Recombinant DNA Technology

Hepatitis Symptoms

2014-01-08T21:25:00.000-08:00

Hepatitis is derived from the Greek word "hepat" meaning liver and the Greek suffix "-itis" meaning inflammation. It is characterized by the destruction of liver cells and the presence of inflammatory cells in the liver tissues. It can either be acute or self-limiting where it heals on its own or it can be chronic which is longer or more persistent. There are many causes including:

Toxins such as alcohol.
Infections.
Autoimmune processes which is an immune response against your own cells or tissues.

Often people do not have any symptoms or only develop them further on in the disease so it can be difficult to detect and can be quite advanced before it is actually picked up.

Hepatitis B:

Hepatitis B is inflammation of the liver caused by a DNA virus causing viral hepatitis. At the moment in Western countries only 2% of the population are infected with chronic hepatitis. It is a blood-borne infection which can be transmitted by:

Re-use of contaminated needles.
Unprotected sexual contact.
Blood transfusions
During childbirth from the mother to the child if the mother is infected.

There are several vaccinations for Hepatitis B: it can either be made from recombinant DNA technology or obtained from the plasma of patients with long-standing Hepatitis B virus infections. Recombinant DNA technology involves adding the relevant bits of DNA into a bacterium plasmid which is put back into the bacteria which then replicates itself including the new piece of DNA. This can then be used as a vaccine so that people develop their own antibodies against the virus. The vaccine is targeted at people who are most at risk including:

Family members of people with Chronic Hepatitis B
Sexual partners of people with Hepatitis B
Newborn babies of mother with Hepatitis B
Drug Users
Homosexual men
Hospital staff who frequently come into contact with blood.

Symptoms of Acute Hepatitis B:

General ill-health
Loss of appetite
Nausea
Vomiting
Body aches
Mild fever
Dark urine
Development of jaundice. This is a yellowing of the sclera (white parts of the eye) the skin and the mucous membrane. It is caused when bilirubin (a yellow break down product of haem which is an iron containing group) levels in the blood increase. This is an insoluble substance which travels to the liver bound to serum albumin. It is joined with glucuronic acid forming bilirubin diglucuroonide which is more soluble and is excreted from the liver as bile. Unnatural cell death (necrosis) reduces the liver's ability to make and excrete bilirubin leading to a build up of blood in the liver.

Acute Hepatitis B lasts a few weeks and in most people it gradually improves and doesn't usually require treatment. The incubation period for Hepatitis B is usually 2-6months and 1 in 20 patients develops chronic Hepatitis B while 1 in 5 develops cirrhosis.

Symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis B:

· It can be asymptomatic.
· Chronic inflammation of the liver
· Develop fibrosis which is liver scarring
· Develop cirrhosis which is advanced liver scarring. The symptoms of cirrhosis are:
· Bruising
· Bleeding
· Bone pain
· Enlarged veins (varicose veins) around the abdomen
· Fatty stools
· Jaundice
· Increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma or liver cancer.

Chronic Hepatitis B can be diagnosed by using blood or serum tests that detect the presence of the viral antigens which are proteins produced by the virus, or they detect the presence of antibodies which are produced by the host as an immune response. The hepatitis surface antigen is most frequently tested for as it is the first detectable viral antigen.

There are 7 medications that can be used to treat Hepatitis B;

5 antiviral drugs:

Lamivudine
Adefovir
Telbivudine
Entecavir
Tenofovir

2 immune system modulators:

Interferon alpha-2a
Pegylated interferon alpha-2a.

95% of infected adults and older children will stage a full recovery and develop protective immunity to the virus.

Hepatitis C:

Hepatitis C is a blood-borne infection caused by the Hepatitis C virus which affects the liver. It is spread by blood to blood contact and at the moment there is no vaccination to protect against it. Acute Hepatitis C is the first six months of the infection. 60-70% of infected people are asymptomatic during this phase but they can suffer:

General ill health including:
Marked weight loss
Fatigue
Flu-like symptoms
Muscle and joint pain
Nausea
Depression
Sleep disturbances
Head aches
Loss of appetite
Abdominal pain
Development of Jaundice.
Itching
Flu-like symptoms

Since the acute phase is often asymptomatic it is difficult to pick up early and treat so many people have developed more serious problems before they are aware they are infected making it more difficult to treat.

It can be tested for as the virus is detectable in the blood 1-3weeks after being infected and the antibodies which are produced as an immune response can be detected 3-12weeks after being infected but as mentioned above many people do not seek medical help because they don't have any symptoms. 15-40% of people are able to clear the infection in the acute phase but 60-85% of people develop chronic hepatitis C which is where the infection has lasted more than 6 months. The incubation period is usually 1-6months and 8 in 10 patients develop chronic Hepatitis C while 1 in 3 develops cirrhosis.

Symptoms of Chronic Hepatitis C:

Often asymptomatic.
Inflammation of the liver
Leads to fibrosis which is liver scarring
Two thirds progress to cirrhosis (which is advanced liver scarring) within 20-30 years.

The rate of progression is increased by:

Increasing age
Gender: In males the progression is usually faster
Alcohol consumption
HIV co-infection
Fatty liver

Liver biopsy tests are used as they are best for detecting the amount of scarring and inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis C can also be diagnosed using blood serum tests or serology, which detects the presence of antibodies against the Hepatitis C virus. In 80% of people the antibodies can be detected after 15weeks and in 90% they are detected after 20 weeks. You can also test for the presence of the virus using molecular nucleic acid testing methods which measure the amount of virus present.

In Western countries 90% of the people infected with Hepatitis C were infected through transmission of unscreened blood to blood contact for example:

· Body piercing and tattoos
· Injection drug use
· Nasal inhalation
· Blood products from blood transfusions or organ transplants
· From un-sterilized equipment
· Unprotected sexual contact
· Sharing personal items such as razors, tooth brushes and scissors

Hepatitis C can also be transmitted from an infected mother to her child during childbirth.

At the moment a combination of pegylated interferon alpha and an anti-viral drug called ribavirin are used for 24-48weeks to treat the disease. However, this is physically demanding and in some cases can cause temporary disability.

Smoking and alcohol consumption increases the progress of Hepatitis C virus associated fibrosis, cirrhosis and increases the risk of developing liver cancer. Insulin resistance and metabolic syndrome can worsen the prognosis of hepatitis.

It can be prevented by:

Not sharing needles (or other drug paraphernalia)
Avoiding unsanitary tattoo methods
Avoiding unsanitary body piercing methods
Avoiding unsanitary acupuncture methods
Not sharing personal items
Not having unprotected sex.

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DNA Engineering: Could It End The World's Problems

2014-01-08T06:12:00.000-08:00

The concept of DNA engineering (also known as DNA manipulation, DNA technology, and DNA recombination) is controversial, and the process of DNA engineering is amazing. DNA engineering is the altering of DNA, with the purpose usually being to mass produce some kind of chemical. Contrary to popular belief, DNA engineering, as of today, is not used to change the physical characteristics of an individual. However, some day in the future, that might be very common (it would be used to prevent hereditary diseases).

DNA engineering is a complex process which has many steps and requires many tools. As of today, DNA engineering is used to mass produce products like insulin. If you've ever wondered how chemicals like insulin can be mass produced and used by humans, it will be explained here. But before understanding how this DNA manipulation works, some things need to be known about an unlikely ally: Bacteria.

Bacteria are crucial to the process of DNA engineering, and without them we wouldn't be able to make use of it. Bacteria are easy to clone and it's easy to alter their DNA. In fact, bacteria alter their own DNA through three processes, but for the purpose of DNA engineering, scientists are only concerned with one. Transformation is when bacteria take DNA from surrounding fluid and incorporate it into their own. Bacteria also have small circular rings of DNA called plasmids, which is the DNA that is actually altered in the bacteria.

There are many steps to recombining DNA. First, a suitable bacterium must be taken, as well as a cell containing a gene that scientists want to clone. The scientists isolate the bacterium's plasmid as well as the cell's DNA. Then, the scientists use something called a restriction enzyme on both the cell DNA and the bacterium's plasmid. The restriction enzyme cuts out the gene of interest, the one the scientists want to clone, and then it is placed near the bacterial plasmid and it attaches (in the gap of the plasmid that was taken out with the restriction enzyme). However, the hydrogen bonds formed when the DNA connects aren't very strong, and an enzyme called DNA ligase is used to seal the cell DNA to the plasmid by covalent bonds. Now, the plasmid has now become recombinant DNA, and is ready to be cloned. The bacterium is allowed to multiply into several bacteria, and then scientists can use the huge amounts of bacteria for something useful.

One thing scientists can do is use restriction enzymes to cut out the cloned gene (which was cloned when the bacteria reproduced), and place it in another organism, whether it is human or plant. By placing a new gene into a plant, it might give that plant a resistance to something, like certain bugs. Or, the gene can be allowed to stay in the bacteria and they mass produce the protein the DNA gene codes for, like insulin. So, for example, lots of insulin is produced, extracted, packed, and is ready for use by humans.

The same concept can be applied to any other gene or protein that needs to be mass produced. By using this technique, scientists can mass produce any gene or protein they want, and use it to benefit humans. It is not long before human babies' DNA is altered to fix hereditary diseases, and things like hemophilia and sickle cell disease will be problems of the past.

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Digital Micro Imaging For Biotechnology Research

2014-01-06T21:20:00.000-08:00

We humans have been harnessing biological processes to make life a little sweeter ever since the first developments in agriculture. Tapping into life's processes to make things such as cheese, bread, and beer (the essentials) has been going on for thousands of years. Now, there is a whole area of digital micro imaging for biotechnology research which encompasses the vast applications of these biological processes.

The field of applied biology called biotechnology uses living organisms and bioprocesses to do truly amazing things. Biotechnology is used in engineering, technology, medicine, and other fields requiring bioproducts. Biotechnology is also used in genetically modified foods, transgenic crops and animals, biopharmaceuticals, recombinant DNA technology, and bioremediation.

Leading companies in micro imaging research are using new technology that allows for the extraction of even the smallest biomaterials from heterogeneous tissue and cell colonies. The secret behind the method is a pure, contact-free optical technique that is gentle enough to facilitate micro dissection and the manipulation of living cells in culture. The best digital microscopes come equipped with the latest in laser technology. This allows for contact-free and contamination-free specimen capture and micro dissection.

