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This article provides information about the Potential Threat of Genetic Engineering to Human Well-Beings !
The scientific progress on molecular biology has a great potential to increase our understanding of nature and provide new medical tools, it is also used to turn the environment into a giant genetic experiment by commercial interests. The biodiversity and environmental integrity of the world’s food supply is very important for our survival to be put at risk.
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Genetic engineering enables scientists to create plants, animals and micro-organisms by manipulating genes in a way that does not occur naturally. These genetically modified organisms (GMO) can spread through nature and interbreed with natural organisms, thereby contaminating non genetically engineered (GE) environments and future generations in an unforeseeable and uncontrollable way. Their release is ‘genetic pollution’ and is a major threat because GMOs cannot be recalled once released into the environment.
Because of commercial interests, the public is being denied the right to know about GE ingredients in the food chain, and therefore losing the right to avoid them despite the presence of labelling laws in certain countries. Biological diversity must be protected and respected as the global heritage of humankind, and one of our world’s fundamental keys to survival. Governments are attempting to address the threat of GE with international regulations such as the Biosafety Protocol.
Scientists have developed a genetically- engineered (GE) insect resistant Bt rice variety. Genetically engineered insect resistant Bt rice has not yet been approved for cultivation anywhere in the world. There is neither environmental assessment, nor human food safety assessment available for any GE Bt rice. However, studies from other GE Bt crops such as maize (corn) and cotton give strong indications that Bt rice will have serious environmental consequences and there are human food safety concerns.
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GE insect resistant Bt rice varieties are developed to be resistant to certain pests such as leaf folder and yellow stem borer,. Bt cops are created by inserting a synthetic version of a gene from the naturally occurring soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) into the plant’s own DNA, so the plant creates its own toxin to destroy pests. Green peace opposed to this new variety of GE Bt rice on various grounds.