THE ROLE OF BIO-TECHNOLOGY, IN NUTRITIONAL POINT OF VIEW

THE ROLE OF BIO-TECHNOLOGY, IN NUTRITIONAL POINT OF VIEW

Abstract.

In 1975-76 the Pakistan total cropping area was 18.02 million hectares, while Sindh a Province of it had 3.71 million hectares under crops. In 1994-95 the country’s total cropping area increased and became 22.14 while Sindh stood at 3.50 million hectares. In 1951 population of the country was 33.17 million while in 1996 population increased up to 131.630 million hectares, this shows that the cropping area did not increase in proportion to the population increase. In 1988 country’s total area under water logging and salinity was 1.495 million hectares and by the year 1993 the area affected by water logging and salinity became 4,923 million hectares.

In 1950 when population was less the food was enough for everybody but as population grew, the food became less. At that time country moved towards Green Revolution, which was launched to combat the threat of mass starvation, but soon it brought side, effects, due to use of more irrigation water, which in turn resulted into salinity and water logging. More use of synthetic chemicals also brought pollution in the soil, air and water. The more use of synthetic chemicals resulted into large scale grain production at cost of vegetables and fruits, the vitamin and minerals content of day to day food items continued decline in our daily life. the reason was the use of pesticides, processing techniques like refrigeration, freezing, and during transportation food need waxination and post-harvest treatment. The more consumption of animal protein high cholesterol and over weight problems.

In order to full fill the population food demand farmer were compelled to make use of synthetic farm chemicals, which formed a major ingredient of so called green revolution but soon afterwards this also showed its side effects. In order to resolve the problem, scientists have to make use of biotechnology, to help in improving crop production efficiencies, reducing environmental hazards caused by synthetic farm chemicals, and improve the nutritional value of these crops.

In order to gain control over this situation, scientists have to start work with the help of genetic engineering in the field of biotechnology and gene technology to utilise this technology for food processing, production, improve food quality, enhance nutritional values of agricultural commodities with better appearance, fruit and vegetables with long shelf life, to cut down the use of additive and preservative in food, make the crops resistance to various infection and diseases, use less fertilisers, less herbicide and fungicide, at the same time use this technology for invention of new vaccine and medicine.



Agri-food biotechnology products.

Canola rapeseed: Imidazolinone-tolerant canola. Canola rapeseed: Male sterility (MSI), fertility restoration (RFI), glufosinate ammonium herbicide tolerance. Canola: High lauric acid. Canola: Glyphosate tolernt. Canola: Glufosinate tolerant. Corn: Lepidopteran resistant. Corn: Phosphinothricin tolerant. Corn: Male sterile/phosphinothricin tolerant. Oilseed rape: Glufosinate ammonium tolerant canola. Oilseed rape: Round-up herbicide tolerant. Oilseed rape: Herbicide resistant. Potato: Coleopteran resistant. Potato: Colorado potato beetle resistant. Papaya: PRV resistant. Rice: RSV resistant. Rapeseed: Oil profile altered. Soybean: Glyphosate tolerant. Soybean: Round-up herbicide tolerant. Squash: Viral Resistance (WMV2/Coat Protein-ZYMV). Tomato: polygalacuturonase level decreased. Tomato: Fruit ripening altered. Tomato: TMV resistant. Tomato: Fruit polygalacturonase level decreased. Tomato: CMV resistant and Tomato: High pectin.






































THE ROLE OF BIO-TECHNOLOGY, IN NUTRITIONAL POINT OF VIEW.

General.

In Pakistan most of women are malnourished. There are many factors involved simultaneously like poverty, unemployment, work load, and availability of healthy food. This extra work needs extra time and extra calories.

According to the German specialist Dr. Ploeger the human have in between in the carnivorous and herbivorous. So human have both cutting and chewing teeth and, in herbivorous animal intestine have ratio 20:1 and the carnivorous intestine have ratio 4:1, while human intestines ratio is 12:1. This explains that human food mostly consist of plant origin. In 1950 when population was less the food was enough for every body but when population grew, at that time the food was less and population was more, at that time Scientists moved towards Green Revolution, which was launched to combat the threat of mass starvation, but soon it brings side effect due to more use of irrigation water, which results into salinity and water logging and more use of synthetic chemicals brought population in the soil, air and water. Since the more use of synthetic chemicals results into vitamin and minerals content continue decline in our daily life, the reason was the use of pesticides, processing techniques like refrigeration, freezing, and during transportation food need waxination and post-harvest treatment. The more consumption of animal protein also develop high cholesterol and over weight problems.

