The Environmental Impact Genetic Engineering

Genetic Engineering is the manipulation of an organism’s genes to serve a specific purpose. It’s concept really started in 1973 when Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen created the first organism of recombinant DNA. Genetic Engineering has since evolved into a multi-billion dollar industry. It has been applied to myriad species in the past, but the most extensive use is plants. This is also one whose environmental effect is hotly debated. There are many pros for the use of GM, however possible negatives are present as well.

The Process

Technically, the process of genetic engineering is quite complex. But in a layman’s point of view, there are 6 major steps in the process:
* Figuring out what gene is needed - this can take a long time
* Isolating this gene (taking out of the genetic material in the cell)
* Inserting the isolated gene into a vector (such as a plasmid, the circular DNA in bacteria) - this can be done in various ways, one of which is using a ‘gene gun’
* Transferring the vector into the organism that needs to be changed (target organism)
* Transforming the cells of the target organism (incorporating the new gene into the cells)
* Eliminating the organisms that have not been properly genetically modified (selection)

Arguments Against

Genetically modifying plants could spell bad news for the environment in several ways. One criticism of companies taking part in this and governments is that they are not taking enough time to evaluate these possibilities and the potential consequences of their actions.

Creating New Viruses

One use of genetic modification is to make crops resistant to viruses. This means that they have a gene from a virus. Therefore, if a certain related virus enters the plant, genetic recombination could occur, resulting in a new virus that could affect different organisms or be more potent.

Creating Resistance to Insecticides

Some plants are modified to produce a certain toxin, toxic to insects, all the time. This would eliminate the need to use a certain insecticide. However, since this toxin would be produced all of the time, the insects would constantly be exposed to it. This would make it far easier for the insects to become resistant, similar to the process by which pathogens become resistant with constant use of the same antibiotic. An example is plants with an inserted gene to produce Bt toxin, which is also in an insecticide.

Unknown Effects in the Wild

Most genetic modifications are yet to be tested in the wild, and could have totally unforeseen complications and effects if released into nature. There is an intricate and complex relationship between all organisms and their environment in an ecosystem, so it is difficult to know whether introducing a GM species could have a huge effect or none at all! Predicting it all depends on the understanding of each organism and how it interacts with other organisms and the environment.

Weeding

A possible consequence of genetically modifying plants, especially to prevent damage from herbicides, is these plants escaping the land they were intended to grow on. They would enter other habitats, and then become weeds where they are unwanted plants and can only survive because of the genetic changes made to them. The introductions of these organisms could have unintended and sometimes negative effects. A major example of this ‘weeding’ is Johnson grass in the U.S., where it has become a weed.
Horizontal Gene Transfer

This happens when plants of a species that is related to the GM species is pollinated by a GM plant. This could result in the modified gene going from the GM plant to the related one. This could have disastrous effects, in terms of both weeding and resistance to herbicides. Say there was a GM species and a related one, which was a common weed. Say this GM plant was modified to be immune to a herbicide. If that modified gene was transferred to the weed, the weed too would become resistant, thus rendering the herbicide useless. An example of this is rapeseed (used to make Canola oil). In an experiment done only in the laboratory (and so untested in nature),  rapeseed was grown with a relative, wild mustard. Wild mustard is a weed. Horizontal gene transfer occurred, and the wild mustard became resistant to the herbicide that the rapeseed was modified to be resistant to. So if this kind of event occurred in the wild, it is possible that the specific herbicide could be useless and a weed stronger. There is no way to know of the effects in nature, however.

**Note that all of these possibilities are that, possibilities. It cannot be known whether these things will definitely happen.

Positives

Just as strong as its cons are, or even stronger some would say, are the positive reasons for conducting Genetic Modification. With population steadily on the rise, it is easy to predict that population will begin to outrun agriculture and food production. Already so many are without food in the world today. Genetic modification can hugely increase crop yield, because they will survive much easier. Also, because of inserting genes such as those to prevent rotting and to cause ripening when wanted, crops would arrive at the supermarket perfectly ripe and ready to use. Tomatoes and other crops are like this today. This increases efficiency and decreases waste. Plants could also be used to mass produce chemicals for medicines, also increasing efficiency and revolutionizing medicine. Scientists currently are working on producing a chemical in plants to fight cancer, along with diseases like cholera and Hepatitis B. Food allergies are also very prevalent in the human population; it is estimated that 2.55% of the U.S. population is affected with a food allergy. Genetic modifications can be done to remove certain proteins in crops that cause allergies. All of these reasons contribute to incentive for Genetic Modification.

But the question remains - should man use Genetic Engineering, and how?