Physical Science Honors Research Paper
The Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Organisms
Katherine McFerrin
Mrs. Yuhase 8th Period
Abstract
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism whose DNA has been changed through the alteration of their genetic make-up. Since about 10,000 BCE organisms have been genetically modified through the processes of natural selection and selective breeding. In 1937, bioengineering was developed, which allowed for the direct transfer of genes from one organisms to another through the methods of using E. coli bacteria, electricity, or a gene gun. GMOs have multiple food production and medicinal benefits, such as increasing food production, adding extra nutrients to foods, and the creations
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GMO is an abbreviation for a genetically modified organism. A genetically modified organism is an organism whose DNA has been altered by the removal, mutation, or insertion of another organism’s genes through biotechnology or genetic engineering (Food and Drug Administration [FDA] 2013). Since their domestication around 10,000 BCE for plants and 12,000 BCE for animals, plants and animals have been genetically modified through natural selection or selective breeding (Niedringhaus and Davis 2011). In natural selection organisms with a certain characteristic survive, while organisms without the characteristic die off naturally as a result of lacking that characteristic. This results in more organisms with the certain characteristic. In selective breeding organisms with favored characteristics are allowed to breed while organisms without the characteristics are not allowed to breed. This results in an increase in organisms with the potential to have the favored characteristic rather than without (Goldbas 2014). Today there is controversy over the effects of GMOs on the environment, other organisms, medicines, and especially the effects regarding the safety of our
Genetically modified? That alone should be a cause for alarm, and have you wondering, what exactly is in this that I am eating? Yet every day millions of American’s choose to load up on food filled with GMO’s, and not even know it. First we must understand what GMO’s are. GMO’s are any organism whose genetics has been altered using genetic engineering. We should not be tampering with nature, and should try to grow organically as much as possible. There has not been enough research on GMO’s to know the potential long term effects it can have on us, so this is why GMO’s should be banned.
A GMO is a plant or animal that has been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, or other plants and animals. Most of the combinations which are used could not possibly occur in nature on its own. The intention of the process is to create a new beneficial trait such as creating its own pesticide or make it immune to herbicides. This would allow the crop such as Bt co...
GMO stands for a ‘genetically modified organism’. A GMO is artificially developed by scientists to produce specific results such as sustain life through a drought or produce a greater quantity of fruit per plant (Monsanto Corporation:1999). This practice began centuries ago when plants and animals were selectively bred and microorganisms were us...
According to an article titled “Genetically Modified Foods Eaten” regularly by Linda A. Johnson today, essentially 40% of the foods we eat are genetically modified, unless you eat organic foods and/or you grow your own. Most products containing corn, soil, canola oil, or cottonseed oil contain genetic modification. One of the biggest genetic modification company is Monsanto (Johnson). She goes on to say many Americans don’t even know they are consuming genetically engineered foods. In “Genetically Modified Foods Confuse Consumers” by Mary Clare Jalonick writing in the Washington Times, has talked about how this is because the FDA does not require them to be labeled. Jalonick has said, “Genetically modified foods are plants or animals that have
You might have heard GMO thrown around by scientists or news stations before. It stands for genetically modified organism. This is a relatively new technology that has sparked a huge debate. Organisms are genetically modified by taking genes from one being and transferring them to another being in order to change the qualities of the resulting species. Now this seems like a very good thing, and in some ways it is, but it has some very serious consequences. When humans start to tamper with nature, trouble is never far away. The same is true for genetically modified foods and organisms.
The primary goal of genetic engineering is to predict and cure genetic disorders by changing an organism's genome using biotechnology. This is done by a nucleotide insertion or deletion that changes genetic abnormalities that’s called Therapeutic and Reproductive Cloning. Therapeutic cloning has benefits in treating various diseases through cell replication used to create organs. Reproductive cloning focuses on creating limbs, reproducing copies of human beings and designing phenotypical properties of babies before they are born. This review will compare and contrast the pros and cons of genetic manipulation through an in depth analysis of 2 articles; the first article is for a popular health website and the second article
Science and technology are rapidly advancing everyday; in some ways for the better, and in some, for worse. One extremely controversial advance is genetic engineering. As this technology has high potential to do great things, I believe the power genetic engineering is growing out of control. Although society wants to see this concept used to fight disease and illness, enhance people 's lives, and make agriculture more sustainable, there needs to be a point where a line is drawn.
