Experts analyze genetic problems Non-food safety incidents remind the public not to confuse

Experts pointed out that since the birth of GM technology, the debate has never been interrupted. However, the controversy surrounding genetic transformation is basically a matter of scientific cognition and technological identity. Therefore, it is necessary to step up popular science propaganda and inform the public about the real situation of genetic modification. In particular, the issue of genetic modification cannot be confused with food safety incidents that have occurred - genetically modified: "angel" or "demon"?

Summary:

In recent decades, the doubts caused by the new genetic sciences, including genetically modified technologies, have far surpassed the confusion caused by any other technological revolution in human history. In the coming century of biotechnology, which is already on the horizon, we must consider the following issues:

What kind of biotechnology should we choose to improve our lives, while recognizing and effectively avoiding the risks it poses? Should we look at genetically modified organisms in a new light? When we re-create genetic code for life, change nature and reshape the world with genetics, has it interrupted the evolutionary process for hundreds of millions of years, and it may cause irreparable consequences?

Is the genetically modified "angel" or "demon"? Is there any security risk in genetically modified products? Is planting GM crops an ecological safety issue? Will long-term consumption of genetically modified foods alter human genes? Whether China should actively develop GM technology... Transgenic technology has been facing such torture since its launch.

On the morning of August 23, the National Science and Technology Reporter Training Workshop on Genetically Modified Knowledge was held in Beijing. Four experts and scholars from the Ministry of Agriculture and China Agricultural University responded to genetic safety management and public opinion response, safety assessment of genetically modified organisms, and genetically modified organism technology. The current situation of research and development and the status quo of the research and development of transgenic animals and their perspectives provide an in-depth explanation of genetically modified technologies and products, and answers to some of the rumors and misunderstandings related to genetic modification.

The related debate has never been interrupted

What is genetically modified technology? Peng Yufa, a researcher at the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, gave the following answers: Using modern biotechnology, the desired target genes were artificially isolated and recombined, then introduced and integrated into the genome of the organism, thereby improving the original traits of the organism. Or give it new good traits. However, genetically modified organisms are organisms that use modern biological technologies such as recombinant DNA to change the genome composition and obtain useful new traits or new uses.

In other words, transgenes use molecular biology techniques to extract genes from certain organisms (possibly from animals, plants or even microorganisms) that have special functions (such as drought resistance and pest resistance) and transfer them to another organism. It is recombined with the latter's genes to form specific new varieties with superior genetic traits. This is roughly the same thing as what people commonly call "genetic engineering," "genetic engineering," and "genetic transformation." The use of these genetically modified organisms as direct food or raw materials for food processing is genetically modified foods.

The 21st century is the century of biotechnology. The research and development of genetically modified foods has become a hot topic in the academic community and the general public. In 1983, the world’s first transgenic crop, GM tobacco, was born. In 1994, the United States realized the first case of transgenic plants - delaying the commercialization of mature transgenic tomatoes. Subsequently, some countries such as Canada, Argentina, and China also began planting genetically modified crops. Genetically modified foods have brought tremendous economic benefits to humans, but various risks and ethical issues related to them have also surfaced.

According to Jianping Jian, Director of Division of Safety Management and Intellectual Property of Genetically Modified Organisms in the Department of Science and Technology Education of the Ministry of Agriculture, the dispute has never ceased since the birth of GM technology. As early as 1970 to early 1980, there were people in the United States who had been blocking gene cloning and manipulation techniques that were still in their infancy. In the Philippines in 2010, some people tried to stop the promotion of anti-A. flavus corn and removed genetically modified corn seedlings in the field; in 2011, they were in Australia. Some people stopped the GM wheat field trial and also removed the wheat seedlings in the field. Greenpeace asked the Australian government to ban the field trial of any GM wheat and stop its commercialization.

The close public concern for genetically modified technology in China began in 2009. On November 27 of this year, the National Agricultural Genetically Modified Organism Safety Committee under the Ministry of Agriculture issued two safety certificates for genetically modified rice and a genetically modified corn, which raised public concerns about the safety of genetically modified organisms.

Ju Jianping believes that the reason why some people oppose genetic modification technology is very complicated. It is not just a matter of science, but also includes moral, religious, and ethical issues. Some vested interests will also hinder the research and development of genetically modified products, because the production of genetically modified products will damage the operations of some companies, such as pesticide production enterprises.

Safety insecurity is critical in applications

“Safety is actually a relative concept.” Li Ning, Director of the Department of Gene Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture Science and Technology Development Center and senior agronomist pointed out in the lecture that some people said that only traditional food is safe, but in fact everyone knows, for example, that Beans, eaten raw, are poisonous, and eating uncooked beans also poisons; even some foods that are generally considered very safe, such as milk and eggs, are actually recognized by international organizations as allergens. Therefore, the zero-risk of traditional food does not exist.

