of an earthen bacterium, from which even the Colorado beetles die (but are they the only ones?). Tomatoes with the genes of the sea flounder. Soy and strawberries with bacterial genes. Perhaps this is a real panacea, in the face of an ever-growing population and other economic problems. You can, for example, help the starving population of Africa, but for some reason African countries do not allow the import of GM products into their territories...

The cost of GM agricultural products is 3-5 times cheaper than regular ones! This means that in pursuit of profit, entrepreneurs will actively use them. But it does not mean that by excluding all plant foods with altered DNA from your diet, you have secured yourself. For example, if cows on a dairy farm are fed with GM feed, then this will undoubtedly affect both milk and meat (if this is relevant to someone). And bees pollinating fields with GM corn will make the wrong kind of honey. I will not write about experiments on rats with a lethal outcome.

Whether similar researches on people of the information have been carried out, I have not found. I want to note right away that almost all such studies are paid for by GMO manufacturers. To any objections about mandatory certification, honesty of manufacturers, laboratory assistants and other things, I can say that not a single “independent” laboratory wants to lose a tender at the next examination or study, and not a single businessman wants to lose hard-earned money spent on non-production.

It is already known that regular consumption of GM foods can lead to serious problems! Scientists identify the following main risks of eating genetically modified foods:

1. Allergic reactions and metabolic disorders, as a result of the direct action of transgenic proteins.

The influence of new proteins that are produced by genes built into GMOs is not yet fully known. they are used by humans relatively recently and therefore it is not clear whether they are allergens.

An illustrative example is the attempt to cross the genes of the Brazil nut with the genes of soybeans - in order to increase the nutritional value of the latter, their protein content was increased. However, as it turned out later, the combination turned out to be a strong allergen, and it had to be withdrawn from further production.

For example, in the USA, where DNA-altered products are very popular, 70.5% of the population suffers from allergies, and in Sweden, where such products are banned, only 7%.<

2. Another consequence of the action of transgenic proteins can be a decrease in the immunity of the whole organism (70% of human immunity is in the intestine), as well as metabolic disorders.

Our natural microflora is simply not able to process products that are unusual for the ecosystem in which we exist as a species. It is not for nothing that so many drugs have appeared on the market now to improve digestion, relieve discomfort in the intestines, fight and heartburn, and so on, which means there is a demand.

Also, one of the versions, the meningitis epidemic among English children was caused by a weakened immune system as a result of the use of GM-containing milk chocolate and waffle biscuits.

3. Appearance of resistance of human pathogenic microflora to antibiotics.

When obtaining GMOs, marker genes of resistance to antibiotics are still used, which can pass into the intestinal microflora, which has been shown in relevant experiments, and this, in turn, can lead to medical problems - the inability to cure many diseases.

Since December 2004, the EU has banned the sale of GMOs using antibiotic resistance genes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that manufacturers refrain from using these genes, but corporations have not completely abandoned them. The risk of such GMOs, as noted in the Oxford Great Encyclopedic Reference, is quite large and "we have to admit that genetic engineering is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance"

4. Various health disorders as a result of the appearance in GMOs of new, unplanned proteins or metabolic products toxic to humans.

There is already convincing evidence of a violation of the stability of the plant genome when a foreign gene is inserted into it. All this can cause a change in the chemical composition of GMOs and the emergence of unexpected properties, including toxic ones.

For example, for the production of the food additive tryptophan in the United States in the late 80s. In the 20th century, the GMH bacterium was created. However, along with the usual tryptophan, for an unknown reason, she began to produce ethylene-bis-tryptophan. As a result of its use, 5 thousand people fell ill, of which 37 people died, 1,500 became disabled.

Independent experts claim that genetically modified crops emit 1020 times more toxins than conventional organisms.

5. Health disorders associated with the accumulation of herbicides in the human body.

Most of the known transgenic plants are not killed by the massive use of agricultural chemicals and can accumulate them. There is evidence that sugar beets resistant to the herbicide glyphosate accumulate its toxic metabolites.

6. Reducing the intake of essential substances into the body.

According to independent experts, it is still impossible to say for sure, for example, whether the composition of conventional soybeans and GM analogues is equivalent or not. When comparing various published scientific data, it turns out that some indicators, in particular, the content of phytoestrogens, vary significantly. That is, we eat not only what can harm us, but also not be useful.

7. Remote carcinogenic and mutagenic effects.

Each insertion of a foreign gene into the body is a mutation, it can cause undesirable consequences in the genome, and no one knows what this will lead to, and no one can know today. But, as you know, it is cell mutations that lead to the development of cancer cells. In addition, the fact of enhancing the growth of cancer cells with the use of genetically modified thermophilic yeast has already been proven.

According to research by British scientists in the framework of the state project "Assessment of the risk associated with the use of GMOs in human food" published in 2002, transgenes tend to linger in the human body and, as a result of the so-called "horizontal transfer", integrate into the genetic apparatus of microorganisms human intestines. Previously, this possibility was denied.

In addition to the danger to human health, scientists are actively discussing the question of what potential threat biotechnology poses to the environment.

Acquired resistance to herbicides by GMO plants can do a disservice if transgenic crops start to spread uncontrollably. For example, alfalfa, rice, sunflowers are very similar in characteristics to weeds, and their arbitrary growth will not be easy to manage.

In Canada, one of the main countries producing GMO products, such cases have already been recorded. According to The Ottawa Citizen, Canadian farms have been invaded by genetically engineered "superweeds" that are the result of a random cross between three herbicide-resistant GM canola varieties. The result is a plant that the newspaper claims is resistant to virtually all agricultural chemicals.

A similar problem will arise in the case of the transfer of herbicide resistance genes from cultivated plants to other wild species. For example, it has been observed that the cultivation of transgenic soybeans leads to genetic mutations of associated plants (weeds), which become immune to the effects of herbicides.

The possibility of transferring genes that code for the production of proteins that are toxic to insect pests is not excluded. Weeds that produce their own insecticides have a huge advantage in controlling insects, which are often natural growth restrictors.

