Pandora's Picnic Basket : The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods
Pandora's Picnic Basket : The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods

Author: Alan McHughen

Publisher: Oxford University Press, UK

Published: 2000-06-22

Total Pages: 291

ISBN-13: 0191587923

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The first book to look at all the issues involved in GM (genetically modified food) technology in a clear and dispassionate way. Alan McHughen surveys the technology that makes GM food possible, assesses the risk of health and environmental dangers and the regulatory and labelling processes in force to protect the consumer. Question and answer boxes and case histories, and the author's easy writing style make this an essential purchase for all those interested in the debate. - ;Are you concerned about fish genes in tomatoes? Worried that brazil nut genes in soybeans can result in potentially lethal allergic reactions? That rapeseed plants bred to be resistant to herbicides could become uncontrollable superweeds? You are not alone. The issue of genetically modified foods has fast become one of the most debated of recent years, with scientists and companies seeking to develop the technology on one side, and consumer groups and environmentalists on the other. However, in spite of the great heat generated by the debate, there is very little real information on the subject, either about the technologies in use or about the regulatory processes established to approve the processes and the products. This book sets out to explain, in clear and direct language, the technologies underlying so-called genetically modified food, and compares them with other "natural" methods of plant breeding and production. The author then looks at the safeguards in place from regulators around the world and asks whether these are sufficient. The question of labelling, held by some to be an obvious way out for concerned consumers, is examined, and the honesty and usefulness of some of these labels addressed. The book then looks at issues of real concern, particularly environmental issues, and ways in which a consumer can seek to avoid GMOs if they so choose. In each chapter, key topics are addressed through question and answer boxes. Real case histories illustrate the development and regulation of GMOs, and by the end of the book the reader will be able to make an informed choice about whether to support or challenge this technology, the products of which are increasingly pervasive. -

From Green Genes to Red Herrings
From Green Genes to Red Herrings

Author: Alan McHughen

Publisher:

Published: 2000

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 9780198507147

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The first book to look at all the issues involved in GM technology in a clear and dispassionate way. Alan McHughen surveys the technology that makes GM food possible, assesses the risk of health and environmental dangers and the regulatory and labelling processes in force to protect the consumer.

Food, Inc.
Food, Inc.

Author: Peter Pringle

Publisher: Simon and Schuster

Published: 2010-05-11

Total Pages: 260

ISBN-13: 1439103844

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For most people, the global war over genetically modified foods is a distant and confusing one. The battles are conducted in the mystifying language of genetics. A handful of corporate "life science" giants, such as Monsanto, are pitted against a worldwide network of anticorporate ecowarriors like Greenpeace. And yet the possible benefits of biotech agriculture to our food supply are too vital to be left to either partisan. The companies claim to be leading a new agricultural revolution that will save the world with crops modified to survive frost, drought, pests, and plague. The greens warn that "playing God" with plant genes is dangerous. It could create new allergies, upset ecosystems, destroy biodiversity, and produce uncontrollable mutations. Worst of all, the antibiotech forces say, a single food conglomerate could end up telling us what to eat. In Food, Inc., acclaimed journalist Peter Pringle shows how both sides in this overheated conflict have made false promises, engaged in propaganda science, and indulged in fear-mongering. In this urgent dispatch, he suggests that a fertile partnership between consumers, corporations, scientists, and farmers could still allow the biotech harvest to reach its full potential in helping to overcome the problem of world hunger, providing nutritious food and keeping the environment healthy.

Biotechnology Unzipped
Biotechnology Unzipped

Author: A Joseph Henry Press book

Publisher: Joseph Henry Press

Published: 2006-08-26

Total Pages: 256

ISBN-13: 0309096219

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In this update to the very popular first edition of the same name, skilled science popularizer Eric Grace helps readers understand what biotechnology is and what implications it holds for all of us. Following on the heels of the success of the first edition, this thoroughly updated version offers an in-depth and accessible review of the basics of biotechnology. Accomplished science communicator Eric Grace focuses on the ethical implications involved, the wide range of public opinions both at home and abroad, the role of the media in communicating a complicated science topic, and the formidable problems associated with patenting life itself. With an emphasis on medicine, agriculture, and the environment, Grace explores the promises and realities of biotechnology. He deals frankly with the fact that biotechnology is first and foremost a commercial activity, often driven by big business and directed by the bottom line. And as biotechnology is used more frequently in medical diagnosis and treatment, we are witness to significant setbacks and reversals, dimming hopes that were prevalent when the first edition was released. But we are also witness to the burgeoning use of the technology in forensic science where DNA analysis has become commonplace in solving crimes. Likewise, DNA analysis has been a boon to studies of human history and evolution, revealing ancient details originally thought lost to us. At the same time, new uses for genetically altered bacteria are being discovered that help us clean up the environment by breaking down or sequestering toxic chemicals. While the public remains concerned about biotechnology, there is increasing awareness of the potential benefits. This updated edition of Biotechnology Unzipped helps put the many issues in perspective and provides answers to the most important questions.

Genetic Engineering
Genetic Engineering

Author: Ray Spangenburg

Publisher: Marshall Cavendish

Published: 2004

Total Pages: 136

ISBN-13: 9780761415862

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Discusses the use of genetic engineering in plants and animals, and the hopes spurred by the mapping of human DNA by the Human Genome Project as well as the controversy over using stem cells for disease research.