Researchers who use digital micro imaging for biotechnology research report a vast increase in workflow speed. The image is displayed using an integrated camera onto a monitor or projection screen. Integrated color management ensures for brilliant images in true color. By bypassing the need for eyepieces, digital micro imaging technology avoids painful muscle tension and eye strain. Something that travels faster than ever in the world today is information. With integrated E-mail function and remote viewing, sharing work and discussing work with partners is easier than ever. Now, researchers can get the work they need to get done faster, wherever they are.

In modern medicine, biotechnology has promising applications in a number of areas. Drug production and pharmaceuticals have both made ready use of biotechnology. Modern methods of manufacturing pharmaceutical products frequently make use of biotechnology. Biotechnology first saw use in pharmaceutical manufacturing with recombinant DNA technology to modify Escherichia coli bacteria. This resulted in the production of human insulin.

Before this technique was discovered, insulin was extracted from the pancreas glands of cattle and pigs. Although animal-derived insulin is mostly effective in treating diabetes, allergic reactions were noted to sometimes occur. This can be accredited to the subtle differences between insulin derived from humans and farm animals.

Genetic researchers were able to produce two genes for each of the two protein chains that comprise the insulin molecule. The genes are then inserted into plasmids among a group of genes that are activated by lactose. The result is two insulin-producing genes activated by lactose. By inserting the recombinant plasmids into Escherichia coli bacteria and combining the two protein chains, the bacteria produces as much as 100,000 molecules of human insulin.

Before recombinant DNA was used to modify bacteria and produce the human growth hormone, the hormone had to be extracted from the pituitary gland of cadavers. Unlike animal derived-insulin, animal growth hormones have no therapeutic upshot for mankind to date. The hormone was constantly seeing significant shortages since it took fifty cadavers to supply a single year's supply of the growth hormone.

Digital micro imaging for biotechnology research is also used in gene therapy, an important process involved in treating cancer. The technology and techniques behind gene therapy are still in developmental stages; however, it has been used with some success for treating or curing genetic and acquired diseases such as cancer and AIDS. Biotechnology has also found use in genetic testing, such as prenatal diagnostic screening. There are many benefits of using this technology to test and learn about a fetus. Presymptomatic testing for a number of different diseases and disorders is possible, and the sex of the future baby can also be determined.

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What Is the Best Start-Up Biotech Business Model?

2014-01-06T03:32:00.000-08:00

Biotechnology is a field of study of applied biology that engages the use of living organisms and bioprocesses in technology, medicine, engineering, and other fields necessitating biological products. The following are biotech companies and/or biotech consulting firms that have been participating on pharmaceuticals research and medicine products. Most of them are recognized as a biotech consulting firms as well.

Amgen Inc. (NASDAQ: AMGN, SEHK: 4332) is among biotech companies that are widely known worldwide headquartered in Thousand Oaks, California. Amgen is the global leading self-governing biotech firm and is broadly considered among the most prominent in the biotechnology industry. Genetic Engineering Technology, Inc., (Genentech Inc.), is a biotech corporation, established in 1976 by venture capitalist Robert A. It is believed to have established the biotechnology industry. Moreover, the corporation is considered to be a lead the way in the field of recombinant DNA technology, in regard with restriction enzymes, successfully express a human gene in bacteria and contributed to its success with synthetic human insulin in 1978.

NASDAQ: GENZ (Genzyme Corporation) an American biotech company located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The institute focuses on establishing tough research facilities for its students, train them to become specialist contributors in their fields, in manufacturing or in academic institutions. Union Chimique Belge (UCB) is a biopharmaceutical manufacturer based in Brussels, Belgium. At first focused on industrial chemicals, the company also incorporated a minute pharmaceutical sections located around Meurice Laboratories. In the early 1950s, UCB established a research centre where new medicines like hydroxyzine (Atarax) were developed.

NASDAQ: GILD (Gilead Sciences) is a biopharmaceutical organization that found out, develops and traded therapeutics. The company has focused principally on antiviral drugs to cure patients contaminated with hepatitis B, influenza or HIV. Serono S.A. is a biotechnology company based in Geneva, Switzerland. A principal pace in its progress was the invention of a technique of extracting urinary gonadotropins. The company also performs research in autoimmune diseases and oncology.

NASDAQ: BIIB. (Biogen Idec, Inc) is a biotechnology company dedicating itself to medicines for cancer, autoimmune mess and neurological chaos. CSL Limited is an Australia headquartered producer of medical products. Its manufacturing products comprise a variety of blood plasma derivatives, vaccines, and cell culture reagents used in a range of medical and hereditary researches and industrial relevance. NASDAQ: CEPH (Cephalon, Inc.) is a U.S. biopharmaceutical company co-established in 1987 by Dr. Frank Baldino, Jr., The Company's is named after the adjective "cephalic" which means "associated to the head/brain," and it was recognized mainly to pursue healing for neurodegenerative related diseases.

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Genetically Modified Organisms

2014-01-04T19:12:00.000-08:00

Genetically modified organism are often referred to as GMO's. GMO's are foods that undergo a genetic "modification." Recombinant DNA technology, which is the process of combining genes from different organisms or the rearrangement of an organism's genes that are already present, is used to alter the foods from their natural state.

The first genetically modified organism to be developed on a large scale was the Flavr Savr tomato in 1987. This tomato worked by inhibiting the breakdown of the fruit's cell walls over time. This allowed for increased shelf life even after long shipping and storage times. Since the flavr tomato, thousands of a applications by different companies have been submitted to allow for the testing of GMO products and over 90% of them have been approved.

The most common genetically modified crops are soybeans, squash, tomatoes, corn, and cotton. Other crops that may be genetically modified are potatoes and rice as well as fish, bananas, cows, and fruit trees.

GMO foods can be broken down into 3 classes. The 3 classes are first generation, second generation, and third generation crops. Third generation crops are crops that produce pharmaceuticals and improve bio-based fuels.

Second generation crops include crops with enhanced nutrient content of animal feed. Finally, first generation crops include crops that have enhanced genes such as good insect resistance, a good adaptability to poor weather conditions, and herbicide tolerance.

Benefits of genetically modified organisms include insect and herbicide resistance, increased shelf life of different foods, delayed ripening, increased food production, virus-resistant crops, limited costs of food production, and enhanced nutrient content of different foods. Some foods are being genetically modified to provide immunizations to different diseases.

In 2006, more than 250 million acres of GMO crops were planted by more than 10 million farmers in greater than 20 countries. The leaders in GMO production are the U.S. followed by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, India, China, Paraguay, and South Africa.

The main negative health effect of GMO foods is the allergic reactions caused by switching the genes around from different foods. This in turn creates foreign substances to the body which causes the body to instinctively fight off. Also, when genes from one food is moved to another food, anyone who was allergic to the first food is now allergic to the other food as well. For example, if you are lactose intolerant and specific gene in milk is then implemented in an apple, although you were never allergic to apples, because of the inserted milk gene, you are now allergic to both milk and apples.

It is currently estimated that about 70% of all food products sold in retail stores in the U.S. contain GMO ingredients. The most common products in the U.S. are corn, soybeans, and cotton. Salmon have also been genetically modified allowing these fish to grow twice the size of normal salmon, grow ten times faster, and intake 25% less food!

There have been many studies conducted on genetically modified organisms that have shown many negative health effects of GMOs. One study published in Journal of Food and Chemical Toxicology conducted on rats showed that rats given GMO food were 2-3 times more likely to die than the controls and rapidly as well. These rats developed high levels of cancer, had large cancerous tumors but the study was unable to identify the direct mechanism that caused the rats to die from the genetically modified food. Another study conducted on hamsters published in the Days of Defense Against Environmental Hazards in Russia showed a link between infertility and GMO food consumption. The hamsters were given genetically modified soybeans causing the hamsters to slow sexual maturity and gradually become infertile.

If you do not want to consume GMO foods in your diet because of potential dangers associated with them, some tips to avoid consuming them include shopping at your local farmer's market, eating organic food, avoiding corn and soybean products, buying "all natural" or organic meat, growing your own produce, and avoiding aspertame, cottonseed oil, and canola oil,

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GMO Labeling Debate

2014-01-04T04:04:00.000-08:00

Should products that are genetically modified or are made with them be labeled?What about the food that an animal raised for human consumption ate? Do you want to know if your food is or contains GMO's? Should GMO's be labeled? There seems to be a lot of talk and controversy around labeling genetically modified organisms.

Before we get into labeling and such, let's talk about GMO's. GMO's or genetically modified organisms are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The techniques, generally known as recombinant DNA technology, use DNA molecules from different sources, which are combined into one molecule to create a new set of genes. The DNA is then transferred into an organism, giving it modified or novel genes. You may have heard it called gene splicing. GMO's are the constituents of genetically modified or biotech foods. This process can only happen in a laboratory. It does not happen in nature. I am not talking about selective breeding, plant breeding and animal breeding.

The most common application of GMO's is to withstand herbicides or to produce an insecticide. No GMO traits are on the market for bigger yields, drought resistance, enhanced nutrition, or any other consumer benefit. You have probably heard of Round Up ready crops. They are plants that have been genetically engineered to be resistant to glyphosate. Glyphosate is a broad spectrum herbicide used to kill weeds. It inhibits an enzyme that plants need in order to grow. Without this enzyme plants are unable to produce other proteins essential for growth. Bt corn is another type of GMO. It is bioengineered to resist the European corn borer. The borer can cause significant damage to crops. The moth's larvae feed on maturing ears of corn. Bt, bacillus thuringiensis, is a live microorganism that kills certain insects. The GMO Bt corn includes part of the bacterium's DNA in its own genetic material. As the corn grows the poison builds up and destroys the digestive system of the moth and butterfly larvae. Susceptible larvae like the European corn borer eat fatal doses while feeding on the corn. The most common GMO crops right now are corn, soybeans, sweet corn, cotton, canola (rapeseed), and sugar beets.

The biggest controversy around GMO's is food safety. Are GMO's safe to eat? In the US the regulation of GMO's falls under the EPA, USDA, and the FDA. Those three agencies deal with different areas of regulation. The EPA evaluates for environmental safety. The USDA evaluates if something is safe to grow. The FDA decides if it is safe to eat. The EPA requires growers to have a license to grow GMO crops. The EPA regulates GMO's that contain a pesticide, like Bt. The USDA regulates pre-release field testing. The USDA has groups that assess and monitor GMO crops for safety. These groups can stop the production or movement of anything deemed unacceptable and can destroy the products. Under USDA regulation a genetically modified plant does not require a permit if it meets the following six criteria.

