Not just food: Leading US science group backs genetically modifying human embryos

Via YahooNews:

Washington (AFP) - An influential US science advisory committee this week said genetic modification of human embryos should be allowed in the future to eliminate diseases, sparking new debate on this controversial topic.

The report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) caused concern among some researchers who fear that genetic tools could be used to boost certain people's intelligence or create people with particular physical traits.

"Clinical trials for genome editing of the human germline - adding, removing or replacing DNA base pairs in gametes or early embryos - could be permitted in the future," said the report, released Tuesday.

"But only," it added, "for serious conditions under stringent oversight."

The emergence of inexpensive and accurate gene-editing technology, known as CRISPR/Cas9, has fueled "an explosion of new research opportunities and potential clinical applications, both heritable and nonheritable, to address a wide range of human health issues," the report said.

The committee of international experts was convened to examine scientific, ethical and governance issues surrounding human genome editing.

The experts noted that clinical trials on gene editing for certain nonhereditary traits are already under way.

"These therapies affect only the patient, not any offspring, and should continue for treatment and prevention of disease and disability, using the existing ethical norms and regulatory framework for development of gene therapy," it said.

The group said using science to enhance human traits, such as physical strength, "should not be allowed at this time, and that broad public input and discussion should be solicited before allowing clinical trials for somatic genome editing for any purpose other than treating or preventing disease or disability."

In 2015, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) International Bioethics Committee called for a halt to human germline editing, out of concern that the technique could lead to a resurgence of eugenics, or attempts to improve the genetic quality of the human race.

More than 40 countries have signed an international convention banning the use of gene-editing to modify the human race.

In the United States, federal funds cannot be used for editing DNA and human reproductive cells.

"The concept of altering the human germline in embryos for clinical purposes has been debated over many years from many different perspectives, and has been viewed almost universally as a line that should not be crossed," said a 2015 statement from National institutes of Health Director Francis Collins.

Reacting to the new report, some experts said that times are changing rapidly, and that the NAS aims to advance discussion of the science while ensuring ethical oversight of what could be a promising technology.

The report "now takes this debate an important step further," said Bruce Whitelaw, professor of animal biotechnology at the University of Edinburgh.

"It is a triumph of applying caution -- with the report detailing stringent, overarching principles that should be followed -- over premature prohibition of what is an exciting technology for society." (ontinueReading

GM foods are safe for humans and the environment, top scientists say

(cnbc.com) - Genetically Modified (GM) crops are safe for both human consumption and the environment, according to a report by top U.S. scientists on Tuesday.

Neither pest-resistant nor herbicide-resistant crops — the two widespread GM varieties — appeared to pose a threat, the National Academies of Sciences (NAS) said in the report. This was based on a review of more than 900 reports and other research over two decades.

"While recognizing the inherent difficulty of detecting subtle or long-term effects in health or the environment, the study committee found no substantiated evidence of a difference in risks to human health between currently commercialized genetically engineered (GE) crops and conventionally bred crops, nor did it find conclusive cause-and-effect evidence of environmental problems from the GE crops," the scientists said in a summary of the report.

ConAgra to disclose GMOs on labels throughout U.S.

(Reuters)

ConAgra Foods Inc on Tuesday joined other food giants in plans to use labels that disclose the presence of genetically modified organisms or GMOs in its food throughout the United States.

ConAgra and other food companies such as Campbell Soup Co , General Mills Inc and Kellogg Co have decided to use such labels nationwide, finding it to be the easiest way to comply with a Vermont law.

In 2014, Vermont became the first U.S. state to pass a law requiring food companies to label GMOs on their products, which will come into effect in July.

ConAgra said while it believed consumers should be informed as to what is in their food, addressing labeling requirements separately, just for the state of Vermont would be a costly affair. (bit.ly/1T5CH4A)

"With a multitude of other states currently considering different GMO labeling requirements, the need for a national, uniform approach in this area is as critical as ever. That's why we continue to urge Congress to pass a national solution as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement.

The U.S. Senate, last week, blocked a bill that would nullify state and local efforts requiring food makers to label products made with genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, as the industry races to stop the Vermont law from taking effect July 1.

The Corn (GMO) Syrup in Coke makes it Highly Damaging: It’s the Real (Unhealthy) Thing

(theweeklyobserver.com) - One of the most popular Coke Commercial was “Things go Better with Coke.” Well, it seems somebody just broke the bubble although a lot of health conscious people know that soft drinks are really bad to health.

