As originally seen on Rosebud Magazine, ©2012, with sources added by GMO-Awareness
GMO foods are such an embedded part of our food system these days, but it’s not difficult to think back to a time when food was simpler and healthier. How did we get to the point that genetically modified organisms infiltrate so much of what we eat? In a recent issue of Rosebud Magazine, GMO expert GL Woolsey took a look at the history of GMOs. We present that for you here now.
1935 – DNA Discovered
Russian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky isolates pure DNA.
1973 – Recombinant DNA Created
The idea for man-made DNA, or rDNA, comes from a grad student at Stanford University Medical School. Professor Herbert Boyer and a few of his biologist colleagues run with it.
1975 – Asilomar Conference
A group of biologists get together with a few lawyers and doctors to create guidelines for the safe use of genetically engineered DNA. Source
1980 – First GMO Patent Issued
A 1980 court case between a genetics engineer at General Electric and the U.S. Patent Office is settled by a 5-to-4 Supreme Court ruling, allowing for the first patent on a living organism. The GMO in question is a bacterium with an appetite for crude oil, ready to gobble up spills. Source
1982 – FDA Approves First GMO
Humulin, insulin produced by genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, appears on the market. Source
1994 – GMO Hits Grocery Stores
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approves the Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves. The delayed-ripening tomato has a longer shelf life than conventional tomatoes. Source
1996 – GMO-Resistant Weeds
Weeds resistant to glyphosate, the herbicide used with many GMO crops, are detected in Australia. Research shows that the super weeds are seven to 11 times more resistant to glyphosate than the standard susceptible population. Source
1997 – Mandatory Labels in Europe
The European Union rules in favor of mandatory labeling on all GMO food products, including animal feed. Source
1999 – GMO Crops Dominate
Over 100 million acres worldwide are planted with genetically engineered seeds. The marketplace begins embracing GMO technology at an alarming rate. Source
2003 – GMO-Resistant Pests Appear
In 2003, a Bt-toxin-resistant caterpillar-cum-moth, Helicoverpa zea, is found feasting on GMO Bt cotton crops in the southern United States. In less than a decade, the bugs have adapted to the genetically engineered toxin produced by the modified plants. Source
2011 – Bt Toxin Discovered in Humans
Research in eastern Quebec finds Bt toxins in the blood of pregnant women and shows evidence that the toxin is passed to fetuses. Source
2012 – Farmer Wins Court Battle
French farmer Paul Francois sues Monsanto for chemical poisoning he claims was caused by its pesticide Lasso, part of the Roundup Ready line of products. Francois wins and sets a new precedent for future cases. Source
2014 – GMO Patent Expires
Monsanto’s patent on the Roundup Ready line of genetically engineered seeds ends in 2014. However in 2009, Monsanto introduced Roundup 2 with a new patent set to make the first-generation seed obsolete. Source
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THIS IS GR8
where is the history and origin of monsanto, info about GMO proliferation into the USA and europe, where is the info on how gmos have affected farmers in the US and the EU.????
We’ve addressed these issues here on this website… feel free to explore more: here’s our take on Monsanto; here’s our take about GMO proliferation. Info on how GMOs have affected farmers is included in our GMO Risks page, in addition to the effects on our health, environment, and our economy (including farmers). We also occasionally report individual farmer stories on our Facebook page.
There are many negatives and positives in the gmo situation is concerned. I think they are neither good or bad for us. So my question is why use them.
Because logic
It’s the only way to produce peptide drugs like insulin.
It kinda depends, GMOs help create more crops, and make the crops themselves take better, you just have to form your own opinion, I would just do some research on both sides before really choosing which one you really want to side with. All I’m saying is that you don’t have to look for the non-GMO label in everything you eat if you’re okay with them. Just another thing to make life easier.
ARE GMOs HELPFUL OR HARMFUL?
I would like to more about the harmful effect if i may
nevermind! i have found more in about “GMO RISK”!
if you want link me scholarly articles against GMOs!
Hello, I am doing a presentation to my class about GMOs. Can I share some of your information?
Absolutely! Thank you for asking!
sources?
As cited at the top of this page, the information was reprinted from Rosebud Magazine, and did not include sources for the various statements, however it was easy to locate the sources, so we’ve added them now. Thanks for the nudge!
So I am writing a research essay on how to raise awareness about GMO’s in the US, and i’d like to know where your sources are so I can give credit where credit is due. 🙂
Hopefully you found it… under the “Resource” link, the page titled “GMO News Sources.” https://gmo-awareness.com/resources/gmo-news-sources/
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Is there a specific person (or two) who discovered GMO Foods (not just GMO)?
Not that we’ve been able to uncover…
This source offers the information on who, by country of origin, made the initial discovery of the molecule.
http://www.glyphosate.eu/history-glyphosate
So I was wondering why so many scientists are confused about if they are good or bad, its almost like we don’t have enough research to make an educated decision on if they are good or bad. Can you not have such a biased opinion until you have the full story?
