Agricultural Genetic Engineering
The ability to directly modify living organisms is a novel human technology. Since the discovery of the DNA molecule the field of genetics has grown at an astounding rate. We now have the ability to alter organisms to fit our needs. This prospect offers the possibility of solving problems that have plagued humanity for thousands of years. In recent years genetically modified organisms have found many practical applications, particularly in the agricultural sector. Genetically modified organisms in this area, called transgenic crops (TC) are already being implemented on a considerably large scale. The possible benefits of utilizing TC has caused us avoid addressing important moral and ethical issues; commercialization of genetic technology is allowing premature mainstream adoption. It is imperative that we ask ourselves, is it ethical to implement TCs?
Background:
Some foundational understanding of the technology underlying TC production is necessary to adequately consider the issues at hand. To modify crops biologist use recombinant DNA (rDNA). This consists of extracting a gene producing a desirable trait from one organism and inserting it into the organism to be modified. Taking a gene for a desirable trait from a plant and amplifying its effect is also a method of genetic engineering using rDNA. The sources of genetic material to insert are almost boundless, crossing bounds between species and even forms of life. (1)
Production of TC is similar to the practice of hybridization by selective breeding. This method of selecting desirable crop traits has been practiced since the domestication of plants to improve yields. (15p62) TC is a significantly more efficient way to achieve a s...
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Pamela Ronald, a plant geneticist, presented a Ted Talk “The case for engineering our food”, Ronald points out that engineered genetics for our plants is not harmful, yet better for our environment and health. “Now, genetic modification is not new; virtually everything we eat has been genetically modified in some manner”(Ronald).
Naively, we human beings believe we live in the dazzling golden age of technological advancements. Only, news flash: we’re not. Global food insecurity is at an all-time high. We’re struggling to feed a population that rises as quickly as the mercury in my thermometer. As demand soars and food dwindles, the men in power only seem to grow in size: from their wallets to their waistlines. So, you must ask yourself: what’s the easiest way to produce high quality crops to satisfy our hunger and their lust for money and power? The answer: Genetic Modification. As the documentary Food Inc. suggests, the concept may be brilliant, but the outcome is abhorrent.
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...
Phillips, Ph.D., Theresa. “GMOs: Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DNA Technology.” Scitable. Web. 14 April 2014.
The term GM foods or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques (Whitman, 2000). These plants have been modified in the laboratory to offer desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Also, genetic engineering techniques have been applied to create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and accurately. For example, this is done by the geneticist isolating the gene responsible for drought tolerance and inserts it into another plant. The new genetically-modified plant will now have gained drought tolerance as well.
SINGH, RAM J. and JAUHAR, PREM P. Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement: Grain legumes. Volume 1 of Genetic Resources, Chromosome Engineering, and Crop Improvement, CRC press, 2004
Since the beginning of the agricultural revolution, the human population on Earth has continued to increase at a rapid rate with no signs of it stopping anytime soon. In response to the growing population, agricultural advancements such as new methods for growing have been made in order to address this issue. However, one advancement continues to be at the heart of a debate that has been going on for several years: genetically modifying organisms.
Developing countries such as USA, Canada, Brazil, China, South Africa, Uruguay, Australia and India had adopted genetically engineered crops, and with it the controversy about transgenic food, but it is crucial to keep trying to develope more this technology since the population keeps growing and it might reach a point where the food production won't be enough, or as we had seen before, the extinction of animal races, or plant types, some people think that it might be the cause of different diseases, but there is a chance that it can also help cure them as well. What has been a problem too, is the regulation of this products, since they are being made with new technology there is a lot of doubts, federal government has the obligation to regulate and make sure that “transgenic food” is safe for humans to
Genetically modifying organisms is far from a recent undertaking. Guiding and reshaping animals and plants to make them more desirable, has been a facet of humanity for more than 14,000 years (Kingsbury). The very act that changed human race forever, our transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers and herders, was a form of gene manipulation. Domestication of plants and animals is the simplest form of controlled reshaping of an organism’s genes, through artificial selection. That means that individuals that had similar traits were bred together to propagate and emphasize desired characteristics. However, genetic engineering as in the direct manipulation of an organism using biotechnology, was first attained by Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1973 (Arnold). All they did was insert a gene into a bacterium, to make it resistant to a particular antibiotic. Little did they know that their microscopic act would instigate the whole controversy-engulfed issue of GMOs or genetically modified organisms (Genome News
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.
Although genetically modified crops offered a wide range of benefits but it also poses some very serious threats. Hence, the use of this technology should be discouraged and alternative methods should be discovered.
Lemaux, P.G. (2006). Introduction to genetic modification. Agricultural Biotechnology in California Series, 8178. Retrieved from http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8178.pdf
Would most people eat a hamburger if they knew that the cow that provided the beef possessed genes from a sheep? How about bacon that came from a pig with sheep traits? More likely than not, they would refuse to consume such products, denouncing them as unsafe and irresponsible. Protests over these animals with mixed genetics would probably begin. This genetic tampering has been occurring in plants for years, but the majority of consumers do not think twice about purchasing products derived from these genetically engineered plants. While some may claim that the benefits of these genetically modified plants outweigh the negative effects, it becomes apparent that the crops cause more harm than good. Genetically engineered plants should not be produced because of the harm they cause to farmers, because of the harm they cause to the environment, and because of the harm they cause to people.
Genetic engineering is a way in which specific genes for an animal or plant can be extracted, and reproduced to form a new animal or plant. These new organisms will express the required trait for that gene. This practice is a very controversial topic within the scientific world. It is being implemented in various areas such as agriculture even though there are many alternatives that can be found for genetic engineered crops, such as organic materials and reducing leeching of the soil. The controversy regarding this practice occurs as it is believed to contribute both negative and positive implications and dangers, not only to oneself but the environment as a whole. Genetic engineering increases the agricultural economy, the yields of agricultural produce, and also causes negative effects on the ecosystem.
This article will be discussing the current methods of developing transgenic organisms, animals and plants, and its ethical and biological implications, along with how evolution will be influenced by man made gene alterations. As the development of human civilization gallops, public health care and construction are able to increase human race’s longevity significantly to a degree where the limited life-providing supplies seem even more precious at unprecedented level. Thus, transgenic technology has become a crucial part in sustaining the development of the whole human kind. Scientists use transgenic methods to produce much more food supply since over sixty million people on the earth are still suffering from hunger on a daily basis. As we all know, there are only limited resources on the earth and the earth is not going to expand for any reason, at the same time the global population is still increasing dramatically, especially at those developing countries where the primary income for a house hold is labour force, therefore their family produce more children which presumably will need more food in order to stay alive. Also scientists are using transgenic approach to produce well advantaged species that can provide the possibly of living to many deadly diseases or use those species for military purposes. We have to admit the fact that there lots of benefits but on the other hand, the detrimental consequences of transgenic technology cannot be overlooked.