In addition, not only pests, but also other insects are at risk. An article appeared in the authoritative journal Nature, the authors of which announced that crops of transgenic corn threaten populations of a protected species of monarch butterflies, its pollen was toxic to their caterpillars. Such an effect, of course, was not intended by the creators of corn - it was supposed to scare away only insect pests.

In addition, living organisms that feed on transgenic plants can mutate - according to studies conducted by the German zoologist Hans Kaaz, modified oil turnip pollen mutated bacteria living in the stomach of bees.

There is a concern that all these effects in the long term can cause the disruption of entire food chains and, as a result, the balance within individual ecological systems and even the extinction of some species.

Here is a list of products where GMOs can be:

1. Soy and its forms (beans, sprouts, concentrate, flour, milk, etc.).
2. Corn and its forms (flour, grits, popcorn, butter, chips, starch, syrups, etc.).
3. Potatoes and their forms (semi-finished products, dry mashed potatoes, chips, crackers, flour, etc.).
4. Tomatoes and its forms (paste, mashed potatoes, sauces, ketchups, etc.).
5. Zucchini and products made using them.
6. Sugar beet, table beet, sugar produced from sugar beet.
7. Wheat and products made with it, including bread and bakery products.
8. Sunflower oil.
9. Rice and products containing it (flour, granules, flakes, chips).
10. Carrots and products containing them.
11. Onions, shallots, leeks and other bulbous vegetables.

Accordingly, there is a high probability of meeting GMOs in products that are produced using these plants.

Most often, modifications lend themselves to: soybeans, rapeseed, corn, sunflowers, potatoes, strawberries, tomatoes, zucchini, paprika, lettuce.

GM soy can be found in breads, biscuits, baby food, margarine, soups, pizzas, fast food, meat products (e.g. boiled sausages, sausages, pâtés), flour, sweets, ice cream, chips, chocolate, sauces, soy milk etc.

GM corn (maize) can be found in foods such as fast food, soups, sauces, condiments, chips, chewing gum, cake mixes.

GM starch can be found in a very wide range of foods, including those that children love, such as yogurt.

70% of popular brands of baby food contain GMOs!

About 30% of tea and coffee on the market is genetically modified.

Foods made in the USA that contain soy, corn, canola, or potatoes are very likely to contain GM ingredients.

Most products based on soy not produced in the US, but outside of Russia, can also be transgenic.

Products that contain vegetable proteins are more likely to contain modified soy.

Human insulin preparations, vitamins, antiviral vaccines, may also contain GMOs.

Here are the names of some companies that, according to the state register, supply GM raw materials to their customers in Russia or are producers themselves:

• Central Soya Protein Group, Denmark;
• OOO "BIOSTAR TRADE", St. Petersburg;
• CJSC "Universal", Nizhny Novgorod;
• "Monsanto Co", USA;
• "Protein Technologies International Moscow", Moscow;
• LLC "Agenda", Moscow
• CJSC "ADM-Food Products", Moscow
• JSC "GALA", Moscow;
• CJSC "Belok", Moscow;
• Dera Food Technology N.V., Moscow;
• "Herbalife International of America", USA;
• "OY FINNSOYPRO LTD", Finland;
• LLC "Salon Sport-Service", Moscow;
• "Intersoy", Moscow.

But those who, according to the same state register, actively use GMOs in their products:

• Kelloggs (Kelloggs) - manufactures breakfast cereals, including corn flakes
• Nestle (Nestlé) - produces chocolate, coffee, coffee drinks, baby food
• Heinz Foods (Hayents Fuds) - produces ketchups, sauces
• Hersheys (Hershis) - produces chocolate, soft drinks
• Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola) - Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Kinley tonic
• McDonalds (McDonald's) - a network of "restaurants" of fast food
• Danon (Danone) - produces yogurts, kefir, cottage cheese, baby food
• Similac (Similak) - produces baby food
• Cadbury (Kadbury) - produces chocolate, cocoa
• Mars (Mars) - produces chocolate Mars, Snickers, Twix
• PepsiCo (Pepsi-Cola) - Pepsi, Mirinda, Seven-Up.

Often GMOs can be hidden behind E indices. However, this does not mean that all E supplements contain GMOs or are transgenic. You just need to know which E can, in principle, contain GMOs or their derivatives.

It is primarily soy lecithin or E 322 lecithin: binds water and fat together and is used as a fat element in formula milks, biscuits, chocolate, riboflavin (B2) otherwise known as E 101 and E 101A, can be produced from GM microorganisms. It is added to cereals, soft drinks, baby food and weight loss products. Caramel (E 150) and xanthan (E 415) can also be produced from GM grain.

• E101 and E101A (B2, riboflavin)
• E150 (caramel);
• E153 (carbonate);
• E160a (beta-carotene, provitamin A, retinol);
• E160b (annatto);
• E160d (lycopene);
• E234 (lowlands);
• E235 (natamycin);
• E270 (lactic acid);
• E300 (vitamin C - ascorbic acid);
• E301 - E304 (ascorbates);
• E306 - E309 (tocopherol / vitamin E);
• E320 (VNA);
• E321 (VNT);
• E322 (lecithin);
• E325 - E327 (lactates);
• E330 (citric acid);
• E415 (xanthine);
• E459 (beta-cyclodextrin);
• E460 -E469 (cellulose);
• E470 and E570 (salts and fatty acids);
• fatty acid esters (E471, E472a&b, E473, E475, E476, E479b);
• E481 (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate);
• E620 - E633 (glutamic acid and glutomates);
• E626 - E629 (guanilic acid and guanilates);
• E630 - E633 (inosinic acid and inosinates);
• E951 (aspartame);
• E953 (isomaltite);
• E957 (thaumatin);
• E965 (maltinol).

Sometimes on the labels the names of additives are indicated only in words, they also need to be able to navigate.

It is impossible to determine the taste and smell of GM products. However, products that do not spoil, are not consumed by pests (that's where their use :)) and look too good can arouse suspicion. Of course, I do not urge you to buy bitten rotten vegetables :)

When buying vegetables on the market from local gardeners, you also cannot be 100% sure of their safety. After all, this also applies to seeds.

Conclusion: GMO products are beneficial to those who make money selling them. All! Products with altered DNA do not have obvious benefits for humans (I do not consider the economic side), as well as to fully prove (in the current state of the world order) harm is not possible.