Li Ning said that genetic safety generally refers to the prevention of risks or potential risks that genetically modified organisms pose to humans, animals, plants, microorganisms, and the ecological environment, that is, scientifically applied risks (uncertainties). This risk can only be identified and controlled through scientific means. It is a potential risk that needs to be dealt with. It needs some technical means to carefully evaluate and prevent it.

She said that the safety assessment of genetically modified organisms in China has been in line with international standards and is based on internationally accepted methods and principles. The GM foods passed a rigorous safety evaluation before being put on the market. The focus was to compare the similarities and differences between genetically modified and non-transgenic, and to avoid any shortcomings, and stricter safety controls than ever before. Therefore, genetically modified foods are safe and can be eaten with confidence.

"Transgenic technology is not safe and insecure. The key lies in its application." Peng Yufa's researcher outlines the "triple nature" of transgenic technology: First, advancement, that is, irreplaceability, can promote the development of breeding technology; second, affinity, ie, The combination of biotechnology and conventional technology; Third, safety, which is itself neutral, is critical to how it is applied.

Peng Yufa believes that the current development of the international GMO industry has exhibited the following characteristics: rapid expansion of application scale, significant ecological and economic benefits, rapid technological innovation, and increasingly fierce international competition; and, in this high-tech, high-risk, high-efficiency area, technology and industry The combination is the most compact, technology leads the industry, and the big market takes precedence; the integration of production, study, and research makes it possible for every link in the gene-product-service to make money, and even a new way of monopolizing the entire process. It can be seen that advancing GM technology is a strategic choice. For China with a population of 1.3 billion, the demand is particularly urgent. We must unswervingly implement the GMO industry that “accelerates research, promotes application, regulates management, and develops scientifically”. Development guidelines.

Safety management is the best response

Professor Li Ning, a professor at the China Agricultural University and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized in the lecture that, in essence, genetically modified organisms and conventional breeds are the same. Both are based on the original basis to modify certain traits, or add new traits, or eliminate the original unfavorable traits.

This is also true of transgenic and conventional breeding breeds, and both have a certain rate of miscarriage, birth mortality, and birth deformity. In addition, for animals born abnormally, both regular and transgenic animals will be eliminated and healthy animals will be selected.

However, genetically modified foods and ordinary foods are not much different, but genetically modified foods may be superior to ordinary foods in terms of nutritional value, taste and flavor. For example, transfer of human lactoferrin milk, milk, higher levels of high-quality protein. The target substance for transgene expression is usually a protein, as long as the protein expressed by the transgene is not a sensitizer and a toxin, it has no essential difference with the protein in the food and can be digested, absorbed and utilized by the human body. Therefore, it will not accumulate in the human body and it will not cause problems because of long-term consumption.

Regarding the issue of public concern about whether “genetically modified foods will change human genes”, Li Ning pointed out that if anything can change its own genome, the human species is no longer expected to exist. More than human beings, any kind of living creature will no longer exist. If the entire Earth's biosphere is disrupted, there will be no eternal individual! "Exogenous gene" is only a concept relative to a certain species, but it is familiar to us. Although the human lactoferrin gene is an exogenous gene for cattle, it has long been "endogenous" for us because it was contacted when we were born.

Academician Li Ning said that compared with traditional foods, genetically modified foods should be safer under a strict assessment system. For example, the cheese produced by the first genetically modified microorganisms that had been approved by the Swiss government in 1989 had a history of 22 years. In 1994, the genetically modified tomato was approved for listing in the United States. So far, it has been 17 years old. In 1996, the large-scale production of genetically modified soybeans, corn, and rapeseed has been used for 15 years. These products have long been consumed by humans on a large scale and no food safety problems have been found.

Ji Jianping, Director of Division of Safety Management and Intellectual Property of Genetically Modified Organisms of the Department of Science and Technology Education of the Ministry of Agriculture, particularly drew attention to the fact that in recent years interviews with the media on topics related to genetic modification by relevant leaders and experts have all focused on the following: Advancing research and application of genetically modified organisms is General trend; China's government strictly enforces the safety management of genetically modified organisms; the issue of genetically modified maize and rice safety certificates is scientific and legal; the issuance of safety certificates is not the same as allowing commercial production; the Ministry of Agriculture has never approved the import of any kind of genetically modified grain seeds into China. Commercial planting.

After refuting some of the rumors of genetically modified products that have emerged in recent years, Miao Jianping said that at present, the controversy over genetic modification in China is basically a matter of scientific cognition and technological identity. Therefore, science propaganda must be strengthened to inform the public about the real situation of genetic modification. In particular, the issue of genetic modification cannot be confused with food safety incidents that have occurred - "Anyway, doing a good job in genetically modified safety management is the best response."

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