1. Is not a noxious weed.

2. Has whatever genetic material that was introduced stably integrated into the plants own genes.

3. The function of the introduced gene is known and does not cause plant disease.

4. Is not toxic to non-target organisms.

5. Will not cause the creation of new plant viruses.

6. Does not contain genetic material from animal or human pathogen (germ).

Once the plant is grown it is under FDA regulation. Agro-biotech companies may voluntarily ask the FDA for a consultation, including an evaluation of how eating the product affects people. The companies creating new GM foods do not have to consult the FDA, nor are required to follow the FDA's recommendations after the consultation. The FDA does not require nor test GMO's for safety. Since 1992, the FDA has claimed that each GMO brought to their attention is 'generally recognized as safe' (gras) and that no independent testing is needed.

Are GMO's the biggest scientific experiment on humans and largely without our knowledge? Should GMO's be labeled? The FDA does not demand special labeling of genetically modified foods. They contend that they are substantially equivalent to non GMO foods. Safety is the most controversial aspect of GMO production. There are concerns about allergic reactions, transfer of antibiotic resistant markers and other unknown effects. Is there a possibility of environmental effects on other organisms, a transfer of trans genes through cross pollination, loss of flora or fauna and biodiversity?

Simple question, what is the purpose? The purpose of Round Up ready plants is the application of more pesticides. Glyphosates harm grazing animals and infiltrate wells and ground water. There already are resistant super weeds to Round up. It removes minerals from the soil it is sprayed on. Might I also mention that glysophates create sterility and birth defects among animals and humans? Most of the honey bee die-off, or colony collapse, is attributed to glyphosates. If enough pollinating bees disappear, our food chain is endangered further. The purpose of Bt crops is food with the pesticide already in it. This may have created mutated insect species. Research has confirmed that at least 8 populations of insects have acquired resistance to Bt crops and spraying. Please refer to natural society dot com for information and links to studies. There is a French study in which rats were fed genetically modified corn and developed tumors. Seventy percent of females died prematurely and just about all had organ damage. The study is entitled, "A Comparison of the Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health." You can find links to the abstract at natural news dot com. To sum up, in my opinion, the purpose is more pesticides dumped in the environment. The result being resistant plants and insects and negative health effects on animals and humans. It's in the water! I'm really not feeling the benefit. How about you?

Let's get back to my original question. Should GMO's be labeled? I think they should be given the information that I have learned. I want to know if any part or whole of a product I am buying contains genetically modified organisms. Label them and let consumers decide. It will come down to supply and demand. I do not think GMO and non GMO are the same. One plant will die if dosed with an insecticide and the other will not. One plant has an insecticide in its cells and the other does not. These plants did not acquire these traits on their own.

The controversy surrounding GMO's is vast and it definitely goes beyond labeling. Personally, I don't wish to be involved in a scientific experiment against my will. Other countries are banning GMO's and performing longer studies on the effects of them, so I have hope. Unless and until labeling is required I will buy organic and look for GMO free labels.

Carol Burnham is a health and wellness coach and self-proclaimed health nut. She specializes in health coaching customized for anyone who has been or is in an alcohol recovery program. The primary focus is on nourishing and cleansing the body and becoming addicted to good, vibrant health. She also enjoys yoga, hiking and playing rock band with her family. To learn more please visit http://www.healthcoachcarol.com

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Drugs and Biologics

2014-01-02T21:57:00.000-08:00

The efficacy of drugs vs. biologics is one of the hotly debated topics in the medical fraternity. Drugs and biologics are distinct and different from each other, but both are important components of the health industry.

How is a drug different from a biologic?
Let us understand at the elementary level: right at the level of their core. Drugs and biologics are derived from different sources. While a drug is made from a chemical synthesis and through a very precisely and scientifically defined set of processes; a biologic is derived from a living thing, such as plants, animals or microorganisms. While tablets, syrups and elixirs are typical categories of drugs; the categories for biologics generally are vaccines, gene therapies, tissues, nucleic acids and proteins. This explains the basic difference between drugs and biologics.

Processes
Another major area of difference between drugs and biologics relates to the processes that to into drugs and biologics. A drug is more precise in the sense that its processes and ingredients are properly defined. When a drug is dissected, it is possible to easily analyze the ingredients and the exact method in which it was prepared. On the other hand; a biologic is prepared using living organisms through the use of recombinant DNA technology. Since there is no chemical that it is made up of; a biologic is far less predictable and analyzable than a drug. The terminology scientists in the field use to describe the difference between drugs and biologics is that while for a drug, the process is the process, for a biologic, the product itself is the process.

It is possible to change the chemical composition of a drug at almost any time of the manufacturing process. The same cannot be said about biologics. Since they are composed of living thing, it is difficult to say the processes and proportions of the product.

The way they work
Another major difference relates to the way drugs and biologics work within the system. A drug gets dissolved much faster than a biologic. A biologic, such as vaccine, has a different purpose. Its mode of action is different from that of a drug. Thus, a drug and biologic are vastly different in the way they work on the human body.

Regulation
Yet another very big difference between a drug and a biologic is in the way they are regulated. The FDA regulates both drugs and biologics; but its ways of administering these regulations are different. One of its branches, the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) is in charge of regulation for biologics.

Which is better?
While there is no disagreement on the basic difference between a drug and a biologic; a more heated debate is on the difference between the two in terms of effectiveness and efficiency. It is often claimed that drugs are prone to more side effects even if they give immediate relief from an ailment, while biologics take their time to get rooted into the body, but offer long-term benefits. There are also debates about the cost of production and their effects on the environment. While these are largely left to polemics, it is perhaps best left to one's discretion to use the two prudently and judiciously, based on the nature of the ailment and the desired outcome.

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Living Healthily in a Non-Sterile Environment

2014-01-01T17:19:00.000-08:00

Our society has become afraid of bacteria, the media promotes products such as antibacterial wipes for the home, and antibacterial gel for when we go outdoors. While most of us are not emetophobic, our fear of bacteria is due to manufacturers trying to cash in on their antibacterial products. Parents in particular are the target of these unscrupulous marketers.

Bacteria and virus exist all around us; it is in the air we breathe and the things that we touch. Our body is designed to keep out these pathogens, our skin impermeable to foreign bodies and our immune system is effective against invading microorganisms. Sunlight is particularly effective in killing bacteria and virus; ultraviolet rays are known to kill by damaging their DNA.

Antibacterial products are made out either alcohol, chlorhexidine or other chemicals proven to kill bacteria from a surface. Hospitals use these products to reduce bacterial load in the environment, because bacteria and viruses found in hospitals are potentially harmful if released into the environment. Measures have to be taken to avoid contaminating people or objects with potentially deadly bacteria such as methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or tubercle bacillus that cause tuberculosis.

In the community, sunlight should be enough because bacteria in the air would settle down as soon as the area is cleaned with antiseptic. Although it is important to clean our living environment regularly, regular disinfection is hardly necessary. The mass media tries to portray bacteria as the evil presence, but it is not so. It is only necessary for people with immune deficiencies to find it important to stay in a sterile environment, but the rest of us can live in harmony with bacteria.

Bacteria is useful in health and research, it is through escherichia coli that human insulin can be synthesized by using recombinant DNA technology. Without bacteria many research is impossible to perform, there will be no antibodies created to help treat diseases such as multiple sclerosis or osteoporosis. Bacteria have always been a useful tool in research of health.

Swine and avian flu are bacteria that used to be non-infectious to humans, but now we are also victim of these strains. Our immune system does not recognize these new strains as a threat, and therefore we fall sick. In a healthy person, rest and plenty of fluids should help the body recover; but the young and elderly have sub-optimal immune system and so would have some trouble fighting against the bacteria.

Even in these cases, using antibacterial products do not prove that the contagion would not spread. Even though every surface is being disinfected, we are still at the mercy of our surroundings and the air. We can disinfect the air in our home, but public places like schools and library do not practice disinfection as liberally, hence our hard work to avoid falling sick is thwarted by visiting places where sick people frequent.

So how do we prevent falling sick? Stress and dehydration can cause the body to become sluggish, and our immune system would suffer because of this. We should keep healthy by eating food high in nutrients and drink plenty of water, regular exercise is also important in keeping our mind and body strong. Sterilizing and disinfecting everything we own is not the way to live, because we cannot stay in a safe bubble forever, but we can be prepared for the invasion of infectious bacteria.

Ailyn Koay is a pharmacist working in Adelaide, Australia who aspires to become a full-time writer. Please contact ailynkoay@gmail.com.

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Be a Part of the Biological Laboratory Technician Careers

2014-01-01T12:36:00.000-08:00

Laboratory technician careers are currently branching out. One of its most popular branches is focused on biological laboratory. Biological laboratory technicians are responsible for performing tests and experiments on living organisms. They usually work in a laboratory that is supervised by a biologist. The setting could be in a university, a hospital or an industrial research facility. Their tasks include making observations, recording experimental results and physically maintaining the laboratory and its equipment.

To be a biological lab technician, you must have at least an associate's degree or a certification from any vocational school. Some employers will even require you to have a bachelor's degree. It really depends on the complexity of your job or task. The coursework of a graduate usually includes biology, chemistry and math among others. These courses are focused to help the students learn how to use the many different types of equipment found in a biological laboratory.

Biological laboratory technicians also work in hospital laboratories. You can be called to run diagnostic tests like evaluation of samples. You can even be assigned to work in a bacteriology laboratory. This will mean that you are responsible in setting up the samples, running the needed tests and compiling the results for the evaluation and analysis of a biologist. You may also work in a university setting wherein you will do a lot of research work. You will be asked to investigate the causes and cures for diseases. You can also work on environmental problems such as pollution or climatic effects on organisms.

Biological technicians can also work for pharmaceutical establishments. This industry may employ you to search new drugs and protocols to treat diseases. Your task will include investigating drug effects on animal models, overseeing drug production and maintaining cell lines for tests. Biological lab technicians who work in pharmaceutical companies are also asked to use recombinant DNA procedures to develop new products.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics said that the employment for biological laboratory technicians should increase by at least eighteen percent by the year 2018. The demand for drugs and other medical or agricultural products should pave the way for the increase. This is because they need the advances in biotechnology researches. The bureau also reported an average annual salary for biological laboratory technicians. They noted that it is currently at $39,000 for biological technicians that are employed by the federal government.

The average earning of a person that is involved in any of the lab technician careers is $53,500. The middle fifty percent of the medical population earned between $44, 560 and $63,420. The lowest ten percent however, earned less than $36,180 and the highest ten percent earned $74,680. According to the American Society for Clinical Pathology, various specialties and laboratory types have different hourly rates depending on the employer and the setting. Even the locations within each state can be a factor for the salary difference of laboratory technicians. You will earn more in urban settings as compared to working in rural areas. But you would have to consider that the living expenses in urban areas are also more costly than in rural ones.