In order to control this situation Scientists start work with the help of genetic engineering in the field of biotechnology and gene technology to utilise this technology for food processing, production, improved food quality, enhanced nutritional values and agricultural commodities with better appearance, fruit and vegetable with long shelf life, cut down the use of additive and preservative in food, make the crops resistance to various infection and diseases, use less fertilisers, less herbicide and fungicide, at the same time use this technology for invention of new vaccine and medicine.

The criteria use for genetically evolved corps are:

• Herbicide tolerance.
• Disease resistance.
• Virus resistance.
• Insect resistance.
• Quality traits.
• Better colour.
• Better taste and flavour.
• Resistance to stress, drought and salinity.


Genetically evolved crops:

• Field Crops.
Rice, maize, sorghum, barley, alfalfa, corn, cotton, and wheat.

• Root Crops.
Cassava, yeam, sweet potatoes, sugar beet, ground nut, sugar cane.

• Legumes.
Bean, cow-pea, chickpeas, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, pigeon, pea, rapeseed, pea, lettuce, melon, papaya, soybean, and squash.

• Horticulture crops.
Banana, apple, kiwifruit, curubits, pineapple, coffee, citrus, sugar cane, cocoa, tobacco, wall nut, tomato and oil seed.

• Ornamentals.
Rose, papaya.

• Tree and Shrubs.
Coconut, palm oil and wall nut.

Corn.

Corn = Resistance to corn borer ( Bt toxin ) , use to control insect, pest, name
Maximitizer.

Corn = Resistance to corn borer ( Bt toxin ) , use to control insect pest, name
Nature gard.

Corn still under process.

Corn = Resistance to herbicide glufosinate, use to control weeds.

Corn = Resistance to herbicide glufosinate use to control weed, name Liberty
Link.

Corn = Resistance to corn borer ( Bt toxin ) use to control insect pest name
Yield guard.

Corn = Show male sterility, use to facilitate plant breeding.

Corn = Resistance to corn borer ( Bt toxin ) use to control insect, pest.

Rice.

The nutritional value in rice is also be re-programmed since it has 5-10% soluble prolamine, while the human digestive system absorbs 70-80% insoluble gluten, so this technology is used to increase protein percentage high, which can easily absorb and transgenic rice will have more nutritional value, drought resistance and salinity tolerance.

Maize.

Maize genetically modified for tolerance to the European corn borer (ostrinia nubilalis), main insect pest for maize. The genetic modified maize contain bacterial gene, which confers resistance to European corn borer, also contain selectable marker gene for tolerance to herbicide glufosinate ammonium and antibiotic amphicilin. The amphicillin resistance gene has bacterial regulatory sequences and not express in maize. The herbicide resistance gene product was not present in freshly harvested grain from the genetic modified maize.

The insecticidal activity was detected in the fresh grain, but disappear after drying, and dehydration of the grain. The bacterial regulatory sequences on the gene could allow the gene to become function if it were transferred from the genetic modified maize to a bacterium, and allow many copy of gene to be generated in a cell, which could lead high level of production of gene product. The chances of such a transfer occurring in very low but infinite.

Conclusion.

The use of unprocessed maize as an animal feed stuff is unacceptable.

Potato.

Both coloured and white variety need high level of insecticide, fertiliser, fungicides and nematocide. Genetically evolved potato name is New leaf. As a result potato can be kept for longer time without sprouting.





Squash.

Squash = Resistance to two viruses, use to control two viruses disease name Freedom 11.

Squash under process.

• Squash = Resistance to 3 viruses.
• The new crookneck squash called ZW-20.
• The squash have more shelf life, better keeping quality.

Soybean under process.

Soybean = Resistance to herbicide glufosinate use to control weeds.

Brazil nut protein, which is rich in methionine amino acids, this amino acid is essential for human and animal nutrition, is genetically transferred to soybean. It is confirmed by the doctors that transgenic soybean is showing life threatening reaction with those patients show confirmed allergic to brazilian nut. It means that transgenic soybean is not safe to eat.

