Health risk and genetically modified organisms

Že od nastanka prvih civilizacij človek spreminja podobo narave s križanjem in drugimi kmetijskimi pristopi. Vendar je šele razvoj genskega inženirstva omogočil izmenjavo genskega materiala med vrstami, ki med seboj niso v sorodu. Tako nastale nove rastlinske in živalske vrste so sprožile številne etične, okoljske in tudi zdravstvene pomisleke. Čeprav je namen gensko spremenjenih organizmov (GSO) doseči večji donos, odpornost proti škodljivcem in boleznimi, imajo GSO tudi vplive na zdravje ljudi in živali. Znani so številni primeri transgenega prenosa genov, ki določajo izražanje toksinov, alergenov ali povzročajo rezistenco mikroorganizmov. Takšni primeri so na stopnji poskusov povzročili pogine laboratorijskih živali. Številne raziskave poročajo o pojavu resistence mikroorganizmov, antinutrientih tiaminaze in ω-6 maščobnih kislin, poginu glodavcev, ki so bili hranjeni z transgeno koruzo in podobno. Vendar pa ima implementacija gensko spremenjenih organizmov tudi pozitivne učinke, saj je uvedba zlatega riža, ki je bogat vir β-karotena, rešila številna življenja otrok v Afriki in Aziji. Poleg tega so transgene rastline bolj odporne na škodljivce in podnebne spremembe, ki postajajo vsakdanjost današnjih generacij. V prihodnosti je potrebno raziskave usmeriti v proučevanje dolgoročnih vplivov na zdravje, predvsem v smislu potencialnega vpliva na človeški genom. Med tem pa zagotoviti ustrezno zakonodajo in analizo tveganja vsakega potencialnega GSO, po principu previdnostnega načela bistvenega pomena, še preden pride takšen organizem v prehransko verigo.Since the first civilisations humans began to modify nature using breeding or other agricultural techniques. However, it is only the development of genetic engineering that enabled the exchange of genetic material between species that are not related. Although the goal of genetically modified organisms is to achieve higher yields, resistance to pests and diseases, there are also GMOs effects on human and animal health. Several studies report the occurrence of bacterial resistance, thiaminase and ω-6 fatty acids, the death of rodents that were fed with transgenic corn. However, the implementation of genetically modified organisms has also positive impacts, since the introduction of golden rice, which is a rich source of β-carotene, is saving lives of children in Africa and Asia. In addition, the transgenic plants are more resistant to pests and climate change and are becoming the norm today’s generations. In future research should be directed to the study of long-term effects on health especially in term of the potential impacts on human genome. Meanwhile the relevant legislation and risk assessment of single GMO on the precautionary principle is essential before such organisms are released in the food chain