Advantages and disadvantages of transgenic technology

Benefits 1: It is safe for health. For example, insect-resistant transgenic corn will not be bitten by insects, which reduces the wounds on the corn and prevents some harmful microorganisms from invading, which reduces the chances of microbial invasion and is a guarantee for our health.

Benefit 2: having nutrients that we can't synthesize ourselves. Compared with non-GM foods, some GM foods, especially some GM foods in the future, have added some nutrients we need. Many of these nutrients are not synthesized by our bodies, which is of great benefit to us.

Benefit 3: pesticide residues are reduced. In the cultivation and planting of insect-resistant or disease-resistant transgenic crops, pesticides can be used less or even not, which greatly reduces pesticide residues.

1, a large number of genetically modified organisms may cross with wild species after entering nature, causing genetic pollution, thus affecting the protection and sustainable utilization of biodiversity. This kind of pollution is more harmful to the environment and ecosystem than any other factor. For example, herbicide-resistant transgenic rape can infect wild mustard, thus making wild mustard insensitive to weed control measures.

Some researchers believe that foreign genes will destroy the nutrients in food in ways that people don't know yet. According to the experimental report of the American Center for Ethics and Toxicity, compared with ordinary soybeans, the anti-cancer component isoflavones in herbicide-resistant transgenic soybeans are reduced.

It is reported that scientists have found that some genetically modified products may contain toxic substances and allergens, which will have adverse effects on human health and even cause cancer or some genetic diseases. Although there is no convincing research report that these improved varieties are toxic, some researchers believe that artificial extraction and addition of genes may achieve some expected results, but it will also increase and accumulate trace toxins in food.