Genetically Modified Foods

The history of biotechnology and genetically modified (GM) foods has a history of opposing sides. The two opposing sides argue on the ethical standpoint of the act of genetically modifying plants and animals. They also argue on the health problems that the foods may cause for people that eat it. Going towards the future, people question whether GM foods have a positive or negative effect on humans. GM foods cause many assorted viewpoints consisting of positive and negative effects based off of its recent history.

The history and the different ways of genetically modifying the GM foods started very recently, extending to only the past 50 years. The genetics all began when a monk discovered that all creatures are made up of genes. GM started with two different ways of genetically modifying organisms. Cisgenesis, the process of scientists taking genes from an animal or plant and altering the genes of an organism in the same species, was the first way. Transgenesis, the process of taking the genes of one animal or plant and putting those genes into an organism of a different species, was the second way. When scientists want to put those genes into an animal or plant, they have to use special gear. The scientists usually use either a syringe, a special gun, or even a virus with the gene encrypted into the code of the virus to implant the new modification (“Genetically Modified” n.p.). When researchers first used the technology to genetically modify food, the goal was to combat world hunger. Scientists first modified the tomato to be able to make the skin thicker so that it would have a longer storage life. Scientists soon discovered there was already an organic tomato in existence that possessed the same qualities, so the...

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