Transgenic plants: Risks, Concerns and Effects on Ecosystem and Human Health

Abstract

The review portrays the current status of transgenic crops in the backdrop of sharply divided opinion of anti-GM group vis-à-vis those who advocate that genetically engineered crops do not pose any threat to human or animal health nor does it disrupt the environment through introduction of superweeds. While acknowledging the concern of anti-GM activists, the article supports the view of NE Borlaug who sees no difference between the birth of a genetically complex crop such as hexaploid bread wheat and a bioengineered crop except that the former occurs in mother nature and the latter in the laboratory through genetic manipulation by molecular breeders. The article brings into focus that the methods now being employed to bring about genetic change in crops are safer as the use of antibiotic markers have been replaced by biolistic mode of gene delivery or use of chemicals such as mannose 6-phosphate marker. The article also points out that the chances of birth of âsuperweeds' destroying the environment will be minimized, if genetic transformation is brought about using chloroplasts. Another important role of biotechnology that is expected to be realized soon is its use in commercial production of oral vaccines for both humans and animals. The article mentions of some of the recent gene discovery such as genes for submergence tolerance in rice or genes that minimizes allergenicity in peanuts. Production of rice varieties capable of withstanding flood will dramatically increase rice yield in flood-prone countries and peanut lines with minimum or no allergen will be welcome in the consumer market where a sizeable portion of people suffer from peanut allergy. The article emphasizes the fact that every GM crop must be subject to rigorous scrutiny to ensure that it is free from any allergen, or hazardous toxic substance and that it is environmentally safe. The article supports the idea that in Europe GM crops with built-in terminator gene and traditional crops may coexist; i.e., may be planted in the same area as the European farmers buy their seeds every year unlike their counterparts in Asia and Africa. Finally the article recommends that the selected GM crops should be grown in the developing countries where the option before the resource-poor population lies between going without food or fall prey to the misinformation of anti-GM activists.

Key words: GM Crops, Anti-GM activists, Coexistence, Superweed, Chloroplast Transformation, Oral vaccines, Golden rice, Biosafety, Food security

DOI = 10.3329/ptcb.v16i2.1114

Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 16(2): 139-164, 2006 (December)