To review the use of GM foods from various sources

GM foods, in short for Genetically modified foods, are foods that are derived from desired traits from plants, animals, insects and other organisms, using the molecular biology method. The genetic engineering method may also be used for the transferring of genes, so that the new modified plant has drought tolerance, for instance. Non plant organisms may also be used, a good example would be the transfer of Bacillus thuringiensis into corn. This type of bacterium produce crystal proteins that kills the insect larvae. This suggests that the newly modified plant is resistent to the insect larvae, as it produces its own pesticides.


Due the the recent technological advancements, scientists have devloped many kinds of food crops with different advantages. These are the following trends of GM foods:

1. Pest resistance->Some crops may be infested by insects, casuing financial losses and starvation in poorer countries. To overcome these problems, farmers used the pesticides and insecticides. However, this pose a problem to the overall health and the environment (water), especially if excessive chemical fertilisers have been used. By growing GM crops, it allows the crops to develop its own pesticides againts insects. This saves cost and minimises pollution to the environment.

2. Herbicide tolerance-> It is not cost effective for the farmers to remove the weeds that have grown over time physically, most farmers choose to destroy the weeds by spraying different quantities of weed killers. Moreover, this is expensive and time-consuming. Crop plants genetically-engineered to be resistant to one very powerful herbicide could help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed.

3. Disease resistance-> Many microorganisms are present in the food that we eat, and in the environment, which makes us more susceptible to diseases. Plant biologists uses the genetic engineering method to create plants that are resistance to these diseases.

4. Cold tolerance->Unintended freezing can kill sensitive seedlings. An antifreeze gene from cold water fish has been introduced into plants such as tobacco and potato. With this antifreeze gene, these plants are able to tolerate cold temperatures that normally would kill unmodified seedlings.

5. Drought tolerance-> With increasing population, there has been a demand for housing. As a result, there is a problem of space constrains, which led to land which were originally used for crop production been changed for housing. Food crops has been shift to the land plots which were unsuited for its growth. However these plants are unable to withstand long periods of droughts and the high salinity in the soil and groundwater. Creating plants through genetic modification will help people to grow crops in formerly inhospitable places.

6. Nutrition->Malnutrition is a common problem in the third world countries. With the growth of the GM crops, additional nutrients and vitamins such as vitamin A and Vitamin C may be added which helps to alleviate the problems of nutritional deficiency.

7. Phamaceuticals-> Medicines and vaccines are expensive and require special storage conditions. This may pose a problem in the third world countries where it is not medically advanced. Scientists working in the research field are working to develop edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes. These vaccines ensures easier shipping, storage and administration than traditional injectable vaccines.

8. Phytoremedication->It is not neccessary for GM plants to be grown as crops, as pollution continues to pose a problem. With genetic engineering, it allows the heavy metals to be removed from pollution.