Re: What can genetically modifying plants do to the beings eating these plants?

While there is much discussion in the scientific community there is little 
evidence that GMO, genetically modified organisms, are a threat to human 
health. The process by which genes are inserted into a plant material is 
relatively simple, once taken up, the genes direct the manufacture of new 
characteristics that were engineered. Such characteristics as resistance 
to infection or ability to with stand drought are typical, or those 
resulting in a higher yield.

Genetic mutation in the natural world is continuous and hybrid plants are 
very well known and have been around for centuries, there is little 
difference in these techniques and there is almost no evidence to show 
that this has been harmful.

The most serious issue is the changes that these plants may have on the 
eco-system. A type of corn, BT corn, modified with genes from Bacillus 
thurengensis is lethal to a type of moth that feeds on corn. The toxins 
however also kill butterflies and there was a large die off of Monarch 
butterflies as a result in New York. There is also evidence that gene 
transfer may introduce allergens into foods and cause those with allergies 
to certain agents to be affected unknowingly. Otherwise the GMO plants are 
not t threat to public health as far as we can tell.