Food Regulation
Food Regulation

Author: Neal D. Fortin

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2022-03-28

Total Pages: 548

ISBN-13: 1119764297

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FOOD REGULATION Provides both students and professionals with up-to-date coverage of US food regulatory law Food Regulation: Law, Science, Policy, and Practice presents an in-depth yet accessible account of all key aspects of United States food regulation. Using a modified casebook format, this comprehensive textbook introduces readers to the case law and statutory scheme of food regulation, defines the inspection authority and enforcement tools of various regulatory agencies, discusses current and emerging public policy issues, and more. Readers explore a wide range of topics in food law, science, policy, and practice; which connect legal theory to practical application. The third edition is fully updated to reflect significant changes in US food law, such as the regulations implementing the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard. New case studies and discussion questions highlight important legal trends, policy debates, and application of current law. Offering thorough, highly practical coverage of food regulatory law, this authoritative volume: Features new and updated material on US food law, including recent regulations concerning novel food processing Covers requirements of food labeling, advertising and health claim guidelines, regulation of US food imports and exports, and international food law Discusses important topics such as food defense, regulation of biotechnology, ethical issues, product liability, food safety rules, and substantiation of health claims Includes a brief history of food regulation and an overview of US government agency organization and jurisdictions Contains problem exercises covering different aspects of food law designed to strengthen critical thinking Food Regulation: Law, Science, Policy, and Practice, Third Edition, remains the ideal textbook for undergraduate and graduate courses in agriculture, food science, dietetics, law, and regulatory compliance management. It is also a must-have reference for food scientists, attorneys, researchers, quality assurance and regulatory specialists, and other industry professionals responsible for complying with US food regulation.

Welcome to the Genome
Welcome to the Genome

Author: Robert DeSalle

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2020-01-27

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 1118750314

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The popular introduction to the genomic revolution for non-scientists—the revised and updated new edition Welcome to the Genome is an accessible, up-to-date introduction to genomics—the interdisciplinary field of biology focused on the structure, function, evolution, mapping, and editing of an organism's complete set of DNA. Written for non-experts, this user-friendly book explains how genomes are sequenced and explores the discoveries and challenges of this revolutionary technology. Genomics is a mixture of many fields, including not only biology, engineering, computer science, and mathematics, but also social sciences and humanities. This unique guide addresses both the science of genomics and the ethical, moral, and social questions that rise from the technology. There have been many exciting developments in genomics since this book's first publication. Accordingly, the second edition of Welcome to the Genome offers substantial new and updated content to reflect recent major advances in genome-level sequencing and analysis, and demonstrates the vast increase in biological knowledge over the past decade. New sections cover next-generation technologies such as Illumina and PacBio sequencing, while expanded chapters discuss controversial ethical and philosophical issues raised by genomic technology, such as direct-to-consumer genetic testing. An essential resource for understanding the still-evolving genomic revolution, this book: Introduces non-scientists to basic molecular principles and illustrates how they are shaping the genomic revolution in medicine, biology, and conservation biology Explores a wide range of topics within the field such as genetic diversity, genome structure, genetic cloning, forensic genetics, and more Includes full-color illustrations and topical examples Presents material in an accessible, user-friendly style, requiring no expertise in genomics Discusses past discoveries, current research, and future possibilities in the field Sponsored by the American Museum of Natural History, Welcome to the Genome: A User's Guide to the Genetic Past, Present, and Future is a must-read book for anyone interested in the scientific foundation for understanding the development and evolutionary heritage of all life.

Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods
Safety of Genetically Engineered Foods

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2004-08-08

Total Pages: 255

ISBN-13: 0309092094

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Assists policymakers in evaluating the appropriate scientific methods for detecting unintended changes in food and assessing the potential for adverse health effects from genetically modified products. In this book, the committee recommended that greater scrutiny should be given to foods containing new compounds or unusual amounts of naturally occurring substances, regardless of the method used to create them. The book offers a framework to guide federal agencies in selecting the route of safety assessment. It identifies and recommends several pre- and post-market approaches to guide the assessment of unintended compositional changes that could result from genetically modified foods and research avenues to fill the knowledge gaps.

Ecological Agrarian
Ecological Agrarian

Author: Justin Bishop Grewell

Publisher: Purdue University Press

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9781557532961

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As population growth levels off and production yields continue to grow, demands on agriculture are changing and the focus of agriculture is changing too."--BOOK JACKET.

Africa & the Middle East
Africa & the Middle East

Author: Kevin Hillstrom

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2003-11-17

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 1576076938

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A concise yet thorough overview of the environmental issues, problems, and controversies facing the continent of Africa and the Middle East. Examining both the rich biological heritage of the world's second largest continent and the very serious human threats to it, Africa and the Middle East explores the impact global pollution and a burgeoning population are having on landscape and wildlife alike. How is global warming responsible for the rapidly expanding Sahara Desert? Can local populations be recruited to preserve threatened species? Over 80 percent of Madagascar's species are endemic, the highest percentage of any major ecological region in the world, such as the highly endangered aye-aye which resembles a cross between a monkey, a bat, and a woodpecker, and the giraffe-necked weevil, a red rainforest insect with a neck like a fire truck rescue ladder. Readers will learn all about these fascinating species and much more.