Biotechnology ।। Harmful aspects or health risks of biotechnology or transgenic organisms
Toxicity: Addition of new genes into the organism results in production of toxic proteins or toxins. As a result, poisoning occurs in the organism.
Allergies: Unexpected protein formation due to the addition of new genes in the organism. These unexpected proteins cause allergies. Transgenic nuts and GM foods have been blamed for fatal allergies in children. Transgenic soybeans also cause allergies. Some people are allergic to GM soy, but natural soy is not. Foods rich in Bt genes cause allergies.
Nutrient Imbalance: The natural nutrient balance is not maintained in GM food due to the addition of new genes. Hence nutritional imbalance occurs in various fruits and crops.
Loss of food diversity: GM food does not have the same taste, smell, color, shape, beauty etc. as natural food. Because of this biodiversity decreases.
Destruction of Beneficial Insects: Insecticidal plants are created to control harmful insects. Many beneficial insects die by eating these plants. It disturbs the balance of nature.
Health damage: GM food causes health damage to various types of mammals including humans. It raises estrogen levels in children causing health risks.
Fatalities: Tests have shown that some rats have died within two months of consuming tomatoes. Thousands of goats, sheep and buffaloes have died in India after eating Bt cotton leaves. Some animals are in poor health or suffering from various diseases.
Antibiotic resistant bacteria: In biotechnology, antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria are created in the laboratory. If germs spread outside, life safety will be threatened. Again GM food causes antibiotic resistant super diseases.
Pesticide Resistant Insects: Insects become resistant to pesticides by eating insect resistant crops. Then they cannot be killed with pesticides.
Genetic contamination: Transgenes inserted into GM plants spread to various organisms through food and consumption. This results in genetic imbalance and genetic pollution.
Liver problems: GM potato-fed mice have smaller livers and are malnourished. Also, mice fed GM canola had livers 12-16% larger than normal.