I hope I didn’t cause panic fear in anyone and no one will run to gnaw stones. :) This information is not propaganda, but is intended for reflection. Everyone decides for himself what and for what purpose he eats.

Definition of GMOs

Goals of creating GMOs

Methods for creating GMOs

Application of GMOs

GMOs - arguments for and against

GMO laboratory research

Consequences of eating GM foods for human health

GMO Safety Research

How is the production and sale of GMOs regulated in the world?

Conclusion

List of used literature

Definition of GMOs

genetically modified organisms are organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that is impossible in nature. GMOs can contain DNA fragments from any other living organisms.

The purpose of obtaining genetically modified organisms– improving the useful characteristics of the original donor organism (resistance to pests, frost resistance, yield, calorie content, etc.) to reduce the cost of products. As a result, there are now potatoes that contain the genes of an earthen bacterium that kills the Colorado potato beetle, drought-resistant wheat that has been implanted with a scorpion gene, tomatoes that have genes for sea flounder, soybeans and strawberries that have genes for bacteria.

Transgenic (genetically modified) can be called those types of plants in which the gene (or genes) transplanted from other plant or animal species successfully functions. This is done in order for the recipient plant to acquire new properties that are convenient for humans, increased resistance to viruses, herbicides, pests and plant diseases. Foods derived from these genetically modified crops may taste better, look better, and last longer.

Also often such plants give a richer and more stable harvest than their natural counterparts.

genetically modified product- this is when a gene isolated in the laboratory of one organism is transplanted into the cell of another. Here are examples from American practice: to make tomatoes and strawberries more frost-resistant, they are "implanted" with the genes of northern fish; to keep corn from being eaten by pests, it can be "grafted" with a very active gene derived from snake venom.

By the way, do not confuse the terms " modified" and "genetically modified". For example, modified starch, which is part of most yogurts, ketchups and mayonnaises, has nothing to do with GMO products. Modified starches are starches that man has modified for his needs. This can be done either physically (exposure to temperature, pressure, humidity, radiation) or chemically. In the second case, chemicals are used that are approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation as food additives.

Goals of creating GMOs

The development of GMOs is considered by some scientists as a natural development of animal and plant breeding. Others, on the contrary, consider genetic engineering a complete departure from classical breeding, since GMOs are not a product of artificial selection, that is, the gradual breeding of a new variety (breed) of organisms through natural reproduction, but in fact a new species artificially synthesized in the laboratory.

In many cases, the use of transgenic plants greatly increases yields. It is believed that with the current size of the world's population, only GMOs can save the world from the threat of hunger, since with the help of genetic modification it is possible to increase the yield and quality of food.

Opponents of this opinion believe that with the current level of agricultural technology and mechanization of agricultural production, plant varieties and animal breeds already existing, obtained in the classical way, are able to fully provide the planet's population with high-quality food (the problem of a possible world famine is caused solely by socio-political reasons, and therefore can be solved not by geneticists, but by the political elites of states.

Types of GMOs

The origins of plant genetic engineering lie in the 1977 discovery that made it possible to use the soil microorganism Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a tool to introduce potentially useful foreign genes into other plants.

The first field trials of genetically modified agricultural plants, which resulted in the development of a tomato resistant to viral diseases, were carried out in 1987.

In 1992, China began growing tobacco that was "not afraid" of harmful insects. In 1993, genetically modified products were allowed on the shelves of the world's stores. But the beginning of the mass production of modified products was laid in 1994, when tomatoes appeared in the United States that did not deteriorate during transportation.

To date, GMO products occupy more than 80 million hectares of agricultural land and are grown in more than 20 countries around the world.

GMOs include three groups of organisms:

genetically modified microorganisms (GMM);

genetically modified animals (GMF);

genetically modified plants (GMPs) are the most common group.

Today, there are several dozen lines of GM crops in the world: soybeans, potatoes, corn, sugar beet, rice, tomatoes, rapeseed, wheat, melon, chicory, papaya, squash, cotton, flax and alfalfa. Massively grown GM soybeans, which in the United States has already replaced conventional soybeans, corn, rapeseed and cotton. Plantings of transgenic plants are constantly increasing. In 1996, 1.7 million hectares were sown with transgenic plant varieties in the world, in 2002 this figure reached 52.6 million hectares (of which 35.7 million there were already 91.2 million hectares of crops, in 2006 - 102 million hectares.

In 2006, GM crops were grown in 22 countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, China, Germany, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, and the USA. The main world producers of products containing GMOs are the USA (68%), Argentina (11.8%), Canada (6%), China (3%). More than 30% of all soybeans grown in the world, more than 16% of cotton, 11% of canola (an oil plant) and 7% of corn are produced using genetic engineering.

On the territory of the Russian Federation there is not a single hectare that would be sown with transgenes.

Methods for creating GMOs

The main stages of the creation of GMOs:

1. Obtaining an isolated gene.

2. Introduction of a gene into a vector for transfer to an organism.

3. Transfer of a vector with a gene into a modified organism.

4. Transformation of body cells.

5. Selection of genetically modified organisms and elimination of those that have not been successfully modified.

The process of gene synthesis is currently very well developed and even largely automated. There are special devices equipped with computers, in the memory of which programs for the synthesis of various nucleotide sequences are stored. Such an apparatus synthesizes DNA segments up to 100-120 nitrogenous bases in length (oligonucleotides).

Restriction enzymes and ligases are used to insert a gene into a vector. With the help of restriction enzymes, the gene and the vector can be cut into pieces. With the help of ligases, such pieces can be “glued together”, connected in a different combination, constructing a new gene or enclosing it in a vector.

The technique of introducing genes into bacteria was developed after Frederick Griffith discovered the phenomenon of bacterial transformation. This phenomenon is based on a primitive sexual process, which in bacteria is accompanied by the exchange of small fragments of non-chromosomal DNA, plasmids. Plasmid technologies formed the basis for the introduction of artificial genes into bacterial cells. The process of transfection is used to introduce the prepared gene into the hereditary apparatus of plant and animal cells.

