the anti-GM movement, which has claimed that
there is a danger of genes transferring from one spe-
cies to another. Other critics of genetically engi-
neered food feared that the CaMV promoter may in-
sert near and activate other plant genes that may
result in deleterious effects to humans. Others
feared that genetically engineered crops may con-
tain unsuspected allergens and/or that the genes in-
troduced into genetically altered foods may be trans-
ferred to other plants and result in environmental
damage.
Impact The development and subsequent use of
genetically modified foods led to increased nu-
tritional value, increased yield, and decreased
use of pesticides. Nevertheless, the debate over
GM foods continued into the early twenty-first cen-
tury.
Further Reading
Federoff, Nina, and Nancy Marie Brown.Mendel in
the Kitchen: A Scientist’s View of Genetically Modified
Foods. Washington, D.C.: J. Henry Press, 2004.
Authors contend that the benefits of genetically
engineered foods far outweigh the supposed
risks.
Lurquin, Paul.High Tech Harvest: Understanding Ge-
netically Modified Food Plants. Boulder, Colo.:
Westview Press, 2002. Examines the history and
nutritional and environmental benefits of GM
food production.
McHughen, Alan.Pandora’s Picnic Basket: The Poten-
tial and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods. New
York: Oxford University Press, 2000. A Canadian
agricultural scientist offers an even-minded as-
sessment of the potential risks and benefits of GM
foods.The Nineties in America Genetically modified foods 363
Chief executive officer of Calgene Roger Salquist displays genetically modified tomatoes that are able to ripen on the vine before shipping in-
stead of having to be picked green.(AP/Wide World Photos)