“It’s the real Thing” was another popular Coke Commercial. The corn syrup in coke is the real health damaging ingredient in coke. It’s disguised as vegetable oil. Corn in this case is GMO generated which means it has a built in pesticides which makes it even worse. So what more does the infographic has to offer. Much, much more I suoose.

An infographic that shows how Coke damages the body becomes viral. The infographic was created by Niraj Naik aka The Renegade Pharmacist. Although some people claim that it is exaggerated, much of it is true.

Naik says that it is the high fructose corn syrup in Coke that makes it damaging. Naik explains: “High fructose corn syrup is found in pretty much all processed foods such as ready meals, fast foods, sweets, and fizzy drinks and most people are totally unaware of its danger.”

Naik also narrated that his experience as a pharmacist has given him a close up of the debilitating effects of the soda on ailing people whose conditions were made worse by the addiction to the softdrink. He advises people to “wean themselves” of the beverage. He shares a secret to ending the addiction through HuffPost UK Lifestyle:

“My first piece of advice to them would be to do a simple swap, replacing fizzy drinks with water and fresh lemon or lime juice. In many cases just doing this would have a dramatic effect on their health. This indicates to me that fizzy drinks and sugar are big issues relating to blood pressure and metabolic diseases like diabetes and heart disease.”

Segments of the infographic however were contested by two experts interviewed by Buzzfeed. The part which states that people may vomit “from taking in Coke’s 10 teaspoons of sugar if it weren’t for the phosphoric acid that cuts the flavor” was dismissed by associate research nutritional biologist from the University of California Davis,Kimber Stanhope as untrue. Stanhope explains:

“By far the majority of people have no trouble consuming 10 teaspoons of sugar-sweetened beverage. We have studied hundreds of participants in our studies who consumed beverages that contained more than 10 teaspoons of sugar, but no phosphoric acid. Not one ever vomited due to the sweetness, and I don’t remember any of them ever reporting that they felt nauseated due to the sweetness.”

Stanhope also denied that increased insulin levels cause the liver to create fat.

On the other hand, Michael A. Taffe, associate professor for the Committee on the Neurobiology of Addictive Disorders at the Scripps Research Institute opined that the claim that likens the effect of the high caffeine content of Coke on the brain to the effect of heroin is also highly exaggerated. “Everything about drugs needs to be understood in terms of dose and tolerance. This sensationalistic description makes it sound more dramatic than is the experience for the average Coke drinker. It’s way overblown, as such things tend to be,” says Taffe.

The infographic however, was for the most part, able to present factual information of what Coke does to the body within one hour since it is consumed:

In the first 10 minutes, 10 teaspoons of sugar, equivalent to 100 percent of the recommended daily intake, enters the body. Within 20 minutes, blood sugar levels increase, creating “insulin burst”. It takes another 20 minutes before caffeine is fully absorbed by the body. “The adenosine receptors in [the] brain are now blocked preventing drowsiness.” Within 60 minutes since the intake of Coke, “the phosphoric acid binds calcium, magnesium and zinc in your lower intestine, providing a further boost in metabolism. This is compounded by high doses of sugar and artificial sweeteners also increasing the urinary excretion of calcium.” After an hour, one feels the urge to pee. Along with urine, calcium, magnesium and zinc as well as sodium, electrolyte and water, are excreted. Then one experiences “sugar crash” and feels “irritable and/or sluggish.” Full Story

Doctors Confirm first Human Death officially caused by GMOs

(WorldNewsDailyReport) Madrid| Doctors of the Carlos III hospital confirmed this morning in a press conference, the first case of human death caused by the ingestion of genetically modified food. Juan Pedro Ramos died from anaphylaxis after eating some recently developed tomatoes containing fish genes, which provoked a violent and lethal allergic reaction.

This surprising announcement comes after the autopsy of the 31-year old Spanish man who died at the Madrid hospital in the beginning of January. The young man’s health rapidly deteriorated after he suffered an unexplained allergic reaction, and all the drugs used to refrain the anaphylaxis were entirely inefficient. The team of experts claims to have been able to determine that the genetically modified tomatoes that the victim ingested at lunch were the cause of the allergic reaction that caused his death. Read more