If unicellular organisms or cultures of multicellular cells undergo modification, then cloning begins at this stage, that is, the selection of those organisms and their descendants (clones) that have undergone modification. When the task is set to obtain multicellular organisms, cells with an altered genotype are used for vegetative propagation of plants or injected into the blastocysts of a surrogate mother when it comes to animals. As a result, cubs with a changed or unchanged genotype are born, among which only those that show the expected changes are selected and crossed with each other.

Application of GMOs

The use of GMOs for scientific purposes.

Currently, genetically modified organisms are widely used in fundamental and applied scientific research. With the help of GMOs, the patterns of development of certain diseases (Alzheimer's disease, cancer), the processes of aging and regeneration are studied, the functioning of the nervous system is studied, and a number of other urgent problems of biology and medicine are solved.

The use of GMOs for medical purposes.

Genetically modified organisms have been used in applied medicine since 1982. This year, human insulin, produced using genetically modified bacteria, is registered as a drug.

Work is underway to create genetically modified plants that produce components of vaccines and drugs against dangerous infections (plague, HIV). Proinsulin, derived from genetically modified safflower, is at the stage of clinical trials. A drug against thrombosis based on protein from the milk of transgenic goats has been successfully tested and approved for use.

A new branch of medicine, gene therapy, is rapidly developing. It is based on the principles of creating GMOs, but the genome of human somatic cells acts as an object of modification. Currently, gene therapy is one of the main treatments for certain diseases. So, already in 1999, every fourth child suffering from SCID (severe combined immune deficiency) was treated with gene therapy. Gene therapy, in addition to being used in treatment, is also proposed to be used to slow down the aging process.

The use of GMOs in agriculture.

Genetic engineering is used to create new varieties of plants that are resistant to adverse environmental conditions and pests, with better growth and taste qualities. New breeds of animals created are distinguished, in particular, by accelerated growth and productivity. Varieties and breeds have been created, the products of which have a high nutritional value and contain increased amounts of essential amino acids and vitamins.

Genetically modified varieties of forest species with a significant content of cellulose in wood and rapid growth are being tested.

Other directions of use.

GloFish, the first genetically modified pet

Developed genetically modified bacteria capable of producing environmentally friendly fuel

In 2003, the GloFish was launched on the market, the first genetically modified organism created for aesthetic purposes, and the first pet of its kind. Thanks to genetic engineering, the popular aquarium fish Danio rerio has received several bright fluorescent colors.

In 2009, the GM rose cultivar "Applause" with blue flowers went on sale. Thus, the centuries-old dream of breeders who unsuccessfully tried to breed "blue roses" came true (for more details, see en: Blue rose).

GMOs - arguments for and against

Advantages of genetically modified organisms

Defenders of genetically modified organisms argue that GMOs are the only salvation for mankind from hunger. According to scientists' forecasts, the population of the Earth by 2050 may reach 9-11 billion people, naturally there is a need to double or even triple the world agricultural production.

For this purpose, genetically modified plant varieties are excellent - they are resistant to diseases and weather, ripen faster and last longer, and are able to independently produce insecticides against pests. GMO plants are able to grow and produce good crops where old varieties simply could not survive due to certain weather conditions.

But an interesting fact: GMOs are positioned as a panacea for hunger to save African and Asian countries. But for some reason, African countries have not allowed the import of products with GM components into their territory for the past 5 years. Isn't it strange?

Genetic engineering can provide real help in solving food and health problems. Proper application of its methods will become a solid foundation for the future of mankind.

The harmful effect of transgenic products on the human body has not yet been identified. Doctors are seriously considering genetically modified foods as the basis of special diets. Nutrition plays an important role in the treatment and prevention of diseases. Scientists assure that genetically modified foods will enable people with diabetes, osteoporosis, cardiovascular and oncological diseases, diseases of the liver and intestines to expand their diet.

The production of drugs by genetic engineering methods is successfully practiced all over the world.

Eating curry not only does not increase the production of insulin in the blood, but also lowers the production of glucose in the body. If the curry gene is used for medical purposes, then pharmacologists will receive an additional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, and patients will be able to treat themselves to sweets.

With the help of synthesized genes, interferon and hormones are obtained. Interferon, a protein produced by the body in response to a viral infection, is now being studied as a possible treatment for cancer and AIDS. It would take thousands of liters of human blood to produce the amount of interferon that just one liter of bacterial culture produces. The benefit from the mass production of this protein is very large.

Microbiological synthesis produces insulin, which is necessary for the treatment of diabetes. A number of vaccines have been genetically engineered and are being tested to test their effectiveness against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes AIDS. With the help of recombinant DNA, human growth hormone is also obtained in sufficient quantities, the only cure for a rare childhood disease - pituitary dwarfism.

Gene therapy is in the experimental stage. To fight malignant tumors, a constructed copy of a gene encoding a powerful antitumor enzyme is introduced into the body. It is planned to treat hereditary disorders with gene therapy methods.

An interesting discovery by American geneticists will find an important application. In mice, a gene was found that is activated only during exercise. Scientists have achieved its smooth operation. Now rodents run twice as fast and longer than their relatives. The researchers argue that such a process is possible in the human body. If they are right, then soon the problem of excess weight will be solved at the genetic level.

One of the most important areas of genetic engineering is providing patients with organs for transplantation. The transgenic pig will become a profitable donor of the liver, kidneys, heart, blood vessels and skin for humans. In terms of organ size and physiology, it is closest to humans. Previously, pig organ transplants were not successful for humans - the body rejected foreign sugars produced by enzymes. Three years ago, five piglets were born in Virginia, from the genetic apparatus of which the “extra” gene was removed. The problem with the transplantation of organs from a pig to a person is now solved.

Genetic engineering opens up huge opportunities for us. Of course, there is always risk. Once in the hands of a power-hungry fanatic, it can become a formidable weapon against humanity. But it has always been like this: a hydrogen bomb, computer viruses, envelopes with anthrax spores, radioactive waste from space activities ... Skillfully managing knowledge is an art. It is they who need to be mastered to perfection in order to avoid a fatal mistake.