Be part of Biological Laboratory Technician. Visit us at Biological Technician Careers

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Skin Care Cream for Antiaging

2013-12-31T13:16:00.000-08:00

Most of us are looking for that fountain of youth in a bottle. Years ago it seemed like a dream. Science is moving forward on several fronts to address our aging process. Skin care is one of those fronts. The focus has been on wrinkles, collagen and elastin rejuvenation

We have heard buzz words, like 'moisturize', 'rejuvenate', 'protect' and 'renew'. But what do these words really mean?

Skin moisturizers most often work by placing a fine oil based layer on top of the skin's outermost layer to prevent moisture from evaporating from the skin. This aids in keeping skin hydrated, whereby cells may receive their nourishment and essentially help prevents dehydration of the skin cells, which may lead to premature aging.

Antioxident skin creams contain vitamins and other substances that may prevent the formation of 'free radicals'. They are the by-product of the cells metabolism when they use oxygen. As we age, free radicals may disrupt normal cell function and lead to cell aging and even cell death. Therefore, it may be a good idea to either use a cream with anti-oxident properties as well as using sun block, which is the number one thing you can do to prevent free radical formation in the skin, and protect the skin from the sun's harmful rays.

We may also ask, what antiaging products actually repair or rejuvenate the skin once fine lines and wrinkles set in. Can we actually 'turn back the clock'?

Collagen is one of the key protiens in the skin that help support its structure. As we age, we begin to loose collagen and elastin. To help the skin rejuvenate collagen, we must maintain a healthy diet, and must have plenty of vitamine C, which is essential for proper collagen synthesis. Vitamin C is also considered an excellent anti-oxidant, and will help to improve overall skin health.

Elastin is probably the most important element in the skin that helps reduce the formation of wrinkles, and gives us the spring in our skin, and a youthful look. Unfortunately, we all stop producing elastin as we pass puberty. Slowly our skin starts to sag and form wrinkles. New science in skin care has addressed this with quite amazing results.

Skin care creams and eye serum are now available to try and replenish our diminishing supply of elastin. Human elastin can now be produced through recombinant DNA science. In this process, the human gene for elastin is inserted into a plant, and the production of 100% pure human elastin type proteins are produced. This is an amazing forward step for the science of aging skin. One you can apply daily, available to consumers. These proteins crosslink to form exactly the same elastin we start to lose after puberty.

Now you can moisturize, use sun block, take vitamin C to slow down the aging process. You may also try skin care products with human elastin type ingredients to 'rejuvenate' aged and damaged skin appearance. Make sure your products do not contain animal elastin as this may cause allergic reactions. Look for laboratory grade, clinically tested, and scientifically proven human elastin type creams only. You may find them on your face when you take the right steps to youthful skin.

Our products contain active ingredient SH polypeptide-50, a cosmetic ingredient derived from recombinant human Tropoelastin. All ingredients are laboratory grade, and constitute a proprietary formula distributed by WS Nutraceutical, Inc. Delaware. The highest strength and grade, all products are laboratory grade human elastin proteins made from proprietary RNA sequences. Clinically tested and scientifically proven. http://Prolastil.com please inquire at info@prolastil.com

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Biotechnology - Fast Emerging Sector of India

2013-12-30T02:49:00.000-08:00

Biotechnology is considered to be a quickly emerging and far-reaching technology. It's a branch of science that may play a major role in the development and growth of India. Biotechnology refers to any technological application that uses biological systems and forms in a governable manner, to not only produce new and useful processes or products but also modify the existing ones. It benefits both mankind and other life forms, such as microorganisms. Besides, biotechnology helps maintain an optimum ecological balance by lowering the amount of hydrocarbons and controlling pollution.

Biotechnology in India is one of the most rapidly growing knowledge-based sectors. Today, it's being increasingly used to design and develop unique, improved varieties of pharmaceutical products, crops, fertilizers, processed foods, a plethora of chemicals, cosmetics, growth enhancers, health care aids, and environment-related substances. The biotech segment in India has been making fast strides on the world platform. India is currently producing and marketing many therapeutic biotech drugs and vaccines. From 2005-2006, the Indian biotech sector recorded an impressive revenue of approximately US$ 1.07 billion and registered a 36.55% growth.

India has diverse biological resources. Biotechnology offers opportunities to convert these resources into employment opportunities and economic wealth. Several factors create an impetus for India to produce excellent capabilities in the domain of biotechnology. These factors include a strong pool of scientists and engineers, a large reservoir of scientific human resources, affordable manufacturing capabilities, numerous medical colleges, educational and training institutes providing diplomas and degrees in biotechnology, a large number of national research laboratories engaging thousands of scientists, fast developing clinical capabilities, and a vibrant drugs and pharmaceutical industry.

The Department of Biotechnology (DBT) in India is regulated by the Ministry of Science and Technology and is a top authority responsible for the development of the biotech industry. This department is responsible for planning, promoting, and organizing different biotechnological activities and programs in India. It also offers grants to universities, national research laboratories, and research foundations associated with biotechnology-related activities.

The key responsibilities of the DBT include:

1. Promoting large-scale use of biotechnology
2. Acting as a government agent for importing fresh recombinant DNA-based biotechnological processes, technologies, and products
3. Building infrastructure facilities to aid R&D and production
4. Initiating technical and scientific efforts associated with biotechnology
5. Promoting international collaborations to expound the knowledge base of the biotech sector in India
6. Providing bio-safety guidelines for laboratory research, applications, and production
7. Serving as a nodal agency for collecting and disseminating biotechnology-related information

Furthermore, the Indian government has set up the National Bio-Resource Development Board (NBDB) under the department to determine the broad-policy framework for efficient use of biotechnological research and development.

The key functions of this board include:

1. Promoting how bio-resources add value and strengthening bioinformatics
2. Formulating predictive groupings of biological resources via well-developed molecular lineages
3. Providing efficient conservation strategies for bio-resources with potential economic and scientific value
4. Promoting the application of biological software in pathogens' and agricultural pests' management
5. Training and teaching human resources towards achieving all these objectives

The Indian government is also establishing many biotech parks and incubators. Some existing biotech parks/incubation centers are in Uttar Pradesh, Hyderabad, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, and Bangalore.

With so many measures being adopted to promote biotechnology, the Indian biotech sector is set to flourish, and it can revolutionize agriculture, industrial processing, health care, and environmental sustainability.

The government of India has taken several initiatives to attract foreign investments in India. Not only foreign establishments but also entrepreneurs from India can reap the benefits of the growing Indian Market.

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Popular Biotechnology Books

2013-12-29T01:01:00.000-08:00

Are you following the modern trends in the age- old subjects like biology? Modern trends mean applying engineering, technology, genetics and medicine in the study of biology. The whole trend is called bio- technology, giving birth to bio- products or commercial products that are of specific use like manufacturing purposes.

But which are the windows through which you can bring on some more light to study biotechnology? As usual the books are always the most helpful companions in our knowledge- building process on any field. But among so many books which books are going to help the students and scholars the most?

Here are the most required books in applications of biotechnology:

1. Handbook of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology: This handbook is for scholars who are working on pharmaceuticals and applications of biotechnology in discovering and producing drugs. The book written by experienced professionals gives an overview of how to apply biotechnology in drug development process. This book will be of help to various genres of scholars like researchers, molecular biologists, cell biologists and also biochemists. The entire bio-tech industry gets much assistance from this book's approach towards the extensive applications, regulations and validation methods.

2. Molecular Biotechnology: This book (running its fourth edition) is continuously updated and revised to follow the day to day developments in biotechnology with almost 500 illustrations of the key concepts. The book deals extensively with how the scientific principles apply "recombinant DNA technology" in industrial, agricultural, pharmaceutical and biomedical fields. The updated book has special chapters on the most current trends like cloning, gene therapy and genetic engineering. This book is specially authored for students featuring end of chapter review questions to assess their gained knowledge.

3. Fundamental Laboratory Approaches: This is a laboratory textbook for students and scientists in biochemistry and biotechnology. This book trains students how to approach research problems and conduct and evaluate scientific research. Addititionally there is a unique chapter on using the web for your research plus a website that supports the book. Have fun and enjoy your modern research work and experiments.

4. Calculations for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: This is actually the most perfect laboratory assistant for biotechnology students and technicians. There all basic scientific notations, explanations of key concepts and theories for each type of calculation and the recent applications of the procedures in the research laboratories. In the new edition there is an updated coverage of mathematics to measure gene expression and more sample problems for readers. The simple to follow format will surely solve your most frequently faced problems in gene discovery and analysis.

5. Advanced Technologies in Bio-pharmaceutical Processing: This book describes how advanced biological processes like modification of somatic and embryonic cells are applied to the production of bio-pharmaceuticals. These advanced technologies produce hormones, modified proteins etc. This book is considered as probably the most user- friendly one ranging from large- scale animal cell bio-reactors to patient- customized products.

Source For Biotechnology Books: http://www.printsasia.com/books/Biotechnology

So just follow the trends and bring a revolution in the life sciences industry. Biotechnology will help you a lot to fulfill your dreams.

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Skin Care Based on Nobel Prize Winning Science

2013-12-27T19:46:00.000-08:00

The use of stem cell treatments as a skin care ingredient is highly controversial. But regardless, stem cell technology in anti-aging treatments are proven clinically effective. Known as epidermal growth factors (EGF), they are in my experience truly magical. Without doubt, thanks to EGFs ability to support stem cell growth and regeneration, the facial skin care market is booming.

Stanley Cohen discovered Epidermal Growth Factor during studies of nerve growth factor. This work led to the 1986 Nobel Prize awarded to Cohen and Rita Levi-Montalcini. Epidermal Growth Factor or EGF is a natural protein that stimulates cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. It is produced within the skin cells for maintenance of the skin.

EGF is naturally occurring protein in our skin. This protein is a key player in the cell growth and differentiation process. It can repair epidermis, delay aging, fade speckles, inhibit wrinkles, and moisten skin. If the amount of EGF in your skin is less, your skin appear old. If the amount of EGF in your skin is more, your skin appears young. Based on Nobel Prize winning technology, EGF is the purest example of modern skin care.

As we age, the level of EGF in our skin decreases gradually. Our late twenties are when life's big changes happen. But, in the middle of this period, this is when your skin begins to age too, making you look older. EGF stimulates a natural, accelerated cellular turnover in aging skin. It can extend the life cycle of skin cells, delaying the aging process. This results in a beautiful, pristine, youthful skin & improved overall skin tone.

