Genetic Engineering: Humanities Saving Grace or the End of the Human Race?

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Genetic Engineering: Humanities Saving Grace or the End of the Human Race?
This is the first time history that humans can directly manipulate an organism’s genome to our own benefit. The first genetically modified organism, or GMO, was created in the seventies and has led to GM crops and GM medical treatments. The whole ideology is not new to humans. Artificial selection bred well mannered wolves into man’s best friend. And yet, the controversy has only arisen in the past decade or so. Those who support this specie of scientific advancement and those who wish to uphold their organic roots are butting heads with more passion than ever.
Essentially, every aisle of your local grocery store is stocked with genetically modified foods. Many crops have been altered for enhanced nutrition and virus resistance. With a changing climate and mass poverty, finding a way to feed the Earth’s seven billion people is a constant struggle. “In developing countries, GM crops have helped ensure food security and bolster incomes for farmers, allowing parents to focus more resources on other priorities, such as educating their children” (Van Montagu). Despite the obvious advantages, people still rally against food from GMOs. The Monsanto company’s corn has become something of a celebrity for the genetic alteration debate. “The sweet corn from Monsanto contains a gene that produces a protein called BT that is toxic to pests. Though the protein is used in organic farming as an insecticide, Hansen and other critics cite research that raises questions about whether corn containing BT can cause allergic reactions, immune system problems and gastrointestinal issues” (Eng). Hundreds of tests have been done but the results seem to change depending on who’s re...

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...hould be for the better.

Works Cited
Batabyal, Amitrajeeta A. "If Genetically Modified Foods Are so Bad, Where's the Proof?
(Commentary)." The Post-Standard. Syracuse Newspaper, 8 Feb. 2014. Web. 12 Apr. 2014.
Eng, Monica. "Activists: Modified Corn Not So Sweet." Chicago Tribune. 04 Aug. 2012: 1. SIRS
Issues Researcher. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
Naik, Gautam. "Aging Ills Reversed in Mice." Wall Street Journal. 29 Nov. 2010: A.3. SIRS Issues
Researcher. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
Van Montagu, Marc. "The Irrational Fear of GM Food." Wall Street Journal. 23 Oct. 2013: A.15.
SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 08 Apr. 2014.
Volti, Rudi. The Facts On File Encyclopedia of Science, Technology, and Society. Vol. II. New
York, NY: Facts on File Science Library, 1999. Print.
Wolpe, Paul R. "It's Time to Question Bioengineering." TEDxPeachtree. Nov. 2010. Ted. Keynote
Address. 8 Apr. 2014.

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