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LMO Act

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About LMO

Benefits and Concerns of LMO

Genetic engineering is a beneficial technology that receives much attention from various fields including food, medicine and the environment. It has brought many benefits to genetically modified plants, medicine and the environment, as described below, which are some of the most commercialized areas since the 1990s. On the other hand, however, there is much concern about the impact of genetic engineering on the ecosystem, humans and animals in many aspects.
Benefits
Food

Genetic engineering is employed to grow crops that are resistant to herbicides and pests and develop LMO that contains specifically enhanced nutrients, which is aimed at addressing food shortages through production increase and allowing people to consume nutrients that are insufficient in the body.

Medicine

Genetic engineering is employed to cure intractable diseases through the development of pharmaceutical substances, such as insulin, vitamins and enzymes, and animals for the production of artificial organs.

Environment

Genetic engineering is employed to reduce or eliminate contaminants of heavy metals, radiation, water and soil pollution or restore the environment.

Concerns
About the human body

When foods made with genetically modified crops are consumed, antibiotic resistance genes used in making LMO are delivered to microorganisms in human organs, causing resistance to antibiotics. There is concern that Bt products of pest resistance LMO may cause allergic reactions.

About the environment

Genes with specific traits may be transferred to other organisms, causing the loss of native varieties and weediness. There are also concerns about side effects, such as genes possibly transferred to allied species through pollen, the impact of genetic engineering on non-target organisms, and the reduction of biodiversity. Another concern is about adventitious presence that might occur during import and distribution, as well as production and distribution of unapproved LMO, which could lead to secondary disturbance and adventitious presence in living organisms and the ecosystem.