Sounding like something more common to the medical world rather than the cosmetic, EGF based skin care promote both skin health and cosmetic properties. EGF is used successfully in clinical applications including post operative healing, scars and keloid reduction.

Cutting edge serums and creams based on EGF proteins that promote stem cell support may be obtained from humans, plants or by genetic engineering technology. I advise you to be cautious when it comes to choosing human derived stem cell serum or another. Epidermal Growth Factors derived by microbial recombinant technology (genetic engineering) identical to natural, EGF boosts and regulates stem cell proliferation. Because of its recombinant technology it is completely safe for use, unlike those that use human derived stem cells. Recombinant epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) is a 6.2kDa protein that is mitogenic for a variety of mammalian cell types. rhEGF is produced from recombinant DNA expressed in E. coli.

One such product is the RG-Cell Stem Cell Support by Time Slip Solutions, a fantastic facial serum, that nourishes your skin with more than 17 natural, age reversing ingredients. At the core of it proven formula are EGF, caviar extract, soy phyto placenta, argan oil and blue-green algae. It leaves you with a healthier and fresher appearance and repairs signs of skin ageing. Topically applied, thanks to unique patented nano-encapsulation technology, it is able to penetrate deeply into the skin, supports change at a cellular level and reaches the target cells to give them the message to STAY YOUNG!

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For Fear of Genetically Modified Organisms

2013-12-26T19:11:00.000-08:00

There are currently an abundance of genetically modified foods available at the market place. The seeds for such products can readily be purchased in just about any garden shop and run no more in cost than the traditional heirloom varieties.

People often ask what are genetically modified foods? In short, they are any organism which has had its genetic makeup altered. As we have come to understand the process of combining various genes from different organisms is frequently referred to as recombinant DNA technology. Those organisms which result are known as genetically modified, engineered or simply transgenic. Genome sequencing programs are currently underway for hundreds of organisms producing detailed genetic maps to allow new and more exciting agriculture products to be introduced.

In agriculture these genetically changed vegetables result in insect or disease resistant plants which may produce larger or in some cases greater amounts of fruit. To date there is in excess of 252 million acres planted worldwide of transgenic crops which include staples such as alfalfa, canola, corn, cotton and soybeans (Ornl.gov, 2008). We have trials currently being undertaken on virus resistant sweet potatoes and rice enriched with iron and vitamins. On the future horizons we find bananas which will provide human vaccines to guard against infectious diseases like hepatitis B; we see fish being breed which will mature in a fraction of the time it currently takes and finally our farmer's herds of cows will be resistant to the dreaded bovine spongiform encephalopathy or as commonly called mad cow disease. Most fruit trees are being engineered to yield produce years before their conventional counterparts.

Delaware being a major agricultural state provides a pivot point in this research. As you travel past the University of Delaware Agricultural Research center in Georgetown, Delaware you can view field after field of corn trials each with specific characteristics and all GMO dominant. Generally, these products are not openly available to the public but are still in the research stages. For my subject today I have selected Bt Corn (Sammons, 2005) as a topic of discussion. Bt corn has within its makeup a bacterium gene which aids it in manufacturing its own form of insecticide. This organism offers great hope towards decreasing the amount of residual pesticides found in the environment.

Crops which are engineered to resistance disease or to be pest resistant are frequently monitored closely by the EPA, Bt corn is one of those crops. The Bt corn crop contains a soil bacterium gene known as Bacillus thuringiensis. This bacterium generally will produce spores which possess a crystalline type protein. When this composition is eaten by an insect such as the European Corn Borer, the bacterium starts to break down and produces a toxin referred to as delta-endotoxin. As a result of eating the product the toxin will create holes within the intestines of the insect which degrades their digestive system to the extent that ultimately it causes their death within days.

Having mentioned the benefits associated with Bt corn let's now turn our attention to the negative aspects of the product. There have been expressions of concern as to whether the corn could have any impact upon the local butterfly populations. In all honesty, butterfly larvae are especially vulnerable to the Bt corn toxin therefore we will merely have to wait and see what the long term effects are.

The major complaint centers upon the concept that we simply do not know enough about the corn to deem it harmless to humans. In reality, we can not know what the long term effects are. Occasionally, mankind must take chances and GMO crops are just that - educated chances. I believe it is extremely important to consider the benefits which BT corn can bring to humanity. Every year farmers lose vast numbers of their crops to common insect pests and at the end of the growing season they take a loss. Think for a moment the amount of pesticides which are usually sprayed on our regular corn crop merely to keep the insects at bay. It all comes down to the fact that as a consumer would you prefer to eat a meal of healthy GMO corn or a regular grown corn soaked in uncertain pesticides?

Our population continues to grow larger with each passing year, while at the same time acres of farm land are being sold to developers to build apartment complexes to house these people. Somewhere we must have a handoff. We can not have it the way it has been for hundreds of years. The farmers that we have left must grow enough food to compensate for those who have now sold the farm and moved on. To me genetically engineered foods which can contribute twice the amount of conventional foods are necessary. I for one support the idea of genetic engineered foods with the understanding that they are properly managed and follow-ups conducted to ensure the human safety factor.

Government control is inevitable and will take place. I would like to think that their major role in this process would be merely to oversee the safety aspects of the GMO foods and not to dictate their own whims as to whether it is right or wrong. They should pass label legislation which informs the consumer that they are about to purchase a modified food. In this way the individual is afforded the opportunity to either accept the food or go elsewhere to purchase it such as an organic farm. In no way should conventional foods be outlawed as many people fear will happen.

Reference

Ornl.gov. (2008). Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms. Retrieved from http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml

Sammons, A. (2005). Genetically Modified Corn. Retrieved from http://lwicker.myweb.uga.edu/corn.htm

http://www.survival-training.info

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Botox Enhancement

2013-12-25T20:25:00.000-08:00

There are many skin care products that are helpful to improving skin conditions and aging skin. If you are looking for the very best results from a cosmetic procedure such as Botox injections or other injectable procedures such as fillers, you should consider using a cream or eye serum that can actually improve your skin to a more youthful look. Most skin care creams may prevent or slow future aging, however new science has addressed this problem through recombinant DNA technology. Newly available to consumers are products that contain laboratory grade, genetically engineered forms of human elastin. These small peptides when used as a daily cream, combine in the skin to form elastin. This has been proven in clinical studies to dramatically improve sun damaged and aged skin. The application of these creams often give improved results from using Botox and other injectable cosmetic procedures. Used on their own, they have proven to give results that may be compared to Botox.

The 'elastin peptides' were first synthesized for the treatment of wounds. Out of this research, scientists and doctors developed a new skin care product designed to rejuvenate facial skin and the sensitive, thin skin around the eyes. It proved to be extremely effective for both 'crow's feet' at the sides of the eyes, and facial skin.

It is important to use human, pure elastin type products as other products that claim to use elastin, often use bovine (cow) or other animal elastin, which is too large to enter the skin, and may in fact, cause adverse allergic reactions.

The source of human elastin type skin care products should be 'laboratory grade'. Certainly, a source from recombinant DNA would represent the highest, pure grade. Often, like most products, you get what you pay for. The laboratory process is far more costly than most commercially available skin creams. Ask your physician which one they recommend. Remember, elastin is not produced after we reach the age of puberty... it only starts to diminish, leading to sagging, thin skin. Much like a garment looses its elastic waist-band over time. Imagine a 40 year old elastic waist band. Now we have a new chance to add elastin back to our aging skin. This is the latest advance science have given us on our march to the fountain of youth!

You may find out more about these products by researching, SH-polypeptide 50. Look closely at the clinical studies. The most important and credible studies have been done at medical schools. You also might look for comments and recommendations on Facebook as well.

I am available for contact via email should you have further interest.

Our products contain active ingredient SH polypeptide-50, a cosmetic ingredient derived from recombinant human Tropoelastin. All ingredients are laboratory grade, and constitute a proprietary formula distributed by WS Nutraceutical, Inc. Delaware. The highest strength and grade, Prolastil is laboratory grade human proteins made from proprietary RNA sequences. Clinically tested and scientifically proven. http://Prolastil.com
please inquire at info@prolastil.com

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Why Is US Policy So Pro GMO?

2013-08-13T15:27:00.000-07:00

The topic of genetically modified (GM) foods has been raging globally now for the past two decades. In past articles we discussed the genuine concerns with GM foods. The main concern is quite simple - we do not know enough about the potential environmental and health implications involved with splicing the genes of one organism with the genes of another organism. And once you let GMOs out into the environment, there is no taking them back. They are there for good.

And in the middle of this raging debate, we have two major markets which have moved in two completely different directions with respect to GM foods. On one side, the US has led the development of GMOs and has embraced GM foods. On the other side, the European Union (EU) has rejected GM foods.

So why have these two major global markets moved in two distinctly different directions in this debate?

First, let's look at the EU stance.

GM foods became an issue in Europe when food exports from the US containing GM soya first began trickling in to the EU without labelling of any kind.

When this came to light, European consumers voiced their clear displeasure causing EU legislators to take a careful look at GM foods. The end result was new legislation enacted in 2004 which required all genetically engineered foods to be labelled as such.

This policy change brought on by consumer pressure was significant. Why? Because once GM foods had to be labelled, consumers actively avoided them. The end results was that many retailers simply stopped carrying GM foods. In fact, approximately 49 major food and drink retailers in the EU now have non-GMO policies. In other words, these food and drink retailers have made a corporate decision to not carry any GM foods in their stores. These 49 food and drink retailers have a combined market share of over 650 billion US dollars accounting for 60% of the total EU market!

As such, GM foods are effectively locked out of the highly lucrative European market. And this does not look to be changing any time soon. If anything, there is a growing trend of more EU food retailers following suit with their own non-GMO policies.

The US policy on GM foods is in stark contrast to the EU. In the US all variety of food crops are GM. As an example, 93% of all soybeans, 86% off all corn, 93% off all cotton, and 93% of all canola are GM.

Furthermore, the US does not require any labelling of GM foods. As such, consumers have no way of knowing whether the foods they eat are GM or not.

Why such a stark contrast between the EU and the US on this issue? We might get some enlightenment from research that suggests Americans tend to trust scientific authority. There is an underlying belief that if the experts say its ok, there is a tendency to trust that authority.

Providing the authority is acting in your best interest, you can assume your trust is well placed. But consider this list provided courtesy of organicconumers.org:

Michael Taylor, former Monsanto Vice President, is now the FDA Deputy Commissioner for Foods.

