Steven Druker's "Altered Genes, Twisted Truth" unmasks the risks of GENETIC ENGINEERING in food
- Steven Druker's "Altered Genes, Twisted Truth" exposes the misleading narrative surrounding GMO safety, revealing regulatory negligence and corporate influence in the biotech industry.
- Ernst Mayr's early warning to Philip Regal about the powerful forces promoting genetic engineering without adequate oversight sets the stage for Regal's scientific integrity and scrutiny of the technology.
- Regal's concerns about the potential ecological and health impacts of GMOs were dismissed by proponents who claimed gene-splicing was safe and precise, leading to the neglect of broader biological considerations.
- The book critiques the "substantial equivalence" regulatory framework, which allowed GMOs to bypass rigorous safety testing, highlighting cases such as the Flavr Savr tomato and the 1989 tryptophan epidemic, where genetic engineering was linked to health risks.
- Druker argues that genetic engineering is fundamentally different from traditional breeding – with inherent risks of imprecise gene transfer and unintended genome disruptions – and calls for greater transparency and independent scientific research in the regulatory process.
Steven Druker's "
Altered Genes, Twisted Truth" is a groundbreaking exposé that challenges the widely accepted narrative surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and their safety. As a public interest attorney and founder of the Alliance for Bio-Integrity, Druker delves into the history, science and politics of genetic engineering – revealing a troubling pattern of misinformation, regulatory negligence and corporate influence.
The book begins in the early 1980s, when biologist Ernst Mayr urged Philip Regal, a
University of Minnesota professor, to scrutinize the burgeoning field of genetic engineering. Mayr warned Regal of the powerful forces he would face – biotech companies, academic institutions and government agencies – all of which were eager to promote the technology without adequate oversight.
Regal, driven by scientific integrity, took on the challenge – questioning the assumption that genetic engineering was inherently safe. He argued that each GMO should be evaluated individually, considering its potential impacts on ecosystems and human health.
Regal's concerns were met with resistance. When he suggested that students studying genetic engineering should also learn about ecology and population genetics, he was dismissed. Proponents of the technology claimed that gene-splicing was precise and predictable, requiring no broader understanding of biology.
Regal, however, knew this was flawed. He argued that genetic modifications could give organisms a competitive edge, enabling them to thrive in the wild and potentially become invasive species. Despite his warnings, the biotech industry continued to push the narrative that GMOs were safe, dismissing dissenting voices and avoiding rigorous testing.
One of the book's central themes is the concept of "substantial equivalence," a regulatory framework adopted globally that treats GMOs as essentially identical to their conventional counterparts. This concept allowed companies to bypass rigorous safety testing, despite evidence that genetic engineering could disrupt biochemical pathways and produce harmful substances.
Druker highlights several cases that expose the dangers of this approach. For example, the Flavr Savr tomato, the first genetically engineered whole food approved for market, was linked to stomach lesions in rats. Yet the
Food and Drug Administration ignored these risks and approved it based on flawed data.
Similarly, a genetically engineered tryptophan supplement caused a deadly epidemic in 1989. Again, regulators downplayed the role of genetic engineering in the tragedy.
Druker also critiques the biotech industry's claim that genetic engineering is merely an extension of traditional breeding. He explains that while traditional breeding combines genes through natural processes, genetic engineering allows for the transfer of genes between unrelated species – bypassing natural checks and balances.
This process is inherently imprecise, often causing unintended disruptions to the host organism's genome. Despite these risks, the industry has consistently prioritized profit over safety, with regulators often complicit in covering up evidence of harm.
The book underscores the importance of independent scientific research and transparency in the regulatory process. Druker reveals how dissenting scientists have been silenced, and how the biotech industry has systematically distorted facts to promote its agenda.
However, he also offers hope, noting that public awareness is growing. As more people demand accountability, the tide is beginning to turn –with scientists and activists speaking out against the unchecked proliferation of GMOs.
"Altered Genes, Twisted Truth" is a compelling call to action, urging readers to question the safety of genetically engineered foods and to demand greater oversight and transparency. Druker's meticulous research and compelling narrative make it clear that
the risks of genetic engineering have been underestimated, and that the consequences of ignoring these risks could be catastrophic for both human health and the environment.
Watch this video about the book "
Altered Genes, Twisted Truth" by Steven Druker.
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