The Gene Scene: Are GMOs OK?
Vancouver, British Columbia, November 19, 2003
How many pounds of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) did you eat this year? If you live in North America, you probably don't know. But since about 70% of processed foods contain GMOs, you probably consume them on a regular basis.
So what are GMOs, and should you be worried about them? What effect do they have on the environment? How does the Canadian government regulate GMOs? Why aren't foods containing GMOs labelled? Why did companies develop GMOs, and what are their benefits? Do we understand the risks of tinkering with our food's DNA?
"We know a lot more now than we did when genetically modified crops were first introduced," says Mark Winston, a professor of Biological Sciences at Simon Fraser University, who studies the effects of genetically modified crops on biodiversity. "If there are any problems with the current crops they are more in the area of environmental as opposed to human health risks. But I don't mean to say that future crops won't pose human health risks," says Winston.
More than 200 Vancouver-area residents came to ask Mark Winston, Brian Ellis, and Herb Barbolet about the risks and benefits of GMOs at a public forum held on November 19, 2003 at Science World. The forum was one of a number held to stimulate discussion and debate in conjunction with the travelling exhibition, The Geee! in Genome. Sid Katz, an award-winning science journalist and professor of Pharmacology at the University of British Columbia, moderated the event.
Follow the links below to see how the panellists responded to questions from the audience.
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