Biology Department of Applied a Biotechnology قسم علوم الحياة التطبيقية. University of Sharjah College of Graduate Studies & Sci. Research Department of Applied Biology/Biotechnology Program Paper Critique Format Selected Topics in Biotechnology A (1450592A) جامعة الشارقة UNIVERSITY OF SHARJAH Dear Students, For the paper critique, you are to take 1 paper from the current literature and share the results with the class, evaluate the data, turn in a formal critique for grading. The paper should be different that is going to be presented in the class. The format shall be in 2-3 pages only and can be as follows: Selected Topics in Biotechnology A (1450592A) By For Authors: Title.. Journal. Volume:. Pages: *Corresponding Author:. Background Authors studied Advantage of the technology applied Methodology: Attach a flow chart (describe the method) Narrate about methodology Ex. -This paper did not show.. -did not clarify ..... -Contradiction in the results -Methodology is not clear -Results are not explained well -Discussion is not based on obtained results Biotechnology Article Critique Assignment Title of the article: Suggested Improvements for the Allergenicity Assessment of Genetically Modified Plants Used in Foods. Authors: Richard E. Goodman & Afua O. Tetteh Journal & Date of publishing: Curr Allergy Asthma Rep- 13 April 2011 This is an interesting article, as it targets a very important and common problem faced by millions of people around the world; that is food allergies. As the world population have dramatically increased within the past few centuries, demand on food resources have multiplied, in order to meet the needs of the growing populations. This made scientists opt for other possible resources for food and feed until they reached the golden era of genetically modified (GM) plants and crops. Although this might sound as the brilliant solution to the world's feeding problems, but it also gives rise to a different kind of problems related to the consumers themselves. Food allergies related to those GM plants and crops evolved; therefore, rules and regulations controlling the production, distribution and consumption of these food products have been set. Unfortunately, there are no global testing, approval and registration guidelines; in fact, approvals regarding GM products are country specific. As the title of the article suggests, the authors are trying to find out more efficient criteria and methods that can help lawmakers and stakeholders identify the risks associated with allergic reactions regarding consumption of GM foodstuff. Reading the abstract gives you a general idea about the article and raise lots of questions in the mind of the reader about possible conflicts. The authors discussed their idea efficiently, supporting their arguments with valid literature resources and significant data. I would suggest more elaboration on the techniques and tests used in identifying the allergenicity of proteins, and the rationale behind their usage. For example, on what basis where allergens designated so? According to FASTA and BLAST, an overall sequence identity alignment of proteins sharing less than 50% was unlikely to share IgE cross-reactivity; is “unlikely” a reliable word? Can consumers depend on the decreased likelihood of allergenicity? I strongly believe that this point is debatable. Allergy related issues should not depend on likelihood. It is true that allergies, mostly, are unpredictable, but allergies related to GM plants and crops should be clearly present or absent. As you go through the article, you can notice that the authors opt for results that are biased towards the high safety levels of GM plants and crops. The conclusion paragraph summarizes their findings and their suggestions that consumer's safety comes first; therefore, guidelines need to be regulated and monitored and efficiently implemented under a single umbrella globally.