The danger of genetically modified organisms

Anti-GMO experts say they pose three main threats:

o Threat to the human body- allergic diseases, metabolic disorders, the appearance of gastric microflora resistant to antibiotics, carcinogenic and mutagenic effects.

o Threat to the environment– the emergence of vegetative weeds, pollution of research sites, chemical pollution, reduction of genetic plasma, etc.

o Global risks– activation of critical viruses, economic security.

Scientists note numerous dangers associated with genetic engineering products.

1. Food harm

Weakened immunity, the occurrence of allergic reactions as a result of direct exposure to transgenic proteins. The impact of the new proteins that the inserted genes produce is unknown. Health disorders associated with the accumulation of herbicides in the body, since GM plants tend to accumulate them. Possibility of distant carcinogenic effects (development of oncological diseases).

2. Environmental harm

The use of genetically modified plants has a negative impact on varietal diversity. For genetic modifications, one or two varieties are taken, with which they work. There is a danger of extinction of many plant species.

Some radical ecologists warn that the impact of biotechnology may exceed the consequences of a nuclear explosion: the use of genetically modified products leads to a loosening of the gene pool, resulting in the emergence of mutant genes and their mutant carriers.

Doctors believe that the impact of genetically modified foods on humans will become apparent only after half a century, when at least one generation of people fed on transgenic food will be replaced.

Imaginary dangers

Some radical ecologists warn that many steps in biotechnology may surpass the consequences of a nuclear explosion in terms of their possible impact: supposedly, the use of genetically modified products leads to a loosening of the gene pool, leading to the appearance of mutant genes and their mutant carriers.

However, genetically speaking, we are all mutants. In any highly organized organisms, a certain percentage of genes is mutated. Moreover, most mutations are completely safe and do not affect the vital functions of their carriers.

As for dangerous mutations that cause genetically determined diseases, they are relatively well studied. These diseases have nothing to do with genetically modified products, and most of them have been accompanying mankind since the dawn of its appearance.

GMO laboratory research

The results of experiments on mice and rats that used GMOs are deplorable for animals.

Almost all studies in the field of GMO safety are financed by customers - foreign corporations Monsanto, Bayer, etc. It is on the basis of such studies that GMO lobbyists claim that GM products are safe for humans.

However, according to experts, studies of the effects of consuming GM foods, conducted on several dozen rats, mice or rabbits for several months, cannot be considered sufficient. Although the results of even such tests are not always unambiguous.

o The first human safety pre-marketing study of GM plants in the US in 1994 on the GM tomato served as the basis for not only allowing it to be sold in stores, but also for "facilitated" testing of subsequent GM crops. However, the "positive" results of this study are criticized by many independent experts. In addition to numerous complaints about the testing methodology and the results obtained, he also has such a “flaw” - within two weeks after it was carried out, 7 of 40 experimental rats died, and the cause of their death is unknown.

o According to an internal Monsanto report released with the scandal in June 2005, in experimental rats fed with GM corn of the new variety MON 863, there were changes in the circulatory and immune systems.

Since the end of 1998, there has been a lot of talk about the insecurity of transgenic crops. British immunologist Armand Putztai said in a television interview that rats fed modified potatoes had reduced immunity. Also "thanks" to the menu, consisting of GM foods, experimental rats found a decrease in brain volume, destruction of the liver and immune suppression.

According to a 1998 report by the Institute of Nutrition of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences, in rats that received transgenic potatoes from the Monsanto company, both after a month and after six months of the experiment, the following were observed: a statistically significant decrease in body weight, anemia, and dystrophic changes in liver cells.

But do not forget that animal testing is only the first step, and not an alternative to human research. If manufacturers of GM foods claim that they are safe, this must be confirmed by human volunteer studies using double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, similar to drug trials.

Judging by the lack of publications in the peer-reviewed scientific literature, human clinical trials of GM foods have never been conducted. Most attempts to establish the safety of GM foods are circumstantial, but they are thought provoking.

In 2002, a comparative analysis of the frequency of diseases associated with food quality was carried out in the USA and in the Scandinavian countries. The population of the compared countries has a fairly high standard of living, a similar food basket, and comparable medical services. It turned out that within a few years of the widespread introduction of GMOs into the market, 3-5 times more foodborne illnesses were recorded in the USA than, in particular, in Sweden .

The only significant difference in the quality of nutrition is the active consumption of GM foods by the US population and their virtual absence in the diet of the Swedes.

In 1998, the International Society of Physicians and Scientists for the Responsible Application of Science and Technology (PSRAST) adopted a Declaration stating the need to declare a worldwide moratorium on the release of GMOs and products into the environment. from them until sufficient knowledge has been accumulated to determine whether the operation of this technology is justified and how harmless it is to health and the environment.

As of July 2005, 800 scientists from 82 countries have signed the document. In March 2005, the Declaration was widely circulated in the form of an open letter calling on world governments to stop the use of GMOs, as they "pose a threat and do not contribute to the environmentally sustainable use of resources."

Consequences of eating GM foods for human health

Scientists identify the following main risks of eating genetically modified foods:

1. Immune suppression, allergic reactions and metabolic disorders, as a result of the direct action of transgenic proteins.

The impact of the new proteins that are produced by the genes inserted into GMOs is unknown. A person has never used them before and therefore it is not clear whether they are allergens.

An illustrative example is the attempt to cross the genes of the Brazil nut with the genes of soybeans - in order to increase the nutritional value of the latter, their protein content was increased. However, as it turned out later, the combination turned out to be a strong allergen, and it had to be withdrawn from further production.

In Sweden, where transgenes are banned, 7% of the population suffer from allergies, and in the US, where they are sold even without labeling, 70.5%.

Also, according to one version, the meningitis epidemic among English children was caused by a weakened immune system as a result of the use of GM-containing milk chocolate and waffle biscuits.

2. Various health disorders as a result of the appearance in GMOs of new, unplanned proteins or metabolic products toxic to humans.

There is already convincing evidence of a violation of the stability of the plant genome when a foreign gene is inserted into it. All this can cause a change in the chemical composition of GMOs and the emergence of unexpected properties, including toxic ones.

