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Genetic engineering is a biological science that deals, among other things, with the processes of directed genetic exchange between organisms using biotechnological methods. It is a relatively new field, very controversial in terms of safety for the environment, as well as for human health and life . Public support for organisms with modified genomes is low, although there is a notable trend toward acceptance of GMOs in some industries. This primarily applies to sectors that work to improve human health and life. Published: 09-30-2022 The first genetically engineered organisms were developed in the 1970s . It was a breakthrough that initiated the use of GMOs in agriculture, cosmetics, food, pharmacology and medicine. The goal of introducing genetically modified organisms into mass production was primarily to make pesticide-free agricultural cultivation more profitable . But because of this, the advantages of transgenic crops are strongly questioned in favor of theories that there is damage to ecosystems and human health. The issue of GMOs is even more controversial due to the fact that genetically modified plants and their products are not only found in food. GMO-based raw materials are often used in the mass production of cosmetics. What really are GMOs? GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are organisms whose genomes have been artificially modified by genetic engineering methods in order to obtain new physiological characteristics of those organisms or alter some existing characteristics.
Contrary to popular belief, genetic modifications are not a completely artificial phenomenon. Are all genetic manipulations bad in principle? Are genetic modifications completely against nature? The opinions of some fierce opponents of genetic modification largely contradict the available scientific evidence. Nature itself spontaneously modifies the DNA of different types of organisms under the influence of various stimuli and changes in the environment, adapting those living beings to function under changing conditions. The most basic modifications include, for example, selecting and multiplying CZ Leads specific plant lines that have the greatest nutritional potential. Other examples of genetic modifications include crossing and creating so-called polyploids , that is, plant organisms that have a multiplied amount of genetic material. Today, it is to such modifications that we owe large ears of grain , juicy and sweet watermelons, and banana pulp with a creamy texture. Here you can certainly say that the modifications have worked well. The real controversy arises when we talk about GMOs in the literal sense, with actual manipulation within the genome of a cell. This requires the intervention of genetic engineering specialists and specialized laboratories with appropriate equipment. So what is genetic modification? In simple terms, it is the removal of a specific fragment of DNA from an organism, or the insertion of a specific fragment of DNA from a cell of one organism into the genetic material of a cell of another organism.
What cosmetic raw materials may contain GMOs? In today's market there is a very wide range of ingredients and additives for use in the production of cosmetics . These substances are mainly of plant origin. As we all know, industrial plant production involves large-scale cultivation, where enormous emphasis is placed on efficiency and productivity per hectare. This is the reason why agricultural plants are often subject to various genetic modifications that lead to higher yield and better crop quality. These are some of the genetically modified plants most used to produce raw materials and cosmetic additives: – corn (oil, starch), – wheat (starch), – cotton (seed oil), – apples (organic acids, Proteol APL), – sugar cane (sugars, squalane), – rapeseed (oil), – linseed (oil), – soybean (oil and wax, phytoestrogens), – alfalfa (extracts), – cloves (essential oil), – eucalyptus (essential oil ), – rose (essential oil), – melon (extracts), – papaya (extracts, enzymes), – plum (extracts), – poplar (extracts), – rice (oil, starch), – tobacco (extracts), A Highlight example of a cosmetic raw material that can be derived from GMOs is lauric acid, which is one of the saturated fatty acids . Due to its excellent moisturizing properties , it is a raw material often used as an ingredient in personal care products (bath liquids and soaps, shampoos) and skin care 'white cosmetics' such as moisturizing creams and lotions. . This compound is extracted from both coconut and rapeseed. The huge demand for lauric acid by the cosmetics industry was one of the reasons why rapeseed was subjected to genetic modification . This was done in order to increase the lauric acid content in the plant.
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發表於 2024-3-16 17:19:21