Roger Beachy, former director of the Monsanto-funded Danforth Plant Science Center, is now the director of the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

Islam Siddiqui, Vice President of the Monsanto and Dupont-funded pesticide-promoting lobbying group, CropLife, is now the Agriculture Negotiator for the US Trade Representative.

Rajiv Shah former agricultural-development director for the pro-biotech Gates Foundation (a frequent Monsanto partner), served as Obama's USDA Under-Secretary for Research Education and Economics and Chief Scientist and is now head of USAID.

Ramona Romero, corporate counsel to DuPont, has been nominated by President Obama to serve as General Counsel for the USDA.

Given the above list, can we truly believe the US government is acting in the best interest of the people when it comes to food policy? Given the direct high level connection of many of these individuals with Monsanto and Dupont, the largest producers of GM seeds, herbicides and pesticides in the world, I hardly think so.

It is time for average Americans to take responsibility for their own education regarding GM foods. Get educated and take action.

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What You Don't Want to Know About Your Food, But Really Should

2013-08-12T07:26:00.000-07:00

So why should I be concerned about GM foods? Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs are when the genes of one plant or animal are physically transferred into a plant or animal of a different species, to modify its natural state for the purpose of sustainability. This is not an extension of natural breeding. In fact, there's nothing natural about these foods. There are many risks involved in manufacturing and consuming GM foods.

GMO foods are grown with a different biological component than their parent crop. According to the Institute for Responsible Technology, the most commercialized GM crops in the U.S. include: soy, cotton, canola, sugar beets, corn, Hawaiian papaya, zucchini and yellow neck squash. These "Frankenfoods" are now equipped at the cellular level to secrete pesticides. When bugs eat these crops, their stomachs explode, thus killing the bug but not the crop. Think about that for a moment. Pesticides are meant to kill things. Why would that be safe for human or animal consumption? Well, many studies have proven that they are not.

When you eat foods created to kill pests, those chemicals go into your digestive system as well. They don't discriminate. They can cause damage to the lining of your intestines which in turn causes "leaky gut syndrome". The American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) cites several animal studies showing "organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune system disorders, accelerated aging, and infertility due to GMO foods. Human studies show how genetically modified food can leave chemicals behind inside our bodies, possibly causing long-term problems. For example, genes inserted into GM soy, can transfer into the DNA of bacteria living inside us, and the toxic insecticide produced by GM corn was found in the blood of pregnant women and their unborn fetuses."

Since GMOs were introduced in 1996, the percentage of Americans with three or more chronic illnesses jumped, food allergies skyrocketed, and autism, reproductive disorders and digestive problems have all been on the rise. Although it has not been proven that GM foods are the sole cause for the rise in health problems, it is also impossible to make these newly modified genes go away once they exist, and therefore likely to not be dismissed as a cause. They persist in the water, land and seeds blown miles away contaminate other environments, which make it difficult to pinpoint one particular strand. We do know that with the very process of blasting genes into crops and animals via a "gene gun," genetic engineering creates a veritable crapshoot of potential side-effects such as: new toxins, allergens, carcinogens, and nutritional deficiencies.

So how can I tell which ones foods are GM or have GM ingredients so I can avoid them? Well, that's the trick. You can't tell by looking at them. The food is technically edible, but the chemicals injected into their cells become innate parts of these foods that we cannot wash, boil or peel off. GM foods look identical to their organic counter-part. The differences are at the cellular level and you won't know until you eat the food and either have an allergic reaction, or develop other health issues somewhere down the line that can then be traced back to your food, as allergic reactions sometimes take time to develop. Everything we eat becomes our body on a cellular level. The human body is made up of trillions of replicating cells, so it's key that these cells be in their best possible shape and that starts with how you feed them.

A ballot initiative in California, known as Prop 37, was to require foods that are genetically modified or contain GM ingredients to be labeled. This would help consumers make informed choices. Unfortunately, the measure only received 48% of the vote, likely due to the millions of dollars spent by the companies who make GM foods to purposefully confuse voters with their ads. For the sake of others and with respect for the many past food, drug, chemical and lifestyle products that were once deemed safe and now banned due to severe health risk and even death, labelling GM foods is most helpful in determining food safety. Labels make it clear to consumers there is a possibility of risk should they choose to eat this food.

Non-profit organizations like www.nongmoproject.org provide valuable resources for your right to know. You simply have to look for their "verified" label on food produced by companies who are compliant and whom acknowledge their role and responsibility to the public. If people are expected to be responsible for their own well-being, it's important that they have all the information available to them and are educated about options. Buy organic whenever possible, and know that you do have a choice. Eating food should not be a gamble.

The conversation about GM foods can be controversial. It comes down to one's right to know that their food could cause them bodily harm, versus another's preference not to know about potential risk. The devil is in the details.

Hippocrates said, "Let Food Be Thy Medicine and Medicine Be Thy Food". The food that sustains our livelihood should not do us harm. Visit my website at the above link for more information about how working with a health coach will support you to weed through the rhetoric and onto the path of clean eating and happy living!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Allison_J_Samon
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-You-Dont-Want-to-Know-About-Your-Food,-But-Really-Should&id=7403688

Whatever Happened to Genetically Modified Food?

2013-08-10T23:25:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what happened to genetically modified (GM) food? Does any of our food actually come from GM organisms, and does GM food have a future on the supermarket shelves?

Growing genetically modified crops which are hardier, pest-resistant or produce fruit with a longer shelf life was once thought to be the future of farming. However, the British public did not embrace the idea of eating GM food, and now it is hard to find GM food on the shelves, and no GM crops are grown commercially in the UK.

The first GM product seen in the UK was tomato puree, produced from GM tomatoes, which was introduced by Sainsbury's and Safeway in 1996. The puree was clearly labelled as coming from GM tomatoes, and this fact was well-publicised by the supermarkets. The puree was extremely popular, being slightly cheaper and having a better texture than its non-GM equivalent.

So why has GM tomato puree now vanished from the supermarkets? The British public turned against GM food in a big way, and this was probably triggered by a story in 1999 about rats suffering ill effects after eating GM potatoes. Although the study was extremely controversial and described as 'flawed' and 'misleading', it was scary enough to give anti-GM campaigners the upper hand. You may find genetically modified products in processed food

The first GM crops to be grown on a large scale were herbicide-resistant soya and pest-resistant maize. Growth of these crops is widespread in many countries including the USA.

Most processed foods contain products derived from soya or maize, and these foods were immediately labelled GM if there was a chance they contained anything derived from GM crops. However, this meant that customers rarely had the option to buy non-GM, and British food producers very quickly started to source from certified non-GM crops.

The European Union has not approved the sale of any fresh GM produce - the only GM foods you are likely to see in Europe are imported, processed foods. GM food is much more widespread in the USA and does not have to be labelled as GM. The justification there is that GM products used in food have been determined to be safe, and not substantially different from non-GM versions, therefore the mode of production is irrelevant.

In the EU, food must be clearly labelled if it 'intentionally' contains products from GM crops at any level. Food which 'accidentally' or 'unavoidably' contains GM-derived products at less than 1% does not need to be labelled. A lot of animal feed contains GM soya or maize-derived products, but animal products (meat, eggs etc) from animals fed on GM food do not need to labelled.

Food produced using 'GM technologies' does not need to labelled either. A good example of this is the enzyme chymosin. Chymosin is the active ingredient of rennet, normally extracted from the stomach lining of calves, and used in the production of many cheeses. Most cheeses are now made using chymosin isolated from genetically modified microorganisms, as this is cheaper and vegetarian-friendly. GM crops in the UK

Growing GM crops has not been banned in the UK, but is unlikely to occur for commercial purposes before 2009, if at all. GM crop trials are being tentatively re-introduced in the UK. In December 2006, permission was granted for a trial of blight-resistant potatoes.

Article Source - http://www.whatprice.co.uk

For more consumer advice visit http://www.whatprice.co.uk

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Whatever-Happened-to-Genetically-Modified-Food?&id=600378

9 Ways to Avoid Genetically Modified Food

2013-08-09T21:47:00.000-07:00

It is estimated that about 75 percent of processed foods sold in the U.S. contain at least some genetically modified food ingredients. Unlike many other countries, there is no law in the U.S. requiring the labeling of foods that contain GM ingredients, but if you know how to identify which foods are most commonly genetically modified, you can reduce how many GMOs you eat. Following are some tips on how you can avoid them:

1. Buy foods labeled "100% organic." Laws in both the U.S. and Canada do not allow food labels that say "100% organic" to contain any genetically engineered food, including animals that have been fed genetically modified feed. Be aware, however, that if the food is simply labeled "organic" it can still contain genetically modified ingredients up to 30%.

2. Look for the labels "non-GM" or "GMO-free." These can be hard to find, but if you re able to support manufacturers that produce foods that are not genetically engineered you encourage other manufacturers to follow their lead.

3. Buy whole, fresh foods rather than processed ones. Foods that you cook and prepare yourself are almost always healthier than anything you can buy ready-made. And cooking healthy food doesn't have to be difficult or time-consuming. There are many simple but delicious and healthy meals that you can prepare in less than 30 minutes that do not involve any genetically modified food.

4. Know which foods and the products that are made from them are most likely to have been the result of genetic engineering. For example:

Corn - The ingredient derived from corn that is hardest to avoid is high fructose corn syrup. A huge percentage of processed foods and baked goods contains it, not to mention soda. Any food with a label saying there is corn of any kind in it should be avoided unless it states it is 100% organic. Popcorn is an exception, as there is currently no popcorn on the market that is genetically modified.
Soybeans - Products made from soybeans include soy flour, soy isolates, soy lecithin, soy protein and isoflavones. Be sure that soy based products such as tofu, soy milk, edamame and such have a label stating it is organic to be sure it isn't genetically modified.
Canola or Rapeseed - Made from the rapeseed plant, canola oil almost certainly is derived from genetically engineered crops, unless you are located in the EU, where no genetically modified crops of rapeseed are yet grown. You find it used mostly as cooking oil and in margarine, and though it is high in monounsaturated fat, it is not a healthy oil to use regularly due to its high levels of omega-6 fatty acids and because it goes rancid easily when heated. Olive oil is a better choice.
Cottonseed oil - Cottonseed oil is a primary ingredient in shortening, vegetable oil and margarine, none of which are healthy fats, and many of which contain trans fats. It is also used to a great extent in processed foods like potato chips and other fried snack foods.
Dairy - Some farmers inject cows with the genetically engineered hormone rBGH or rBST in order to boost milk production. Cows also may be fed genetically modified food in the form of grain and alfalfa unless the milk specifically states that it is organic. Look for products that advertise themselves as rBGH- or rBST-free.
Sugar beets - There is unfortunately no way of knowing if something labeled as containing "sugar" comes from just sugar cane or if it also includes sugar made from beets, since there is no special labeling required. Beet sugar can be avoided by buying products labeled as being made with evaporated cane sugar, 100% cane sugar or organic sugar.