For example, for the production of the food additive tryptophan in the United States in the late 80s. In the 20th century, the GMH bacterium was created. However, along with the usual tryptophan, for an unknown reason, she began to produce ethylene-bis-tryptophan. As a result of its use, 5 thousand people fell ill, of which 37 people died, 1,500 became disabled.

Independent experts claim that genetically modified crops emit 1020 times more toxins than conventional organisms.

3. The emergence of resistance of human pathogenic microflora to antibiotics.

When obtaining GMOs, marker genes of resistance to antibiotics are still used, which can pass into the intestinal microflora, which has been shown in relevant experiments, and this, in turn, can lead to medical problems - the inability to cure many diseases.

Since December 2004, the EU has banned the sale of GMOs using antibiotic resistance genes. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that manufacturers refrain from using these genes, but corporations have not completely abandoned them. The risk of such GMOs, as noted in the Oxford Great Encyclopedic Reference, is quite large and "we have to admit that genetic engineering is not as harmless as it might seem at first glance"

4. Health disorders associated with the accumulation of herbicides in the human body.

Most of the known transgenic plants are not killed by the massive use of agricultural chemicals and can accumulate them. There is evidence that sugar beets resistant to the herbicide glyphosate accumulate its toxic metabolites.

5. Reducing the intake of essential substances in the body.

According to independent experts, it is still impossible to say for sure, for example, whether the composition of conventional soybeans and GM analogues is equivalent or not. When comparing various published scientific data, it turns out that some indicators, in particular, the content of phytoestrogens, vary significantly.

6. Remote carcinogenic and mutagenic effects.

Each insertion of a foreign gene into the body is a mutation, it can cause undesirable consequences in the genome, and no one knows what this will lead to, and no one can know today.

According to research by British scientists in the framework of the state project "Assessment of the risk associated with the use of GMOs in human food" published in 2002, transgenes tend to linger in the human body and, as a result of the so-called "horizontal transfer", integrate into the genetic apparatus of microorganisms human intestines. Previously, this possibility was denied.

GMO Safety Research

The technology of recombinant DNA (en: Recombinant DNA), which appeared in the early 1970s, opened up the possibility of obtaining organisms containing foreign genes (genetically modified organisms). This caused public concern and initiated a discussion about the safety of such manipulations.

In 1974, a commission of leading researchers in the field of molecular biology was established in the United States to study this issue. The so-called “Breg letter” was published in the three most famous scientific journals (Science, Nature, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences), which urged scientists to temporarily refrain from experimenting in this area.

In 1975, the Asilomar Conference was held, at which biologists discussed the possible risks associated with the creation of GMOs.

In 1976, the National Institutes of Health developed a system of rules that strictly regulated the conduct of work with recombinant DNA. By the early 1980s, the rules were revised towards easing.

In the early 1980s, the first lines of GMOs for commercial use were produced in the United States. These lines have been extensively reviewed by government agencies such as the NIH (National Institutes of Health) and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration). as proven safe for their use, these lines of organisms have been approved for the market.

Currently, the prevailing opinion among specialists is that there is no increased danger of products from genetically modified organisms in comparison with products obtained from organisms bred by traditional methods (see the discussion in the journal Nature Biotechnology).

in Russia Nationwide Association for Genetic Safety and the Department of Affairs of the President of the Russian Federation advocated “conducting a public experiment in order to obtain an evidence base for the harmfulness or harmlessness of genetically modified organisms for mammals.

The public experiment will be supervised by a specially created Scientific Council, which will include representatives of various scientific institutes in Russia and other countries. Based on the results of the reports of specialists, a General Conclusion will be prepared with the application of all test reports.

The discussion on the safety of using transgenic plants and animals in agriculture involves government commissions and non-governmental organizations such as Greenpeace.

How is the production and sale of GMOs regulated in the world?

Today, there is no accurate data in the world both on the safety of products containing GMOs and on the dangers of their use, since the duration of observations of the consequences of the use of genetically modified foods by humans is scanty - mass production of GMOs began quite recently - in 1994. However, more and more scientists are talking about the significant risks of eating GM foods.

Therefore, the responsibility for the consequences of decisions regarding the regulation of the production and marketing of genetically modified products lies solely with the governments of individual countries. There are different approaches to this issue in the world. But, regardless of geography, an interesting pattern is observed: the fewer producers of GM products in the country, the better protected the rights of consumers in this matter.

Two-thirds of all GM crops in the world are grown in the United States, so it is not surprising that this country has the most liberal laws regarding GMOs. Transgenes in the United States are recognized as safe, equated to ordinary products, and labeling of products containing GMOs is optional. The situation is similar in Canada - the third largest producer of GM products in the world. In Japan, products containing GMOs are subject to mandatory labeling. In China, GMO products are produced illegally and sold to other countries. But the countries of Africa for the last 5 years have not allowed the import of products with GM components into their territory. In the countries of the European Union, to which we so aspire, the production and import into the territory of baby food containing GMOs, and the sale of products with genes resistant to antibiotics, is prohibited. In 2004, the moratorium on the cultivation of GM crops was lifted, but at the same time, a cultivation permit was issued for only one variety of transgenic plants. At the same time, each EU country today has the right to impose a ban on one or another type of transgene. In some EU countries, there is a moratorium on the import of genetically modified products.

Any product containing GMOs, before entering the EU market, must go through the EU-wide approval procedure. It essentially consists of two steps: a scientific safety assessment by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and its independent review bodies.

If a product contains GM DNA or protein, EU citizens must be informed of this by a special designation on the label. The inscriptions “this product contains GMOs” or “GM product such and such” should be both on the label of products sold in packaging, and for unpackaged products in close proximity to it on the store window. The rules require that information about the presence of transgenes be indicated even in restaurant menus. The product is not labeled only if the content of GMOs in it is not more than 0.9% and the relevant manufacturer can explain that we are talking about random, technically unavoidable GMO impurities.

In Russia, it is forbidden to grow GM plants on an industrial scale, but some imported GMOs have been state registered in the Russian Federation and are officially allowed for consumption - these are several lines of soybeans, corn, potatoes, a line of rice and a line of sugar beets. All other GMOs existing in the world (about 100 lines) are prohibited in Russia. GMOs allowed in Russia can be used in any product (including baby food) without restrictions. But if the manufacturer adds GMO components to the product.