We would ask the same of everyone. If genetic engineering was doing what they promised us 20 years ago, we’d have a very different opinion! 🙂
What are they doing that they said they would 20 years ago? I don’t understand how this is so bad?
20 years ago they promised that genetic engineering would feed the world, produce drought-resistant plants, produce more nutrient-laden plants, yield more, etc.
Where is the part about how selective breeding has been modifying organisms for thousands of years?
Not quite. Read the first couple paragraphs of this page.
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You could also add that the patent on glyphosate for an herbicide that Monsanto held expired in 2000 and then they later applied for and received a patent on glyphosate as an antibiotic which Monsanto received for glyphosate in 2010:
(US7771736 was application to the grant number)
US patent number US 20040077608 A was granted to Monsanto in 2010 regarding the use of glyphosate. Some questions were posted on the website, GMO Answers (which is a propaganda site run by the biotech industry and Monsanto). Their shills were actually honest in their answers:
1).”People on the internet are claiming Monsanto patented glyphosate as an antibiotic, is this true?”
Answered by: By: Chelsey Robinson, Global Preparedness Content Manager, Monsanto Company on Tuesday, 11/25/2014: “Monsanto does have a patent that was issued in 2010 for glyphosate formulations’ antimicrobial activity.
————
2).”Why did Monsanto patent Glyphosate as an antibiotic? ”
Answered By: Dan Goldstein, Senior Science Fellow and Lead, Medical Sciences and Outreach, Monsanto Company on Tuesday, 11/25/14
“… glyphosate does inhibit an enzymatic pathway in many bacteria and parasites, and a reasonable case can be made that glyphosate might be effective as an antimicrobial.
>>>>> “(Technically, an antibiotic is naturally occurring, while antimicrobial covers a broader range of compounds, but most people use the terms interchangeably today).<<<<<
"Achieve reliably effective concentrations with a reasonable oral (or IV) dose in humans. This is difficult to achieve with glyphosate, especially orally."
Everyone please give some real thought on the GMO topic this election cycle:
https://www.organicconsumers.org/news/hillary-clinton-endorses-gmos-white-house-meals-are-organic
Are Bt toxins toxic to people? I thought it was only toxic to insects. Also, I thought Bt toxins is produced naturally by many plants? And it has also been included in pesticide sprays for many years. Please clarify your points on Bt toxins, as I was not aware there was any issue with them. Thank you.
The Bt toxin produced in GMO crops is not the same as natural Bt toxin. The process of genetic engineering changes it (as confirmed by the pro-GMO website GMO Safety). Additionally, there is no testing performed on the Bt toxin extracted from GMO plants (which would be the most effective scientific method), as it is apparently too expensive to isolate. Instead, testing is done on Bt toxin isolated from E. coli bacteria (as is the norm for GM risk assessments). The protein would be different from the one that is present in the actual GMO crop. Hope this helps and isn’t too techy! 🙂
In my research I found that two gene particles from the soil bacteria Bacillus thurengiensis were combined with corn (probably various with other crops) that incorporated the production of the crys protein that irritates and pierces the gut wall.
Looking at the summary reports from Canada and Brazil I was not able to extract the full picture but surmised that red cell deaths in the Brazil study in vitro was enough to concern me, and the presence of Bt in umbilical cord blood from the Canadian study added to my concerns.
I can not imagine other organs, such as heart and lungs would have sufficient barriers to stop the spread of the crys to them. There is concern about the Brazilian study that in fact cell deaths may extend to the bone marrow and include white cells as well as red. More research is needed. I can only for myself err on the side of caution.
Thank you for the clear concise information. What a travesty.
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I’m writing a research paper for my bio class and I’d love to use material found here. How can I site?
Cite GMO-Awareness.com, thank you!
As I’ve always said about GMOs, it’s the poison required to grow the crops to which I object. Post-2016 election, we now have no new hope for government scientists to test what Monsanto’s “antibiotic” is doing to the human biome, but just think about it.
I believe gmos can be improved and benefit the world as population grows.
We wish your belief were true! GMOs have not delivered on these promises. Keep digging, keep researching, keep reading… we know everyone needs to find information themselves before it can be believed. 🙂
I believe that gmos can be very helpful, gmos can provide plants protection from viruses, various gmo plants require less water as well, so because it requires less water farmed do not have to water plants as often, this means that the farmes use less fuel and are ultimately preserving water.
Ryan, hybridized plants can and do achieve all of these things. GMOs still do not. We invite you to research as much as you can.
It seems the sudden increase in crohns disease coincides with monsantos GMO corn when it was modified with a poison to deteriorate the guts of the cornworm
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The source on the first GMO patent issued is outdated. Please provide another source.
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