Cocoa.

Cocoa harvest need fermentation, allow the aroma precursor to develop in the cotyledon and drying process, helps to reduce water content and remove Acetic acid formed during fermentation. The genetically evolved cocoa have better aroma.

Canola.

Canola = Altered the oil composition to produce high lauric acid, so increase market
value in soap and food production name is Laurical.

Canola still under process.

Canola = Variety resistance to herbicide glufosinate, which can control weed.

Canola = Variety resistance to herbicide gluphosate, which can control the
weed.

Canola = Variety which have sterility, facilitate plant breeding.

Canola contain genetically modified glufosinate ammonium tolerant oil seed rape. The oil seed used as a source of protein for animal feed industry. The Brassica species normally contain toxic glycosinolate and euric acid. The oil seed rape variety called Topas. The genetically modified oil seed rape plant, can be used in manufacturing process such as production of biodegradable plastics.

Alfalfa.

Add nif A regulatory gene responsible for transcription activation of the Nitrogen fixation enzyme system, so genetically enhanced strain produced significantly more alfalfa forage than their respective parent strain.

Palm oil.

Palm oil extract fatty, esters, glycerol used in soap, candly, lubricants, plasticidser for PVC, cosmetics, and palm oil are substitute of cocoa butter.

Tomato.

• Tomato ( cherry ) = Altered ripening, use to enhance fresh market value.

• Tomato = Delayed ripening, use to enhance fresh market, name Flvr save.

• Tomato = Delayed ripening, use to enhance fresh market value.

• Tomato = Thicker skin, altered pectin, use to enhance processing value.

• Lycopersicon Esculentum. (Modern tomato).

Genetically modified tomatoes with various feature.

Lycopersicon Chilense = Drought resistance.

Lycopersicon Chmielewskii = Colour intensity, increase sugar content.

Lycopersicon Esculenturn
Cerasi Fomr = Tolerance of high temperature and humidity

Lycopersicon Hirsuturm = High altitude form, resistant to many disease
and pests.

Lycopersicon Parviflorium = Colour intensity, increased soluble solid.



Lycopersicorn Pennellii. = Drought resistnace, increase Vitamin C, and
sugar content.

Lycopersicon Peruvianum. = Pest resistance, rich source of Vitamin C.


Lycopersicon Pimpinellifo- = Wide disease resistnace, lower acidity,
llum. Vitamin content.

The tomato are genetically modified to improve fruit quality by reducing the level of pectin degrading enzyme present in tomatoes. So the nutritional composition of genetically modified tomatoes become similar to that of conventionally bred counter part with better shelf life.

Process food.

Sugar and starch is derived from sugar cane maple tree. Sorghum, sugar beets, corn, potatoes, cassava. The gene Thaumatin is a protein weight of some 1600 times more sweeter than sugar is used by North to add in a transgenic crops, which will block the market of sugar and starch derived from sugar can in the South.

Sweetener is derived form maize by fructose extracted syrup. This will replace fructose derived from sugar cane. The country which grow sugar cane are Philippine, Madagascar, Negross Island, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Aspartame ( Nutra sweet ) is made from phenyalanine and aspartic acid. The large dose of phenyalnine are toxic to the brain and can cause mental retardation. It may cause headache, depression, mood swings, high blood pressure, insomnia, aspartame also cause birth defect.

It is confirm that aspartame when administrated in huge quantities, may contribute to the development of brain tumours. According to the study by leading U.S. Scientist they suggest a link between aspartame sold principally under the brand name Nutrasweet and by using it is 100% rise in brain tumour. It is confirmed that sweetener have link with the brain tumours.

Ohmic heat in extension of use.

Ohmic heating or direct resistance heating is used for sterilising the range of particular fruit products e.g straw berries and ready made meals. This process could reduce the level of some heat liable vitamins, like Folic acid, thiamine and Vitamin C.




Ohmic heating to particulate fruit products.

Ohmic heating or direct resistance heating is a process which sterilises foods, subsequently a sceptically packed. The liquid food or solid food particles are passed through an alternating electric current. The food is pumped between a series of specially designed electrodes of titanium coated with platinum and iridium. The food remain in the ohmic heater for few seconds then pumped through a holding tube for temperature equilibration. The heat sterilised food then cooled and ascetically packed.