List of International Producers Seen to Use GMOs

Greenpeace has published a list of companies that use GMOs in their products. Interestingly, in different countries, these companies behave differently, depending on the legislation of a particular country. For example, in the USA, where the production and sale of products with GM components are not limited in any way, these companies use GMOs in their products, but, for example, in Austria, which is a member of the European Union, where there are quite severe laws in relation to GMOs - No.

List of foreign companies seen using GMOs:

Kellogg's (Kelloggs) - production of ready-made breakfasts, including corn flakes.

Nestle (Nestle) - production of chocolate, coffee, coffee drinks, baby food.

Unilever (Unilever) - production of baby food, mayonnaise, sauces, etc.

Heinz Foods (Heinz Foods) - production of ketchups, sauces.

Hershey's (Hershis) - production of chocolate, soft drinks.

Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola) - production of drinks Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, Kinley tonic.

McDonald's (McDonald's) - "restaurants" of fast food.

Danon (Danone) - production of yoghurts, kefir, cottage cheese, baby food.

Similac (Similak) - production of baby food.

Cadbury (Kadbury) - production of chocolate, cocoa.

Mars (Mars) - production of chocolate Mars, Snickers, Twix.

PepsiCo (Pepsi-Cola) - drinks Pepsi, Mirinda, Seven-Up.

Products containing GMOs

genetically modified plants The range of applications of GMOs in food products is quite extensive. These can be meat and confectionery products, which include soy texturate and soy lecithin, as well as fruits and vegetables, such as canned corn. The main flow of genetically modified crops is imported from abroad soybeans, corn, potatoes, rapeseed. They come to our table either in pure form, or as additives in meat, fish, bakery and confectionery products, as well as in baby food.

For example, if the product contains vegetable protein, then it is most likely soy, and there is a high probability that it is genetically modified.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to determine the presence of GM ingredients by taste and smell - only modern methods of laboratory diagnostics can detect GMOs in food products.

The most common GM agricultural plants are:

Soy, corn, rapeseed (canola), tomatoes, potatoes, sugar beets, strawberries, zucchini, papaya, chicory, wheat.

Accordingly, there is a high probability of meeting GMOs in products that are produced using these plants.

Blacklist of products that use GMOs most often

GM soy can be found in breads, biscuits, baby food, margarine, soups, pizzas, fast food, meat products (e.g. boiled sausages, sausages, pâtés), flour, sweets, ice cream, chips, chocolate, sauces, soy milk etc. GM corn (maize) can be found in foods such as fast food, soups, sauces, condiments, chips, chewing gum, cake mixes.

GM starch can be found in a very wide range of foods, including those that children love, such as yogurt.

70% of popular baby food brands contain GMOs.

About 30% of coffee is genetically modified. The same is true for tea.

Genetically Modified Food Additives and Flavors

E101 and E101A (B2, riboflavin) - added to cereals, soft drinks, baby food, weight loss products; E150 (caramel); E153 (carbonate); E160a (beta-carotene, provitamin A, retinol); E160b (annatto); E160d (lycopene); E234 (lowlands); E235 (natamycin); E270 (lactic acid); E300 (vitamin C - ascorbic acid); from E301 to E304 (ascorbates); from E306 to E309 (tocopherol / vitamin E); E320 (VNA); E321 (BHT); E322 (lecithin); from E325 to E327 (lactates); E330 (citric acid); E415 (xanthine); E459 (beta-cyclodextrin); from E460 to E469 (cellulose); E470 and E570 (salts and fatty acids); fatty acid esters (E471, E472a&b, E473, E475, E476, E479b); E481 (sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate); from E620 to E633 (glutamic acid and glutomates); from E626 to E629 (guanylic acid and guanylates); from E630 to E633 (inosinic acid and inosinates); E951 (aspartame); E953 (isomaltite); E957 (thaumatin); E965 (maltinol).

application genetics modification organism

Conclusion

When it comes to genetically modified foods, the imagination immediately draws formidable mutants. The legends about aggressive transgenic plants that displace their relatives from nature, which America throws into gullible Russia, are ineradicable. But maybe we just don't have enough information?

Firstly, many simply do not know which products are genetically modified, or, in other words, transgenic. Secondly, they are confused with nutritional supplements, vitamins and hybrids obtained as a result of selection. And why does the use of transgenic products cause such squeamish horror in many people?

Transgenic products are produced on the basis of plants in which one or more genes have been artificially replaced in the DNA molecule. DNA - the carrier of genetic information - is precisely reproduced during cell division, which ensures the transmission of hereditary traits and specific forms of metabolism in a number of generations of cells and organisms.

Genetically modified products are a big and promising business. In the world, 60 million hectares are already occupied by transgenic crops. They are grown in the USA, Canada, France, China, South Africa, Argentina (they are not yet in Russia, only on experimental plots). However, products from the above countries are imported to us - the same soybeans, soy flour, corn, potatoes and others.

For objective reasons. The population of the earth is growing year by year. Some scientists believe that in 20 years we will have to feed two billion more people than we do now. And already today 750 million are chronically hungry.

Supporters of the use of genetically modified foods believe that they are harmless to humans and even have benefits. The main argument advocated by scientific experts around the world is: “DNA from genetically modified organisms is as safe as any DNA present in food. Every day, together with food, we consume foreign DNA, and so far the defense mechanisms of our genetic material do not allow us to be significantly influenced.”

According to the director of the Bioengineering Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician K. Skryabin, for specialists dealing with the problem of genetic engineering of plants, the issue of the safety of genetically modified products does not exist. And he personally prefers transgenic products to any other, if only because they are more carefully checked. The possibility of unpredictable consequences of the insertion of a single gene is theoretically assumed. To exclude it, such products are subject to strict control, and, according to supporters, the results of such a test are quite reliable. Finally, there is not a single proven fact of the harm of transgenic products. Nobody got sick or died from it.

