Article: Disease defying spuds exiled from Europe – again by Andy Coghlan The issue written in this article is regarding the banning and lack of approval for blight-resistant potatoes in the european union. Late potato blight, a potato disease caused by the the eukaryotic microorganism phytophthora infestans, is a significant cause for loss of crop and yield by potato farmers. Looking back to the past, the blight was responsible for the catastrophic Irish Great Famine of the 1840s causing eradication of their main food source, potatoes. As a result of the blight, potatoes become rotten and unsafe for human consumption. Late potato blight today is still a serious issue because it has caused the loss of $5.9 billion dollars of potatoes worldwide annually.By engineering blight resistance into potatoes, scientists have hoped to increase the yield and productivity of potato crops affected by this devastating disease. However, the attempts of the scientists are met with strong resistance by anti-GMO activists and lobbying groups, who are intent on food as naturally pure as possible. In consequence of not using genetically modified potatoes, the farmers are forced to use costly pesticides in an attempt to control the blight. With the human population rapidly increasing, it is essential that all measures be taken to increase food/crop yield in order to prevent starvation and hunger caused by the overpopulation. The battle between agricultural researchers like Simplot and the anti-GMO lobbying group GeneWatch is a controversial one that must be addressed by this generation and future generations. Supporters of Genetically modified crops, which consists of biotechnology companies and agricultural researchers, contend that the usage... ... middle of paper ... ...to plant, Solanum lycopersicum, conferring disease resistance has also been shown to be beneficial to health, as the modification results increased nutrient content, antioxidant activity, and lycopene concentration [3]. By insertion of rolB gene from A. rhizogenes into tomatoes, there are beneficial effects. Though this is one case of success, it is definite that researchers can eventually research and produce successful products of biotechnology. 1:CORNELL Dept. of Horticulture http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm 2: PUBMED Potato protoplasts in crop improvement http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17731550 3: PUBMED Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Tomato with rolB Gene Results in Enhancement of Fruit Quality and Foliar Resistance against Fungal Pathogens http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4016209/
Modern biotechnology was born at the hands of American scientists Herb Boyer and Stain Cohen, when they developed “recombinant deoxyribonucleotide, (rDNA), [1] for medicinal purposes. Subsequently, biotechnologists started genetically engineering agricultural plants using this technology. A single gene responsible for a certain trait, from one organism (usually a bacterium) is selected altered and then ‘spliced” into the DNA of a plant to create an agricultural crop consisting of that...
The first genetically manipulated food was tomatoes, they entered markets in 1994. Tomatoes are being planted all over the world. Scientists have been studying new ways to improve tomato harvesting and what better way to do so than genetic manipulation. The aim in genetically manipulating tomatoes and mostly every other crop is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species in order to enhance its beneficial traits for us humans. In this procedure, breeders must know exactly which gene(s) they need or else it might affect the giving organism and the receiving organism. Then they isolate those gene(s) of interest with a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA into small fragments. The desired gene(s) must be copied from gene(s) that were extracted. This is called gene cloning. The gene may be modified slightly to work in a more desirable way once inside the recipient organism. The recipient organism is basically the receiving organism. The new gene(s), called a transgene is delivered into the cells (especially the reproductive cells) of the r...
Literary Analysis “He knew his father yelled now and then, but usually he yelled for a good reason, and all he had done was hold on to the carrot sticks. He was sure he had held them at dinner before.” -Adam Bagdasarian. This quote from “Carrots” is an excellent example of what the boy feels in the two short stories, “My Side of the Story” and “Carrots”. Not many people think of anger as a serious issue and relate it to being a common part of nature.
The most popular claim against crop biotechnology by its opponents are that GMO’s lack in depth scientific studies. For example; David Schubert of Salk Institute of Biological Studies states that “There is no credible evidence that GMO foods are safe to eat” and an organic researcher of Washington State University named Charles Benbrook informs that “The science just hasn...
Traits from various organisms lead to the DNA development to increase pest resistance within GMO crops. A study from UCSD (The University of California in San Diego) presents a report about how a toxic bacterium can both increase pest resistance and be safe for human consumption. This reduces the overall quantity of pesticide chemicals manipulated upon plants hence possibly diminishing pesticide exposure.
