CHEM 181 Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Genetically Modified Maize, Anticarcinogen, Storage Protein

• School: McGill University
• Department: Chemistry
• Course: CHEM 181
• Professor: Mitchell Huot

Document Summary

Published a book and a movie on the horrors of genetic modification. His paper was removed a few years after publication because the european food safety. Association concluded that his study had not shown what it claimed to have shown. Study made on rats that were fed with genetically modified corn showing large tumors. The animals were very prone to developing tumor. Very unusually large incidence of tumors in the placebo group as well. About a million people die every year from v. a deficiency. Taking a gene from food that contains beta carotene (which will be used by the body to manufacture v. a) and insert it into the genome of rice. Thus, we modify normal rice into rice containing v. a. American journal of clinical nutrition investigated how much beta carotene can be produced by gmo rice = a lot. Would reduce deaths and blindness associated with normal rice. Reason: people eat rice, which contains very little iron.