Genetic Modification : A simple overview of dangers involved.

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

My mail regarding a letter to the Health Ministry, on GMO/LMOs has elicited a

lot of response asking me to explain in simple terms the dangers involved. Well,

to the best of my abilities, here is the attempted simplification.

We are all aware of the dangers of nuclear energy. This energy is dangerous

because it involves changes with the basic building blocks of matter. Similarly

genetic engineering is dangerous because it deals with the basic building block

of life forms.

In this age we are in a hurry to commercialise things, and also to go in for

large scale production. We are also in an age that seeks to merge science with

commerce. Whereas to the lay person this appears sane and practical, to those

studying these aspects closely the dangers are very apparent. When profits come

into the picture safety is thrown to the winds and reckless manipulation becomes

rampant.

We live in the age of science. However there are many things that have become

a stumbling block in the path of our scientific quest. Science has no room for

personal prejudice or errors but today these very defects dominate the

scientific arena. Researchers are motivated to find the " proper " answer induced

by the funds of corporates who sponsor the research. It also does not help when

corporate CEOs sit on the boards of scientific organisations. Or when the

defaulters themselves are asked to probe into allegations against them.

We see all these coming into play in the field of genetic engineering also,

just as what has happened in the case of pesticides, medicine and environment

pollution to name a few areas.

The genetic engineers started looking into the functioning of genes to know

more about life. After the DNA was identified came the urge to manipulate

things. Gene manipulation was seen as the panacea for all ills, whether it was a

case of curing and preventing diseases, creating new organisms or modifying

existing ones. The newspapers were suddenly full of possibilities for this

sector and it did not take long for the industry to jump into the bandwagon.

In the process the warnings of the genetic engineers about the dangers of gene

manipulation were pushed into the background. The genetic engineers are

basically concerned about the following;

1. Not enough is known about the role of genes in shaping life. The gorilla is

99%

similar to human beings in genetic structure and yet so vastly different

!!

2. Genes do not work in a predictable manner. They are fluid, that is they can

work

in any direction and hence are unpredictable.

3. Only 5% of the DNA is mapped, the rest 95% is considered to be " junk " .

Nature

has no place for such junk. Except for fat, no junk is ever stored.

4. Genetic engineering has exposed many myths, for example the virus theory of

disease, as viruses have been discovered to be carriers of genetic

material, and

are ordinarily essential for maintaining life. Such findings have far

reaching

consequences and will not be addressed in a hurry due to resistance by the

industry that has grown up based upon these myths.

5. Genes are not static entities but are constantly adapting to changed

circumstances

within the body and also actively interacting with the external

environment.

6. No two DNA are similar, as we have noticed through DNA testing of

individuals, and

therefore the question is, " Whose DNA has been mapped? "

7. Genetic manipulation can " jump species " , that is, changes to one species

can

unpredictably affect other species.

8. Exposure to genetically modified organisms cause reactions, both immediate

as

well as long term. Some immediate reactions have been observed. No one has

yet

studied the long term aspects.

9. Genetic modifications are irreversible and uncontrollable. Unlike nuclear

reactors we cannot build a shield around living organisms.

10.Costs involved are horrendous. It costs approx Rs. 90 crores to map a

genome.

11.Genetic engineering as a tool in the hands of any political entity would

make

Nazi experiments look like a sick joke.

12.There are obvious ethical implications of playing with life forms.

All the above warnings are tremendously important but have been ill addressed.

All the warnings have been found to be correct, based on subsequent happenings

and yet facts are being suppressed from the general public.

It is not enough, as is being suggested by the Indian government, that GM

produce based products carry an appropriate label. GM contamination is not

limited to consumption but starts from the experiment itself, down to production

and handling of the produce. The Govt of India is also not concerned about

genetically engineered drugs, pesticides and genetically modified viruses, all

of which are even more dangerous. This sort of a lax attitude cannot be

condoned.

Today there is an article in the papers which has criticised the UK's decision

to secretly grow GM trees. The papers have cited how this would have already

threatened the ecological balance of the region. This itself shows the highly

sensitive nature of the issue. It is not enough to condemn the Indian government

alone, we all should raise our voice against the commercialisation of the

genetic knowledge without first addressing the basic issues and putting in place

adequate safeguards, which according to genetic engineers is next to impossible.

We do not know the extent of contamination that has already occurred, almost

all trials are being carried out in secret, and under very lax conditions. In

India, GM plants have been consumed, and even sold in the market by farmers who

were ill informed. Similarly in many parts of the world, farmers have come to

grievous harm as they were not properly trained to handle GM produce. Drug

trials have resulted in catastrophes, and the unsuspecting people who have been

affected were not informed about the dangers involved. Billions of infants have

been vaccinated with genetically modified viruses. Farms where GM food has been

produced have affected neighboring farms growing normal food. Countries have

imported GM food, or processed food not fully knowing about the contents. The

situation is alarming but dissenting voices are very few as public education on

the matter is non existent.

We are rushing in where angels fear to tread. The pity is, not the fools, but

the most " intelligent " brains of the world are involved in this utterly foolish

endeavour.

Regards,

Jagannath.

" Our ideal is not the spirituality that withdraws from life but the conquest

of life by the power of the spirit. " - Aurobindo.

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