by Since their introduction in the mid 1970’s, GMOs have faced heavy criticism due to their controversial impact on the health of animals both treated with and fed by the products in question. GMO stands for genetically modified organism, and it refers to a number of animal and plant products which have been artificially manipulated for a number of reasons. While the benefits of using GMOs are multitudinous, their continued use has seen many of the concerns of critics come to fruition.
One of the most prolific purposes of GMOs is the development and treatment of crops so that they become more resistant to the numerous pests that plague the agricultural industry. These efforts have proven to be incredibly effective and ultimately invaluable for the industry, leading to higher yields for farmers as they could expect higher and higher proportions of their crops to reach maturity unaffected by bugs and blights. While this technology has brought significant success, it also raises the possibility of a dangerous super bug, one that is unaffected and immune to the technology we possess.
While this may sound like the stuff of science fiction, it has recently stricken the nation in the form of cotton bollworms. Many plants which fell pray to the larva of these insects were modified to contain genes of a bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis, which produced a minor toxin which was highly effective and deadly to the larva while remaining relatively harmless to most other organisms, including humans. Upon genetic modification, these plants gained the ability to produce this toxin as well, providing an effective defense against the larval insects that once decimated the crops. Unfortunately, recent years have seen these larva evolving to be resistant to the toxin, and as such, their numbers have made a comeback in areas that were once free of the minute menace. This recent resistance can be attributed to the overuse and vast spread of the GMOs, which all relied on the same defense, and as such, the constant exposure expedited a response in the form of immunity to the toxin, resulting in a super bug that needed other methods of interference to limit their impact on the crops. This solution, which was once praised for eliminating the need for potentially harmful pesticides had become outmoded by the forces of nature.
This only serves to highlight the double edged sword that is genetic modification. It introduces a new and unchecked force into the ever changing balance brought out by millions of years of evolution and competition. The effects of GMOs, while wondrous and fruitful for us, often prompt a response from the wild; a challenge to be answered in the form of tougher problems, and while we may be able to manage these problems with our current resources and capabilities, these ever evolving threats suggest that one day we may not possess the means to limit their spread on a large enough scale to protect our resources. While we cannot turn back time to reverse these mistakes, we can prevent similar occurrences through by moderating our usage of GMOs and by staying conscious of the possible unintended effects of our unnatural sciences.