Irradiation is used for shipment of fresh fruit and vegetable enter from other countries, this radiation resulted into break down of amino acid and after consumption of this food, it may develop cancer.

Guarana products.

The solid guarana products are used in non beverage formation, and the sale of solid guarana such as powder for sprinkling on food has been discontinued, because caffeine and methyxanthine levels present in guarana to the same level as found in existing dietary items like tea, coffee, colour.

Long chain poly unsaturated fatty acids and use in infanct formula.

During pre and post natal development. The long chain poly unsaturated fatty acids
( LCPFA ) arachidonic acid and decosahexaenoic acid and important role in natural development and visual cortical function. Which is naturally present in the breast milk. The infant formula is lacking these fatty acid and infant body is unable to synthesise long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acid from the parent essential fatty acids, and deficient in archidonic acid and decosahexaenoic acid inter esterification enzyme is used to produce triacylglycerols and will be added in infanct formulae to like a breast milk. This novel fat shows increased absorption of calcium and fat and formulae is same as breast milk.

Enzymes.

Hemicellulose enzyme used in bread making.

Hemicellulose enzyme is used in bread making. This enzyme is derived from Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtlis, which is genetically modified to increase natural production of the hemicellulose or xtyylanse enzyme. This enzyme had been referred to COT for food safety evaluation.




Structured triglycerides composed of mixture of short chain and long chain fatty acid.

The genetically modified triglycerides produce few calories than the conventional fat. The novel fat show less effect on blood cholesterol and thrombosis.

Enzymatically partially depolymerised polysaccharides.

The soluble fibre is used in a wide range of processed liquid and solid foods. These soluble fibres are derived by an action of an enzyme betamannanase, which is obtained from Aspergillus niger on guar gum.

Bio-Degradable plastic.

The Bacterial al-Caliagenes Eutrophus is used in fermentation process to get plastic. Which is bio-degradeable and not harmful to the environment.

Animals.

The genetically evolved animals have few and less bones, less fat, growth is much faster than normal, while genetic engineering in poultry, sheep, goat, fish, make them depend upon growth hormones and have vitamin and with the help of antibiotics, such conditions make force them grow, but to eat such meat is not nutritionally healthy for the consumption, since artificial feed consist of vitamin and chemicals as a result the animals are now under high stress, deformed and diseased.

Fish.

Rainbow trout is genetically engineered and produce transgenic fish. The new fish will produce offspring with same genetic feature, with the help of growth hormones.

The Finnish and shell fish are genetically enginered to accelerate growth quickly develop marketable size e.g salmon, oysters by the help of growth hormones.

Cow.

Cow injection of bovine somatio trophinhormone to produce more milk. This milk develop allergy and miscarriages in pregnancy and such milk develop breast cancer.

Suspected poison in milk and dairy products.

In recent years the new application of hormones in animal husbandry has brought a lot of change in daily life of humans. The evaluation is based considering beneficial effects but their side effects are ignored. For example rBST a hormone is injected to the animal in order to produce more milk but the continuous administration of hormone has brought, digestive problems, lesions and swelling at the site of injection administration and more than 70% animals are likely contact “mastitis”.

These technologies have evolved in the North and were put it in to practice many years a head of South. The same is the case with rBST used in the North and now farmers have confirmed that the spend more money on extra feeding due to rBST hormone, than the returns they gain by selling milk. rBST the administration of this drug is an un-economical venture. The farmer does not realise this until his bankruptcy.

A very recent reports from the North mention of many of farmers, who went bankrupt due to the use of rBST to animal herds, and after many years use of rBST this hormone showed side effect including “Out break of mastitis” devastating the herd. The other thing noticed by the farmers is the reduction in milk production due to withdrawal of rBST hormone. This shows cows own hormones were so suppressed that its ability of production of these hormones for production of milk decreased, if they stopped rBST injections.

By now the frequency of “mastitis” has increased many folds and treatment requires heavy dose of antibiotic.

Scientists have found-out rBST hormone injection increased IGP-1 factor in the blood of Bos group of animals as well as in their milk. IGF-1 is to act as a stimulator and regulator of cell growth in animal as well as in humans.