GMOs better known as Genetically Modified Organisms or GE (Genetically Engineered) are the product of a process of which allows scientists alter genes of a variety of foreign species such as plants, bacteria or even animals. This can cause unpredictable changes and can be harmful when consumed. GMO puts people as well as the environment at risk, such as destroying the natural food web to causing potential disease and allergies from mixing genes. Disease is one of the main concerns regarding GM foods because of the use of viruses and bacteria that are used. There is a risk of disease developing when consumed by humans. Another main concern is keeping the area with these GM plants contained. Spreading causes contamination in wildlife and land
Eating is extremely important, it is also important to eat healthy. Most Americans eat without any concerns; they are not questioning or researching what they are feeding themselves or their family. A lot of that has to do with their financial stability, not having the time to prepare a meal due to their time-consuming work schedule, also lack of knowledge and education on what they are consuming. In this bibliography, I will go over all three articles and explain what they are about.
GMOs have their pros and cons, but in terms of their effects on biodiversity, the technology is almost solely negative in how it affects the environment. Genetically modified food can damage agriculture as it allows for less restraint on chemical usage which leads to stronger weeds and weaker soil. The crops can easily spread their genetically modified genome through the wind. GMOs damage living organisms by making nasty insects stronger and vital insects weaker. GM foods are correlated with the decline in mammal and bird health and the introduction of GM animals like salmon poses a threat to the ecosystem of wild fish. GMOs can also bear consequences in terms of genetic pollution and alteration through contamination and mutation to adaptation to evolution to species extinction. Indeed, some claims are not well supported and may require testing, like genetic alteration through consumption or the validity of correlating animal health deficits with GM feeds. However, overall, GM foods clearly affect the world negatively in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem impacts.
In this day and age, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) have become a topic of large interest in the media. GMOs are defined as an organism whose genetic structure has been altered by incorporating a gene that will express a desirable trait (Dresbach et al. al. 2013). Often times, these traits that are selected are either beneficial to the consumer or producer. Currently, GMOs are being created at a higher rate than ever before and are being used in the foods that we eat.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) is an organism, such as a plant, animal, or any microorganism who’s had its DNA changed in different ways through genetic engineering that is not natural. It is an organism like every other organism, which produces thousands of proteins, but one or two of them are proteins that were chosen were specifically by humans. It creates unstable combinations of plants, animal, bacterial, and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Majority of Americans in the US consume nearly 200 pounds of GMOs each year. 90% of US crops are genetically modified.
The most wonderful activity a human being can experience is new flavors and foods. For example, the first time a person tastes a delicious juicy piece of prime rib or a delightful hamburger with cheese and ham, his world is never the same. However, since the beginning of the twentieth century, the production of food has been supplemented by science. This has triggered an angry dispute between the people who support the advances of biotechnology and people who love nature. In order to understand the controversy, we have to know the meaning of genetically modified foods. With new technological advances, scientists can modify seeds from a conventional seed to a high tech seed with shorter maturation times and resistance to dryness, cold and heat. This is possible with the implementation of new genes into the DNA of the conventional seed. Once these "transgenes" are transferred, they can create plants with better characteristics (Harris 164-165). The farmers love it not only because it guarantees a good production, but the cost is also reduced. On the other hand, organizations such as Greenpeace and Friends of Earth have campaigned against GMO (“Riesgos”) because they think that they are negatively affecting the earth (Gerdes 26). Both the advocates and the opponents of genetically modified foods have excellent arguments.
GMOs: an ecological standpoint As the Earth’s population rises, people have to find more sustainable and resilient resources. GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, have been present in every-day life, since 1994, when the first GMO food, the Flavr Savr tomato, hit shelves. Ever since then GMO use in daily life has skyrocketed due to their perceived benefits. For instance, most GMO foods are resistant to most common pests, which would significantly reduce the use of harmful pesticides and can self-fertilize, reducing the use of fertilizers and some, such as the aformentioned Flavr Savr, tend to last longer than their natural counterparts. Recently, GMOs have been the topic of much debate, with people arguing that they would benefit humanity and others arguing that they could potentially harm those who use them.
For years the Courts, both nationally and internationally, have grappled with the concept of piercing the corporate veil. The doctrine creates much tension as it entails disregarding a principle factor of a company, namely its separate legal personality. Over the years there have been various interpretations of when to apply the doctrine at a common law level. However, s20(9) of the Companies Act 71 of 2008 (‘Companies Act’) appeared to have codified this common law approach, albeit with further instances of uncertainty as to its application and interpretation.