GENETIC MODIFICATIONS ON FOOD-ETHICALCONTENTWhat are GM foods? Benefts of GM foods.Common GM foodsDetailed view of BT brinjalPositive impact of GM foodsConclusion WHAT ARE GM FOODS ?Genetically modifed foodsare foods derived from Geneticallymodifiedorganisms(GMOs). Geneticallymodified organismscanbedefinedasorganismsinwhichthegenetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally. GMFisthedirectmanipulationofanorganismusing biotechnology.Genetic modified food was sold since 1!.BENEFITS OF GM FOODSEconomical: GM supporters tell farmers that they stand to reap enormous profts from growing GM crops. Initially, the cost is expensive but money is saved on pesticides.Herbicide-resistant crops: GM crops can be produced to be herbicide resistant. This means that farmers could spray these crops with herbicide and kill the weeds, without afecting the crop.CONTD.Better quality foods: Even animals can be genetically modifed to be leaner, grow faster, and need less food. They could be modifed to have special characteristics, such as greater milk production in cows. These modifcations again lead to improved productivity for farmers and ultimately lower costs for the consumerPositive Environmental Impacts of GMO's: Soil salinity has become a major problem in all agriculture especially in the San Joaquin Valley. This has made crops less able to grow and in some cases unable to grow at all.CONTD Thus we need to research the possibility of using the genes of salt tolerant plants species (eg: mangrove) in our agricultural crops.Creating a Sustainability through GMO's: Some of the most exciting advances in genetically altered plants are for non-food sources. The genetic engineering of plants has the potential to provide edible plant vaccines that could be used to immunize individuals against a wide variety of infectious diseases Onesuch example:the transgenic potato plants that have been produced and tested successfully by utilizing a genetically engineered food to deliver a pharmaceutical immunization against diarrhea.COMMON GM FOODSMaize(corn) Golden riceBT cottonBT brinjalSoybeanPotatoesTomatoesBT BRINJAL TheBt brinjalis a suite of transgenicbrinjals(also known as an eggplant) created by inserting a crystal protein gene (Cry1Ac) from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis into the genome of variousbrinjalcultivars.The expression of the cry1Ac genes provides an efective built-in control in brinjal crop and thus reduces pests-linked damages and protects the environment from adverse efects of pesticides. This is also expected to bring down the cultivation cost of brinjal, as the cost of chemical pesticides to brinjal cultivation is substantialThe cry1AC protein produced in Bt brinjal is similar in structure and function to that found in nature and in commercial POTENTIAL BENEFITS OF BT BRINJAL IN INDIA Benefts to farmers:(i) Increase in production ( tonnes)Saving from insecticides (in crore)Increase in net returns (in crore)Increase in net returns Benefts to consumers:Likely reduction in brinjal price (%)POSITIVE IMPACT OF GM CROPSImproved agricultural performance with less labour input and less cost input.Foods with a greater shelf life, like tomatoes that taste better and last longerDisease and herbicide resistancePotentially drought resistanceImproved nutritional content Improved sensory propertiesCONCLUSIONProponents of GM crops claim that advantages may be many, such as:improved storage and nutritional qualitypest and disease resistanceselective herbicide tolerancetolerance of water, temperature and saline extremesimproved animal welfarehigher yields and quality

However, until further studies can show that GM foods and crops do not pose serious threats to human health or the worlds ecosystems.Genetically"modifiedfoodsha#ethepotentialtosol#emanyofthe world$s hunger and malnutrition problems. %ohelpprotectandpreser#etheen#ironmentbyincreasingyieldand reducing reliance upon chemical pesticides and herbicides.&et there are many challenges ahead for go#ernments' especially in the areas of safety testing' regulation' international policy.Many people feel that genetic engineering is the ine#itable wa#e of the futureandthatwecannotaffordtoignoreatechnologythathassuch enormous potential benefits. (owe#er'wemustproceedwithcautiontoa#oidcausingunintended harmtohumanhealthandtheen#ironmentasaresultofour enthusiasm for this powerful technology.THANK YOU!