All kinds of environmental organizations (for example, Greenpeace), the Association "Doctors and Scientists Against Genetically Modified Food Sources" believe that sooner or later "reap the benefits" will have to. And, perhaps, not to us, but to our children and even grandchildren. How will "foreign" genes not characteristic of traditional cultures affect human health and development? In 1983, the United States received the first transgenic tobacco, and the widespread and active use of genetically modified raw materials in the food industry began only some five or six years ago. What will happen in 50 years, no one can predict today. It is unlikely that we will turn into, for example, "people-pigs". But there are more logical reasons. For example, new medical and biological drugs are allowed for use in humans only after many years of testing on animals. Transgenic products are commercially available and already cover several hundred items, although they were created only a few years ago. Opponents of transgenes also question the methods for evaluating such products for safety. In general, there are more questions than answers.

Now 90 percent of transgenic food exports are corn and soybeans. What does this mean for Russia? The fact that popcorn, which is widely sold on the streets, is 100% made from genetically modified corn, and so far there has been no labeling on it. If you buy soy products from North America or Argentina, then 80 percent of it is genetically modified products. Will the mass consumption of such products affect a person in decades, on the next generation? While there are no iron arguments either "for" or "against". But science does not stand still, and the future belongs to genetic engineering. If genetically modified products increase productivity, solve the problem of food shortages, then why not apply it? But in any experiments, extreme caution must be exercised. Genetically modified products have a right to exist. It is absurd to think that Russian doctors and scientists would allow products harmful to health to be widely sold. But the consumer also has the right to choose: whether to buy genetically modified tomatoes from Holland or wait until local tomatoes appear on the market. After long discussions of supporters and opponents of transgenic products, a Solomonic decision was made: any person must choose for himself whether he agrees to eat genetically modified food or not. In Russia, research on genetic engineering of plants has been underway for a long time. Several research institutes deal with biotechnology problems, including the Institute of General Genetics of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In the Moscow region, transgenic potatoes and wheat are grown at experimental sites. However, although the issue of indicating genetically modified organisms is being discussed in the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation (this is handled by the department of the chief sanitary doctor of Russia, Gennady Onishchenko), it is still far from legislative formalization.

List of used literature

1. Kleshchenko E. "GM foods: the battle of myth and reality" - magazine "Chemistry and Life"

2.http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safety_research_of_genetically_modified_products_and_organisms

3. http://www.commodity.biz/ne_est/

The Crisis of Agrarian Civilization and Genetically Modified Organisms Glazko Valeriy Ivanovich

Methods for determining GMOs in food products

Their development began simultaneously with the release of food products from GMOs on the world food market. Currently, the vast majority of GMOs of plant origin on the market, as mentioned above, differ from the original traditional plant variety by the presence in the genome of recombinant DNA - a gene encoding protein synthesis that determines a new trait, and DNA sequences that regulate the operation of this gene, as well as the new protein itself. As a target for the determination of GMOs in a food product, both a new modified protein and recombinant DNA can be considered.

Chemical methods for the analysis of products from GMOs. If, as a result of genetic modification, the chemical composition of the food product changes, chemical research methods can be used to determine it - chromatography, spectrophotometry, spectrofluorometry, and others, which reveal the specified change in the chemical composition of the product. So, genetically modified soybean lines G94-1, G94-19, G168 have a modified fatty acid composition, a comparative analysis of which showed an increase in the content of oleic acid in genetically modified soybean (83.8%) compared to its traditional counterpart (23.1%). . The use of gas chromatography in this case makes it possible to detect the genetic modification of soy even in products that do not contain DNA and protein, such as refined soybean oil.

New protein analysis. The presence of a new protein in the product makes it possible to use immunological methods to determine GMOs. They are the simplest to perform, have a relatively low cost, and make it possible to identify a specific protein that carries a new trait. Currently, test systems have been developed that can be used to quantify the modified protein in products such as soy protein isolates and concentrates and soy flour. However, in the case of the analysis of food products, during the production of which the raw materials are subjected to significant technological processing (high temperature, acidic environment, enzymatic treatment, etc.), immunological analysis may give unstable or poorly reproducible results due to protein denaturation. When examining, for example, sausages and confectionery, baby food, food and biologically active food supplements, enzyme immunoassay is unacceptable.

The ability to determine the protein is limited by the level of its content in the product. Thus, in most genetically modified crops on the world food market, the level of modified protein in plant parts used for food is below 0.06%, which makes it difficult to carry out enzyme immunoassay. Given this, in most countries the main methods for determining GMI in products are methods based on the determination of recombinant DNA, for example, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method.

polymerase chain reaction. The structure of DNA is the same in all cells of the body, so any part of the plant can be used to identify GMOs, which is impossible in the case of a modified protein.

DNA is more stable than protein and is less destroyed during technological or culinary processing of food products, which makes it possible to determine GMOs in them.

The method for identifying recombinant DNA includes several steps:

Isolation of DNA from food

Multiplication (amplification) of specific DNA characteristic of a certain variety of a genetically modified plant

Electrophoresis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products and photography of electrophoresis results.

As mentioned above, when creating a transgenic plant, a genetic construct is introduced into the genome, which consists not only of a gene that determines a new trait, but also of DNA sequences that regulate the operation of the gene. For these purposes, the PCR method is used with markers for the DNA sequence (gene) that determines a new trait. The result of the analysis will make it possible to detect the variety of the genetically modified plant that was used in the production of the analyzed product.

In Russia, in 2000, the PCR method was approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation as the main method for identifying GMIs of plant origin in food products. The sensitivity of this method makes it possible to determine the GMI in the product, even if its content does not exceed 0.9%. This approach is in line with the WHO recommendations adopted in most countries of the world community.

In 2003, it was approved and put into effect by the Decree of the State Standard of Russia N2 402, Art. dated December 29, 2003, the national standard of the Russian Federation GOST R 52173-2003 “Raw materials and food products. Method for the identification of GMOs of plant origin”, which approved this method for the determination of GM in food products.

At the same time, the national standard of the Russian Federation GOST R 52174-2003 “Biological safety. Raw materials and food products. Method for the identification of genetically modified sources (GMI) of plant origin using a biological microchip, based on PCR and including the same steps as the previous one. The difference is only in the last stage, which involves hybridization on a biological microchip instead of electrophoresis.

With the help of both methods set out in these national standards, the presence of plant GM in food products can be determined with the same degree of reliability.