Link:
Summary: Recently, a paper published in Environmental Sciences Europe shows that certain GM crops can harm animals' livers and kidneys. This report tested 19 studies of mammals being fed GM soy bean and corn to discover shocking results. 43.5% of males had kidney problems, while 30.8% of females were affected in their livers, according to the European report. It is possible that there may also be issues with the heart, spleen or blood cells. However, these tests were unable to prove the long term affect of GM crops. Scientists in the European report have covered 80% of the world's GM crops in these studies, but they are trying to further their research to take account for other possible affects to the organs.
Reflection:
This really worries me about GM crops. We are finding side affects of these crops very quickly, which makes me feel like there are plenty more out there. This time, GM crops are proven to animal liver/kidney problems and that they occur about 1/3 of the time. It makes me wonder that since humans are technically mammals, that we would also have these internal issues. What also worries me is that they reported issues with the heart, spleen and blood cells of some animals. With all of these problems, humans are bound to see some problems very soon.
This reminds me of the 2 other articles on GM crops we blogged about earlier because all three articles deal with the problem of GM crops. They all show different side affects of the same problem.
Questions:
1. What will have to happen in order to convince the government that GM crops are bad?
2. Is this study actually strong enough to support that GM crops are related to kidney/liver problems?
3. What can Environmentalists do to help people see the problems of GMO's?
4. Why should more people be concerned about this debate, instead of other issues?
Genticially modified organisms seem to have a lot of side effects in both human and animals. I am starting to question weither or not genitically modified organisms are a good idea. If almost half of the animals tested are having kidney problems, does this carry into humans? It has to have some effect on humans because humans and animals have bodies and systems that are alike. They need to further the research of these genticially modified crops to make sure that we are safe from disease and other devestations. This is like the lab we are doing in class with the herbicide killer. The GMO’s should not be effected by the herbicide killer, but this can potentially create a superweed if we keep on modifying the genes of these crops.
ReplyDeleteThree more questions;
1. what is the effect of gmo's on humans?
2. What is the long term effect GMO's have on humans and animals?
3.What can we do to stop the spread of GMO's?
This is really scary! All these problems can be caused by simple things such as soy beans and corn. This isn't a good idea. Clearly before relesing anymore GMOs the studies need to go on for a longer peroid of time and be more ceritan.
ReplyDeleteThree more questions.
1)What were some of the heart and other oragan effects GMOs had?
2)How many different GMOS are common here in Ameirca?
3) what other studies are being done on GMOs?
I see how GMOs are effecting our environment but I wonder what we can do. To fix the GMOs the easy thing to do is alter the gene again, but then problems arise again. If people really want to stop this problem then they should stop trying to destroy the GMO buisness and find alternatives. If people think GE crops are too unstable and others think organic foods are expinsive im sure a happy medium can be reached. Anyway, all of these articles are coming from an anti-GMO website, I wonder what a pro-GMO site would say.
ReplyDeleteQuestion 2: No, the study is not strong enough. Crops only in one area can't represent crops everywhere. Too many other things could have caused organ problems. If people wanted to do a more effective study then they would go to GE farms all over America and see if they animals organ function was effected.
This sudy is interesting. It shows the short-term effect of the GMO. However it does not show long-term effects. If there are long-term effects, then something needs to be done to fix them. I can relate to this when I have a stomach virus, I think the world is coming to an end, but I'm better in the next two days.
ReplyDeleteWhen will we know the long-term effects?
Does it have the same effects on humans?
What types of animals are suffering? Do those animals have strong immune systems?