Professor Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois and the Cancer Prevention Coalition, recent work on IGF-1 shows that it is responsible for breast and gastro-intestinal cancer in humans taking this milk. he mentions that for the breast cancer plasma contains IGF-1 in higher concentration and we administer medicine tamoxifen, main action of which is, to reduce the level of IGF-1, the cause of carcinogensis in humans.

Each injection of rBST brings many new spots of mastitis and the farmer must use heavy doses of antibiotics. These antibiotics are reported in heavy concentration in the rBST injected milk. After consumption of such milk, human body become resistant to antibiotic and if humans need cure of any infection, the heavy dose of antibiotics are required for such treatment, which may again become lethal and dangerous for health of human-beings.

The Food and Drug Administration in USA, allowed the use of rBST because rBST is a protein and it is found in the milk of treated and non-treated cows. But the synthetic hormone is not yet licensed for use in USA.

The North has become, the victim of their own technology like excessive use of rBST. They make their animal sick, bring the high rate of cancer in humans and the farmers go out of business.

In the North, the chemical manufacturing companies start various attractive programs for farmers. If a farmer is able to give the names of a few other farmers, who will use rBST for their herd, he will win US$300. Such attraction makes other farmers victims of new technologies.

In Pakistan use of rBST has now been introduced. A few weeks back I had gone to the small village in the rural areas and was surprised that rejected technology of the North, has already been adopted in our rural areas and introduction of it was like an epidemic and was also surprised that even the drug store provide one bottle of rBST free, if farmer bags 2 or 3 bottles or even at ½ the price if purchased in bulk, and there farmer come into the trap. I like to request to my own Government, kindly save our country for such environmental pollution and save our farmer from going out of business and would like to request the nation to save our illiterate farmers from such a technology.

Chicken.

Chicken are fattened by injecting growth hormones. Arsenic is added to the feed of chicken to speed maturation and stimulate egg production, so they produce more eggs the chicken are suffering blindness, lethargy, kidney damages, disturb sexual development, muscle weakness, brain damage, and paralysis.

Quinoa.

Quinoa for use as both and animal feeding stuff and human food as an alternative to rice, but the biological significance and content of some bitter tasting detergents naturally present in quinoa. The cultivation under U.K condition shows high saponin level in the grains, which need to be removed before grain used as a food and also other anti-nutrients present in quinoa along with saponius.

CONCLUSION.

The ethical view of genetic modification.

• Some people have objection in the movement of gene between plant and animals, but many genes are common in plants and animals, even the unrelated species also get natural gene transfer system. So it is necessary that food evolved genetically must be sold in controlled places, with clear mark and mentioned and label so that the consumer can see it.

• Aspergillus flavus or Aspergillur Parasiticus a Flaxtoxin found in corn, wheat, barley, rice, fig, grain, sorghum, cotton seed, brazil nut are known to cause Hepatitus and liver cancer in human.

• Tryptophan recently kill some hundreds, while few hundreds become critically ill and handicapped.

• rBST in cow milk, develop breast cancer.

• Protect the orgionity of plants, animals and micro-organisms.

• The poultry and meat animal, hormones and growth regulators used to attaining weight in shortest possible time produce meat, which is injurious to health.

• According to Rainer Falk population growth in developing countries according to 1996 Revision, was 1.77 annually compared to more than 2% in 1980’s. Main reason for slow down in population growth is the decreasing fertility. Too much estrogen in male inhibits testes and sperm growth. It means endocrine activity disturb the human reproductivity system. The estrogen balance effect due to the consumption of food produce under environmental pollution.

The Solution Lies.

To use fresh fruit, vegetables, locally known a seasonal commodities and organic and sustainable method for animal husbandry, because such food confirm by the study are more healthy than genetically method utilised for this purpose, as mentioned by Prof. Dr. Anglika Meir Ploeger. “Alternative in Nutrition do they need Organic Food”.

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Author: Farzana Panhwar (Mrs)
Address: 157-C, Unit No.2, Latifabad, Hyderabad
(Sindh), Pakistan.
E-mail: farzanapanhwar@hotmail.com
Fax: 92-21-5830826 and 92-221-860410