Back in the 90’s seed company Pioneer Hi-Bred added a gene from
Brazil nuts to soybeans in order to make the soy more
nutritious. Studies showed, however, that consumption of the
“improved” soy could trigger anaphylaxis and other allergic
responses in humans with a Brazil nut allergy. The project was
scrapped. In 1997, The Scottish Crop Research Institute
published research showing that the lives of ladybugs were cut
in half and they laid fewer eggs when they fed on aphids that
had eaten genetically modified potatoes. This raises concerns
about a genetically modified food supply, given the affected
animals hadn’t fed on the GM potatoes themselves, but rather
they’d eaten something else that had. These two case studies
showcase some of the concerns about genetic modification of
crops, something that is occurring in the United States at an
alarming rate. Biotechnical engineers may genetically modify
foods for a variety of reasons. For example, they may wish to
make pest-resistant crops, increase yields, or make