A common perception of GMOs (genetically modified organisms) is that they are merely the result of scientists using modern technological tools to accomplish what farmers have been doing naturally for centuries — selecting for a different color of carrot, a grain with higher yields, etc.  Unfortunately, that’s a myth.

GMOs as Hybridization

Genetic modification can be used to effect this same type of thing.  An orange-carrot gene snip can be spliced into an otherwise-purple carrot, for instance.  (<– random, made-up example)  This is still somewhat riskier than natural hybridization because it’s manipulation of DNA.  We (humans) don’t understand DNA and genetics as well as we like to think we do, and there is at least the theoretical possibility of causing (harmful) changes we didn’t intend.

But this is not usually the main concern with genetic modification.  The greater concern is that this isn’t all genetic modification is used for.

GMOs as Unnatural Manipulation

Not all genetic modification is along the lines of adding an orange-carrot bit of DNA to an otherwise-purple carrot — the types of changes that might naturally occur in the field, but which may be hit-or-miss or take a long time.  Genetic modification is often used to mix the genetics of organisms that naturally cannot cross.  Like adding fish genes to strawberries. (source)  And once these abnormally-altered genetics are “in the wild,” there’s no going back.

GMOs as a Means to Toxicity

A further problem with GMOs is what they enable to happen.  The majority of genetically-modified foods currently on the market are modified to withstand Roundup (TM).  Roundup is an herbicide manufactured by Monsanto, with a main ingredient called glyphosate.  It’s designed to kill weeds (it’s sold on the consumer market for use on poison ivy, etc.), and supposedly doesn’t damage human bodies — but there’s a catch.

Glyphosate is believed to be harmful to soil bacteria (which, by the way, is bad for the long-term health of the soil, in direct opposition to the supposed principles for which genetic modification of crops was begun).  And guess what’s essential to healthy digestion (which is, in turn, essential to healthy everything else in a human body)?  Bacteria.  Glyphosate may not damage human cells*, but much of a human body is not comprised of human cells.  There are trillions of bacterial cells in a healthy body, and they are critical to healthy function.

Now, glyphosate-based herbicides were already being used before genetic modification.  However, genetically-modified crops have resulted in two major changes.  One, because “Roundup-Ready” plants are designed to withstand the herbicide (they aren’t killed by it; only the surrounding weeds are), much more of it is being used.  As much as 15 times what was in use before, by some estimates.  Second, the plants themselves take up a good deal of the glyphosate, meaning that when we eat them we are eating the glyphosate.  (source)

(By the way, glyphosate is also used as a crop desiccant — meaning it’s used to help dry out the crops following harvest.)

Decide for Yourself

You may disagree with my conclusion that GMOs are harmful and should be avoided.  We all weigh different evidence differently.  But whatever conclusion you arrive at, I hope you’ll draw it based on the full picture of what genetic modification is, rather than on commonly-held myths.

*May not.  Some well-respected organizations classify it as a probable carcinogen.