5. Avoid aspartame as a sweetener. The sweetener used in products such as NutraSweet and Equal, Aspartame is derived from genetically modified microorganisms. Any artificial sweetener is usually worse for your health than sugar, and should be avoided whenever possible.

6. Buy 100% fruit juices. Though most fruit juices are not derived from GM foods, the sweetener used in many of these juices (and sodas as well) is high fructose corn syrup, which is almost certainly from genetically modified corn.

7. Ensure your produce is not genetically modified by reading the number on the sticker.

A 4-digit number indicates the food was conventionally grown and may or may not be genetically modified.
A 5-digit number beginning with an 8 is a genetically modified food. However, not all GM foods can be identified because PLU labeling is optional.
A 5-digit number beginning with a 9 indicates it is organic, and thus a non-GM food.

8. Buy meat that is 100% grass-fed. Most cattle in the U.S. are grass-fed until the last three to four months of their lives. At this point they are usually shipped to feedlots where they may be given GM corn and other genetically modified foods in order to increase the amount of "marbling" in the meat. Meat from these feedlot animals has higher levels of saturated fat and less of the healthy omega 3 fatty acids than grass-fed and grass-finished animals.

To avoid meat that has been fed GMOs, make sure the animal was 100% grass-fed or pasture-fed (sometimes also referred to as grass-finished or pasture-finished). For animals such as pigs and poultry that cannot be 100% grass-fed, it's better to buy meat that is labeled as 100% organic.

Wild caught fish are better than farm raised, as farm raised fish are fed fish meal containing GM grains and sometimes meat and bone meal. Eggs should be labeled 100% organic, as those with only a "free-range," "natural," or "cage-free" label are not necessarily free of GMOs.

9. Buy your meat and produce at local farmers' markets. Most genetically modified food is grown on large industrial farms. The farmers' market allows you to talk directly with the farmer to find out how the food was grown. These markets also usually provide a range of other products, such as organic honey, grains, baked goods, etc. You could also join a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm where you receive a box of fresh, seasonal produce every week during the growing season. Another place to find healthy, non-GMO products is your neighborhood co-op.

Laurel Avery, DiHom, is a homeopath who became interested in natural health and the positive effects of healthy eating after moving to Europe from her native U.S. She now devotes her time to helping expose the dangers of genetically modified food and helping others learn how to achieve vibrant health through their diet.

For more about healthy eating and how you can easily cook delicious meals for yourself and your family, visit http://www.natural-health-guide.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurel_Avery
http://EzineArticles.com/?9-Ways-to-Avoid-Genetically-Modified-Food&id=4594706

Is Your Food Genetically Modified?

2013-08-09T03:09:00.000-07:00

After three long days at Grams' house in Philadelphia, I returned to Utah with a cold and feeling like I'd been hit by a bus. I was blown away by the lack of healthy food choices available to me and was once again placed in the shoes of a typical American.

I struggled to find real, whole, live and organic foods. Instead, I surrendered to the Philly cheese steak, fries, and chain restaurant food like the rest of them. Breakfast wasn't any better. The bread for toast had Trans fat in it and the jam was loaded with high fructose corn syrup. As you can imagine, I was not happy, but by now I know how to be a flexatarian and roll with the punches.

The effects I suffered after eating the Standard American Diet for three days were striking. I felt mentally clouded, irritable, exhausted, sad, angry, troubled, overweight, tense, anxious, stressed and insecure. To think most American's are eating the Standard American Diet daily is frightening!

At the same time, I feel grateful for the experience because it helped me better relate to my clients and the world we live in. I feel inspired to keep on sharing my experience, knowledge and wisdom with you.

Do you know what GM food is? Genetically modified (GM) foods are food items that have had their DNA altered through genetic engineering. Unlike conventional genetic modification that is carried out through time-tested conventional breeding and that have been consumed for thousands of years, GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s.

For example, a typical GM Food could be a strawberry that has to survive in cold climates. Therefore, the farmer would get its DNA altered so it could survive in the frost. They would take DNA from a frost resistant cell, and transfer it into the strawberry cells genes. Therefore, the cells of the strawberry are now frost resistant and will survive the frost, so the farmer can produce strawberries all year long.

GM foods are scary for several reasons. The long-term health effects of eating GM foods as well as their environmental safety is virtually unknown. Other potential negative effects of these kinds of foods include labeling and consumer choice issues, violation of intellectual property rights, unclear food security and potential disruption or even possible destruction of the food chain.

The multi-national corporations and governments engaged in the genetic engineering of food claim the technology to be a boon for the human race, while many health-conscious people believe it to be a potential and/or actual disaster.

I urge and encourage you to be a conscious consumer! Know what you are eating. What are you feeding your beautiful body and spirit? Read every label of every food you put in your mouth. Empower yourself!

When you eat well, you will feel boundless energy, strength, mental focus, self love, self acceptance and a deeper connection to the earth and all beings.

Before your next trip to the grocery store familiarize yourself with this list compiled by The True Food Shopping Guide to decipher which foods contain genetically engineered ingredients and which do not.

Share it with your friends too!

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Your-Food-Genetically-Modified?&id=1600295

Genetically Modified Foods - What Are They and Why Should We Be Concerned?

2013-08-08T02:29:00.000-07:00

Genetically modified foods, also called GM foods, are animals or plants that are genetically modified by inserting DNA from another organism to produce an end product with certain desirable traits. The DNA, or gene, is taken from a different species than the one that it is being inserted into.

GM foods, are used to make foods resistant to herbicides, pesticides and insects. Also, they are used to prolong ripening time and increase yields. Some products are being "enriched' with added vitamins. Enriched products is another topic altogether. For this article, I'm going to stick with the controversies surrounding genetically modified foods.

Most of the benefits of GM foods are for everyone involved except the consumer. Producing GM foods is expensive, who pays for it? The consumer pays for the cost. Food prices have been increasing at alarming rates since the 1990's when GM foods were first introduced. We have been consuming them for 17 years. Most people don't even know these foods exist, let alone that they are consuming these foods every day. Most are not labeled as such. If you buy processed foods, you are consuming them, as processed food companies buy GM foods because they don't spoil as quickly.

There are two areas of concern known to human health. One is that allergic reactions to the GM foods could develop in certain individuals. The second one is that the bacteria in the human stomach and intestines could become resistant to antibiotics due to a marker gene used in certain GM foods that are consumed.

Do you think that the recent years of antibiotic resistance to certain bacteria has anything to do with the widely use of these? It is something to think about. Also, something else to think about, why are so many children today suffering from allergies?

Another area for concern is that when these GM plants and animals breed, they pass on the newly introduced genes to their offspring. What kind of plants and animals will develop generations later? How do we know that the genes that are introduced into these plants and animals are not being introduced into our own genes? We are what we eat. How do we know that it is safe to eat these foods? How do we know that modifying certain foods doesn't take away from their original nutritional value? These are many questions that have alternative health practitioners concerned, and so should we!

I believe God created everything we need on this earth for our survival and health. God created things how he intended them to be. I think genetically modified foods are harmful to human health in ways that haven't been discovered yet or proven.

As a consumer, we should have a choice whether to purchase GM foods or not to purchase them. We don't have a choice, because they are not marked or labeled as so. The only way to be sure that you are eating non-genetically modified food is if you purchase organic foods or home or locally grown foods. But sometimes that is not always possible.

There are other areas of concern with the use of GM foods that I have not covered. If you are interested in learning more about this subject, I have included some links that you might find helpful.

http://organicconsumers.com
http://www.psrast.org

Heather Mankey, Alternative Medicine Major

[http://www.cureremedies.net]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Heather_Mankey
http://EzineArticles.com/?Genetically-Modified-Foods---What-Are-They-and-Why-Should-We-Be-Concerned?&id=2290567

Why Some People Are Afraid Of Genetically Modified Foods

2013-08-06T20:40:00.000-07:00

One of my friends expressed that she thought Genetically Modified (or GM) foods are bad for you. I asked her why she thought this, and she said this "Don't you think putting something else's genetics in something like tomatoes would make the new topic something that's not a tomato?" I didn't know where she was going with this statement, so all I said was "No". I'm sure we went on a little further with it, but she basically didn't have any points to back up why she thought GM foods were bad.

Why Do People Think that GM foods are Bad?

Simply put, many people are afraid of the unknown. What they don't know, they perceive to be bad for them. So even if a plant is modified to withstand the cold, or resist pests, or to resist pesticides they believe they are bad for you because they don't know how they were modified to do so.

Could They Ever Harm You?

Allergic Reactions: Many people have deadly allergies to certain plants such as peanuts, but even though it's possible to modify crops to have allergic potential, it likely won't happen since proposals to incorporate such potentially allergenic components into crops will get turned down for that reason. So, no need to fear about that!

GM Foods Advantages

Aside from all the obvious advantages such as disease resistance, cold tolerance, and drought tolerance, you have:

Nutrition: Many third world countries rely on a single crop such as rich as a main source of food. This is a problem because normal rice doesn't have a lot of vitamin A, and that leads to the very real problem of blindness due to a lack of Vitamin A. A strain of rice called "Golden Rice" had been developed to combat this problem. The Rockefeller Foundation, which developed this rice, along with another strain of rice with a high iron content, planned to give seeds away for free to whoever asked for it, however, the funding on these two projects was not renewed because of Anti-GM protests in Europe. Really now?

Medicine: Researchers are developing edible vaccines in potatoes and tomatoes. These vaccines would be easier to ship and administer than traditional vaccines.

What do you think about GM foods?

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_Gu
http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Some-People-Are-Afraid-Of-Genetically-Modified-Foods&id=5684753

GM Crops - Boon Or Bane?

2013-08-06T00:56:00.000-07:00

Since the times mankind took to agriculture, we have been improving our crops in order to get more yield. The tools of crop improvement are selective breeding of crops with desired characters, cross pollinating two related plants for desired characters followed by controlled self breeding. But this method of breeding has one major drawback. Nature has provided all organisms with genetic inability to breed freely with other species. An organism can breed only among those of same type. Due to this genetic blockage one species is unable to cross breed with another species. A species can breed among relatives of the same species only thus limiting the scope of improvement. There are some exceptions in nature to this like a cross between a donkey and mare is possible and results in a hinny, similarly across between a horse and jackass results in a mule but both hinny and mule are sterile.