Genetically engineered (GE) food crops have caused heated debate in the food industry for many decades and have caused many consumers major concern. According to Dr. Carroll Rawn, a biology professor at Seton Hall University, genetically engineering food entails taking genes from a certain crop and inserting those genes in the DNA of another. This process changes the nucleotide sequence of the crop and, therefore, its characteristics. The debate lies in the question of whether these changes are beneficial for the productivity and quality of the harvest. Jeremy Rifkin argues in his article, “Science and Technology: O Brave New World,” that GE foods are not beneficial for the environment by stating, “Virtually every genetically engineered organism released into the environment poses a potential threat to the ecosystem” (247). On the other hand, the internet article, “New Research Confirms Environmental Safety of GE Crops,” argues, “A comprehensive review of international research conducted on areas of potential concerns related to genetically engineered (GE) crops concludes that such crops do not provide unique ecological risks and may contribute to ecological benefits such as increased biodiversity.” Increased biodiversity means an increased number and variety of crops farmers are able to produce, which has many benefits, specifically feeding starving people around the world. Thus, it is clear that, while genetically engineered food crops do introduce some dangers to consumers and the environment, their benefits, specifically pest, herbicide, and disease resistant capabilities and the new opportunities they provide through biodiversity, clearly outweigh the...
The potato is a starchy, edible tuber that is of the most important crops in the world. There are over 5,000 different species of potatoes in the world. The potato was introduced to Europe by returning Spanish sailors in the late 1500’s. After the potato was introduced to Europe it became popular with the poorer society to a point that the average adult male would consume around 10-12 pounds of potatoes a day on average. The potato also became a staple of the European diet and a field crop that played an important role in the population boom in Europe during the 19th century. But when the potato was first introduced to Europe there was very little genetic diversity which meant that the potato crop was very vulnerable to disease. This vulnerability eventually led to the Great Potato Famine caused by Phytophthora Infestans. The lack in genetic diversity was mainly caused by the fact that only a few types of potatoes were introduced to Europe. Then in 1845 the blight migrated to Ireland in the cargo holds of ...
In the beginning of genetically modified foods, tomatoes were the first crop to be genetically engineered and grown for commercial use; tobacco had been produced over a decade earlier. . “Food that is genetically modified means that the original DNA structure has been changed. DNA is the blueprint of each living thing. By altering the DNA, the qualities of the characteristics of the living thing, plants in this case, can be changed.” (Windley M.D., 2008)The GM tomato crops were created to be resistant to the usual rotting and decay of a typical, conventional tomato that was being grown by farmers
Thesis: Genetically modified organisms have the potential to benefit the field of agriculture as they are continuing to make advancements that should not be hindered. GMO foods should be supported because they are safer, since they utilize fewer herbicides and pesticides, produce larger yields that can reduce world poverty, and can help fight vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition.
Conko, Gregory. "The Rush to Condemn Genetically Modified Crops." Policy Review. Feb/Mar 2011: 69. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
Genetically modified food’s, or GMOs, goal is to feed the world's malnourished and undernourished population. Exploring the positive side to GMOs paints a wondrous picture for our planet’s future, although careful steps must be taken to ensure that destruction of our ecosystems do not occur. When GMOs were first introduced into the consumer market they claimed that they would help eliminate the world’s food crisis by providing plants that produced more and were resistant to elemental impacts like droughts and bacterial contaminants, however, production isn’t the only cause for the world’s food crisis. Which is a cause for concern because the population on the earth is growing and our land and ways of agriculture will not be enough to feed everyone sufficiently. No simple solutions can be found or applied when there are so many lives involved. Those who are hungry and those who are over fed, alike, have to consider the consequences of Genetically Modified Organisms. Food should not be treated like a commodity it is a human necessity on the most basic of levels. When egos, hidden agendas, and personal gains are folded into people's food sources no one wins. As in many things of life, there is no true right way or wrong way to handle either of the arguments and so many factors are involved that a ‘simple’ solution is simply not an option.
But opponents for GMO continue to fight and protest the safety of any GMO’s and are we truly ready for them, currently agricultural plants are one of the most frequently used examples of genetically modified organisms, some benefits of genetic engineering in agriculture are increased crop yields, which advocates believe will reduced the costs of food and reduce the need for pesticides. They also believe that they enhance the nutrient composition of food quality and is resistance to pests and disease, many feel that using GMO’s can benefit the world 's growing
nutrition needs will be met. Also, healthier, faster growing foods will benefit, not only less developed countries, but also the developed world. This technology has not yet been introduced to most crops but hundreds of millions of people need this technology now and can no longer wait for regulations and speculations. As Neal C. Stewart et. al. state, “the key is to determine the importance of the risks as weighed against the benefits”(836). Undeniably, the benefits certainly outweigh the risks. Humans must not fear genetics and must also embrace this technology, which is the future of all food production.
The biotechnology frontier, especially developments in the field of genetic, promises- and to some degree has already archived - a revolution in agriculture and human health care. But proving the means to develop plant species that are more disease-and-pest-resistant, more tolerant of drought, and able to grow during extended periods of adverse conditions.
Many countries do not have or do not apply any legislation or regulation about food or GM crops, others have a law, but do not apply it, and others continue to study and promote measures to protect consumers. The European Union and OMS have studied and analyze the benefits and harms of genetic alteration in food in the market to support the use of one or the other altered product.