Essay On Genetic Modification

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Recommended: Do pros outweigh cons with genetic modification

Genetic modification is a process of altering the genetic material of an organism by the use of a method that does not occur in nature. Genetic modification involves isolating, removing and manipulating DNA, and then reinserting the DNA into the same organism or into the genetic material of another organism. Which then leads to the creation of a genetically modified organism (GMO). GMOs can be plants, animals or (most commonly) micro-organisms. The use of GMOs in agriculture is rapidly increasing, since it produces a greater yield in crops than the traditional way of farming. Even though the production of GMOs are increasing, that does not necessarily mean it is completely safe for us to consume, companies that produces genetically modified …show more content…

It is almost safe to say that if your food does not have an organic label on it, you are consuming something that has been genetically modified. GMOs have many advantages such as: there is more food is being produce, the palatability in our food texture has improve, and there is less herbicides and pesticides being used. With all these advantages that comes with GMOs, at what cost will we sacrifice our health to get a greater yield. GMOs are said to cause medical problems like herbicides and pesticides leaking into the blood streams of humans and animals (cite). Consumers are not being informed of what products is a result of GMOs, and the FDA is not strictly regulating the production of GMOs, so companies can therefore use anything type of method they want in order to increase their yield. Which the companies will most likely choose the inexpensive route even if it will cause health concerns down the …show more content…

Being an Animal and Poultry sciences major I witness the horrible fate that many of the farm animal, are faced with due to genetic modification, one in particular are chickens. Paul Siegel a world renown chicken breeder, and an emeritus professor in the Animal and Poultry Sciences here at Virginia Tech. Discovered a way to enhance the size of White Plymouth chickens, by changing the chicken’s gene structure. With the chickens gene structure changed, Paul Siegel was able to influence the chicken genes in a way, that would allow the chickens to gain more weight faster, allow the chickens to fight off diseases, and allow the chickens to develop other characteristics that they would have not been prone to if they had their original gene

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