Advances in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology have provided us with tools to do away with this genetic blockage. Biotechnology has enabled us to produce organisms with desired characters crossing all limits of species except for religious, moral and ethical issues.

The result of advances in Biotechnology and Molecular biology is Genetically Modified crops or animals popularly called GM Crops or GM Animals. Various steps in producing GM Crops /Animals can be summarized as

Organism with desired character is identified.
The gene( a specific sequence of DNA nucleotides that code for a specific character) is identified and cut off from the main sequence.
This gene is attached to a carrier or vehicle called vector. Vector is either a virus or bacterium. The bacterial cells have an extra piece of DNA called plasmid. The gene is attached to plasmid and transferred back to the bacterium.
The bacterium multiplies and produces a large no. of copies of the desire gene.
These gene copies are then transferred to the target cells either by firing them at high velocity into the cell or through a soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumifaciens.
The cells are then cultured using tissue culture techniques to produce GM plants.GM plants are extensively tested to find the proper working of the gene. This is done with the help of certain marker.

Genes express themselves through proteins. This hypothesis is called central dogma

DNA(Gene) ------> mRNA ------> Protein

We may not inadvertently create a similar monster world full of interspecific plants and animals, lest the God once again has to wipe the slate clean to start all over again.

Central Dogma

The expression of gene is a complicated and controlled process through promoter and suppressor genes. These gene switch on or switch off a specific gene thus regulating its expression.

Using biotechnology it is possible to transfer non plant genes into plants.The best example of this is B.t or Bacillus thuringonsis, a naturally occurring bacterium that produces a crystalline protein lethal to insect larvae. This B.t gene has been transferred to many crops like Maize(Corn),Cotton, Brinjal etc. These are commonly called B.t Corn, B.t Cotton and B.t Brinjal respectively.

GM foods may be able to alleviate food supply to millions of the hungry people around the world. GM foods may also reduce dependence on pesticides and herbicides thus addressing the environmental issues. The GM crops will be disease resistant and will be able to tolerate increasing cold or drought or salinity. GM foods may provide us with cheap edible vaccines or specific medicines. They may also help us to clean up heavy metal contamination of the soil.

However, concerns have been raised by religious groups, environmentalists, Public interest groups, Scientists and others regarding the potential impact of GM crops on environment and health.

In the Bible there is a reference to times when mankind was able to interbreed with other organisms(Genetic isolation was absent), resulting in a world full of half human and half animals. God became angry and wiped the slate clean to start all over again.

Though GM foods have a great potential, we must proceed with utmost care to avoid unforetold damage to environment and health.

I belong to the community of teachers and I teach Life Sciences. Life Science is something what I consider 'Mother of all Sciences'. It is the way of human life. Life science encompasses practically all branches of knowledge,as life itself is dependent on all the physical and chemical parameters with in our knowledge. I write regularly write at http://myinferencesonlife.blogspot.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Rajinder_Pal_Gupta
http://EzineArticles.com/?GM-Crops---Boon-Or-Bane?&id=3883363

Alternatives to GM Foods

2013-08-04T20:11:00.000-07:00

In England, GM foods will always be associated with lies and deception. That's for a very good reason, because everything we have been told here about GM over the years is provably untrue. Take one example: we were told that GM crops were necessary for the good of the Third World. It would help eradicate hunger, it was said. Now we find out that the vast majority of GM crops in the world today are grown in North America. If GM type food is being developed for the benefit of the Third World, why is the First World deriving so much benefit from it first, before the others? Why on earth do the wheat growers of the US and Canadian prairies need seed that delivers higher yields? If GM is so important for Africa and Asia, why aren't they top priority instead? It beggars belief that GM is touted as the answer to world hunger but is busy being devoted mainly to feeding the fattest people on the planet, and not the needy and under-nourished.

Nobody is saying the scientists are lying. The men in white coats who invented the new way of growing crops no doubt had the best interests of humanity at heart. Unfortunately, their patents are in the hands of businessmen, people who struggle to produce a convincing picture of altruism. One example: GM seeds that are making it to Africa are being sold to the farmers there, sold in a market where farmers rarely deal in a cash economy, and, moreover, sold as First Generation hybrids, which means they are sterile. Local farmers are used to conserving seeds from one season to the next, to provide for the new crop. They are having to get used to a brand new system of selling all their harvest each year and saving money from the proceeds to buy next year's seed. It's a plan that ties the dirt poor farmer to the big seed companies - forever. There is no way the farmers can break out of the trap. Worse, they are being tempted to grow inappropriate crops: the rice farmers are not just being offered GM rice, but the whole range of GM plants. Farmers are switching to what might seem the most profitable product available, a short-term philosophy that ignores local need; local climate conditions; and local food supply.

Back in Britain, the GM bandwagon arrived in the 1990s. The population was told that GM crops would need to be 'tested' in our country. Why? Is the climate that different to the US, or the soil, or the agricultural methods? If GM foods are helping the hungry, why does prosperous England turn out to be the next area for colonisation on the list? Worse, the British public soon had to get used to the news that GM seeds were carried by the wind, and spread. We were promised that this wouldn't happen; we were told that these GM 'trial' beds would be isolated and protected. Rubbish. GM plants spread into areas where farmers didn't want them, and farmers who had consciously said they didn't want anything to do with the 'GM revolution' were finding their fields polluted by the new technology. It didn't end there. The GM companies then had the damn nerve to sue the victims for 'stealing' the GM crops, the invaders on their land, (which they hadn't asked for and didn't want) and were being awarded damages in the courts! In Canada, even more bizarrely, the GM companies were suing farmers for 'trespass' and said they were threatening their patents, and were being awarded not only the produce of their fields but their land as well. That was the last straw. If there's one thing that Englishmen hate, it's legalised robbery. It reminds them of the dust bowl of the 1930s in America, the tragedy that John Steinbeck and Woody Guthrie chronicled so wonderfully, where farmers were swept off their land by caterpillar tractors, all perfectly legally and at the behest of rapacious banks and landlords.

There was more to come. The media got on the case and decided that GM crops represented 'Frankenstein foods'. No, it doesn't make any sense, but that didn't stop the campaign. The bogey of eating 'artificial' food was scary to the British public and they turned off the idea in droves. They stopped buying anything that even had a hint of GM about it. The GM industry hit back, and made sure that food labeling was no longer required to specify if packets of soya beans were GM or not. One week, labels might say, 'made from 50% GM crops', the next week they said nothing. The population was livid. Big Business had once again rigged the game, forcing politicians to kowtow to their call and outlaw information that might be detrimental to their sales. People weren't buying GM? The cynical response was not to tell people it was there. How's that for deception? Oh, did I mention it was all perfectly legal? That just made the angry people madder. They felt used, abused, and manipulated, and turned against GM companies.

The GM industry had one last trick up its sleeve. It recognised that a huge publicity campaign had been mounted against its most vociferous advocate, Monsanto, so it simply collapsed the company, dropped the name and started up again under another title. Bad move. If anything, this just convinced the doubters they were right. If the company was so unsure about sales that it could re-invent itself overnight, then what else was invented, spurious and untrue? The move proved one thing. If you critisise the GM giants, they cry 'Foul' and talk about the free market and consumer choice. If consumers then actually go ahead and choose, well, like choosing something that isn't in the big companies' interest, like buying their food, then they'll change food packing; change company names; and outlaw information. What happened to the Free Market? Oh, that's only good when you, the people, buy what the company wants to sell you. If you won't buy it, they'll rig the market. It won't be so darn 'free' then, but at least sales will hold up. So much for capitalists; they believe in capitalism, when it suits them. If it doesn't suit, they'll choose Big Government, every time.

Mike Scantlebury is one Internet Author who fears Frankenstein farmers. He lives in Manchester, England, the big city, but manages to grow his own veggies in his back yard and a small allotment. He's never had time for GM foods and reads the labels, every time. Hear what he has to say on other topics, see him on YouTube and MySpace.

Try [http://www.mikescantlebury.com]

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http://EzineArticles.com/?Alternatives-to-GM-Foods&id=1234207

Know the Difference Between Organic Foods and Genetically Modified Foods

2013-08-04T10:07:00.000-07:00

Genetically modified foods (GM foods) are those that have been produced from genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. These changes in the food come from specific changes in the foods DNA done through genetic engineering. These techniques are done to produce extra nutrients, faster growth and resistance to viruses or bacteria. Should we be wary of such foods? We probably should, simply because we don't know enough about GMOs. There has been little scientific testing on humans, and at least in some cases the results on animals has not been good.

We are not talking about hybridization here, as sometimes that is confused with GMOs. Hybridization crosses dissimilar individual organisms to produce the best of each organism. For instance, combining a type of plant that has disease resistant qualities with one with great production capacity, the end product is a plant that is disease resistant with greater yields. This crossbreeding of different species of plants has been done for centuries, and has done wonders to increase food production over this time.

GMOs, on the other hand, are organisms that are altered at the gene level, and it is an entirely different ballgame. Genes from a plant, animal, or virus can be inserted into another organism, usually a plant, thereby irreversibly altering its genetic code. The health risks of genetic altered food have not been clearly identified, and few studies have been done evaluating the impact on our health. If you are wondering why we humans are basically being used as human guinea pigs, there is big money involved, both with producers who are overnight dramatically increasing their yields along with the biotech industry.

Laws in the United States do not force foods that have genetically modified ingredients to be labeled, and it is estimated that as much as two-thirds of the food in grocery stores contain some genetically engineered ingredients. That is where organic foods come in. Unless you purchase only organic food, more than likely you will something that is genetically modified, particularly if they have ingredients containing corn or soybeans.

So why is organic food your safest options? If you don't want to tempt fate by having genetically modified foods in your diet, genetically engineered materials or seeds are not allowed in food production or organic farming. This is really the only way you can be sure to avoid GM food. And don't be drawn in to the label that says its "natural", as it has no meaning. "Natural" does not mean organic and genetically altered foods can still carry the "natural" label.

Finally, support any legislation that supports labeling of GM foods. Until now the biotech industry has lobbied to keep any labels off those foods, but consumers should at least know how there food has been produced.

GMOs are now an important aspect of deciding what should be part of our healtheybalanceddiet. We still don't know if they are truly healthy, but we do know that organic food is. Read more on our website. Rich Carroll is a writer and avid health advocate now living in Chicago.

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