Misunderstanding Genetic Modification

Pseudoscientific sources view genetic changes as unnatural and therefore dangerous (“GMOs – Unnatural Foods, Unhealthy”, 2013). Using organic isn’t a “return” to natural products as suggested by media (Siddique, Hamid, Tariq, & Kazi, 2014), as agriculturalists have been selecting crops for their genetic changes for years. Reproduction of many plants involves the formation of gametes with independent assortment and random segregation causing many random genetic changes. In the past, plants were selected based on these random genetic changes causing phenotypic changes that were observable by sight or taste (Thrall, Bever, & Burdon, 2010). However, these random genetic changes are likely to have been accompanied by numerous other non-phenotypic genetic changes to the crops. In contrast, GM crops are subject to controlled and monitored genetic change (Key, Ma, & Drake, 2008). Therefore, rather than harmful “frankenfruit” (Ludekens, 2013), genetic modification in GM crops can be viewed as accelerating natural processes with greater restraint, to produce idyllic foods.

A fear of consuming genetically modified foods stemming from repercussions of the genetic changes is based in pseudoscience. Some sources spread fear by stating that these genetic changes are transferable and consuming the genes will infect the consumer as well (Walia, 2014). These sources fail to mention the DNA contained in every living organism that we consume. The body possesses mechanisms to break down the genetic modifications of GM crops and native genomes alike. For example, the pancreas releases nucleases into the intestines that indiscriminately break DNA molecules down into nucleotides (Hendrickson, 2017). Therefore, the process of consuming a GM food is identical to the process of consuming a non-GM food (MacDonald, 2015), and a fear of consuming altered genomes is illogical.