Article: Disease defying spuds exiled from Europe – again by Andy Coghlan
The issue written in this article is regarding the banning and lack of approval for blight-resistant potatoes in the european union. Late potato blight, a potato disease caused by the the eukaryotic microorganism phytophthora infestans, is a significant cause for loss of crop and yield by potato farmers. Looking back to the past, the blight was responsible for the catastrophic Irish Great Famine of the 1840s causing eradication of their main food source, potatoes. As a result of the blight, potatoes become rotten and unsafe for human consumption. Late potato blight today is still a serious issue because it has caused the loss of $5.9 billion dollars of potatoes worldwide annually.By engineering blight resistance into potatoes, scientists have hoped to increase the yield and productivity of potato crops affected by this devastating disease. However, the attempts of the scientists are met with strong resistance by anti-GMO activists and lobbying groups, who are intent on food as naturally pure as possible. In consequence of not using genetically modified potatoes, the farmers are forced to use costly pesticides in an attempt to control the blight. With the human population rapidly increasing, it is essential that all measures be taken to increase food/crop yield in order to prevent starvation and hunger caused by the overpopulation. The battle between agricultural researchers like Simplot and the anti-GMO lobbying group GeneWatch is a controversial one that must be addressed by this generation and future generations.
Supporters of Genetically modified crops, which consists of biotechnology companies and agricultural researchers, contend that the usage...
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...to plant, Solanum lycopersicum, conferring disease resistance has also been shown to be beneficial to health, as the modification results increased nutrient content, antioxidant activity, and lycopene concentration [3]. By insertion of rolB gene from A. rhizogenes into tomatoes, there are beneficial effects. Though this is one case of success, it is definite that researchers can eventually research and produce successful products of biotechnology.
1:CORNELL Dept. of Horticulture http://www.longislandhort.cornell.edu/vegpath/photos/lateblight_tomato.htm
2: PUBMED Potato protoplasts in crop improvement http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17731550 3: PUBMED Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation of Tomato with rolB Gene Results in Enhancement of Fruit Quality and Foliar Resistance against Fungal Pathogens
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4016209/
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...
Literary Analysis “He knew his father yelled now and then, but usually he yelled for a good reason, and all he had done was hold on to the carrot sticks. He was sure he had held them at dinner before.” -Adam Bagdasarian. This quote from “Carrots” is an excellent example of what the boy feels in the two short stories, “My Side of the Story” and “Carrots”. Not many people think of anger as a serious issue and relate it to being a common part of nature.
In today’s scientific topic trends, GMO production and consumption is one of the most controversial topics. The acronym GMO refers to “genetically modified organism.” Loosely put, it refers to when a gene from a species with specific traits is injected into an unrelated living organism leaving it genetically modified. (1) I shall introduce the supposed negative aspects of GMOs and clarify the issues stated against it. The basis of my research originates from a review article provided by Alessandro Nicolia and other Italian researchers who have complied “An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research.” Specifically, the classification of 1783 scientific records on GR crop safety.
The first genetically manipulated food was tomatoes, they entered markets in 1994. Tomatoes are being planted all over the world. Scientists have been studying new ways to improve tomato harvesting and what better way to do so than genetic manipulation. The aim in genetically manipulating tomatoes and mostly every other crop is to introduce a new trait to the plant which does not occur naturally in the species in order to enhance its beneficial traits for us humans. In this procedure, breeders must know exactly which gene(s) they need or else it might affect the giving organism and the receiving organism. Then they isolate those gene(s) of interest with a restriction enzyme that cuts DNA into small fragments. The desired gene(s) must be copied from gene(s) that were extracted. This is called gene cloning. The gene may be modified slightly to work in a more desirable way once inside the recipient organism. The recipient organism is basically the receiving organism. The new gene(s), called a transgene is delivered into the cells (especially the reproductive cells) of the r...
Genetically modified food’s, or GMOs, goal is to feed the world's malnourished and undernourished population. Exploring the positive side to GMOs paints a wondrous picture for our planet’s future, although careful steps must be taken to ensure that destruction of our ecosystems do not occur. When GMOs were first introduced into the consumer market they claimed that they would help eliminate the world’s food crisis by providing plants that produced more and were resistant to elemental impacts like droughts and bacterial contaminants, however, production isn’t the only cause for the world’s food crisis. Which is a cause for concern because the population on the earth is growing and our land and ways of agriculture will not be enough to feed everyone sufficiently. No simple solutions can be found or applied when there are so many lives involved. Those who are hungry and those who are over fed, alike, have to consider the consequences of Genetically Modified Organisms. Food should not be treated like a commodity it is a human necessity on the most basic of levels. When egos, hidden agendas, and personal gains are folded into people's food sources no one wins. As in many things of life, there is no true right way or wrong way to handle either of the arguments and so many factors are involved that a ‘simple’ solution is simply not an option.
The potato is a starchy, edible tuber that is of the most important crops in the world. There are over 5,000 different species of potatoes in the world. The potato was introduced to Europe by returning Spanish sailors in the late 1500’s. After the potato was introduced to Europe it became popular with the poorer society to a point that the average adult male would consume around 10-12 pounds of potatoes a day on average. The potato also became a staple of the European diet and a field crop that played an important role in the population boom in Europe during the 19th century. But when the potato was first introduced to Europe there was very little genetic diversity which meant that the potato crop was very vulnerable to disease. This vulnerability eventually led to the Great Potato Famine caused by Phytophthora Infestans. The lack in genetic diversity was mainly caused by the fact that only a few types of potatoes were introduced to Europe. Then in 1845 the blight migrated to Ireland in the cargo holds of ...
In the beginning of genetically modified foods, tomatoes were the first crop to be genetically engineered and grown for commercial use; tobacco had been produced over a decade earlier. . “Food that is genetically modified means that the original DNA structure has been changed. DNA is the blueprint of each living thing. By altering the DNA, the qualities of the characteristics of the living thing, plants in this case, can be changed.” (Windley M.D., 2008)The GM tomato crops were created to be resistant to the usual rotting and decay of a typical, conventional tomato that was being grown by farmers
Conko, Gregory. "The Rush to Condemn Genetically Modified Crops." Policy Review. Feb/Mar 2011: 69. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Apr. 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.
Thesis: Genetically modified organisms have the potential to benefit the field of agriculture as they are continuing to make advancements that should not be hindered. GMO foods should be supported because they are safer, since they utilize fewer herbicides and pesticides, produce larger yields that can reduce world poverty, and can help fight vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition.
Potatoes, a crop that has become both enjoyable and profitable in the world today and is mass produced and distributed around the world. The uses of potatoes range far and wide in our food they play a vital role most prominently in fast food and various kinds of store-bought snack foods. but their use does not end there, they’ve been used to treat burns in India and studied for their possible help in creating biodegradable packaging goods. The process of their production farming, storing, etc. Their unique distribution, whether it be local or worldwide and, their various ways of consumption; their uses in various unique dishes or their use in creating alcohol.
There are many positive views on the genetic altering of corn. Consumers always look for the shiny, beautiful food with delicious taste. By genetically engineering corn, it can become sweeter and have a better overall appearance. (16) Along with this pleasing appearance, comes its improved resistance for insects, disease, and other pests. This means that new forms of corn now possesses the ability to overcome pests and even weeds that once weakened or killed the young plants. As a result, corn can be grown where there used to be a lot of infestation. (13) In the process, this would also kill insects. Furthermore, corn has more nutritional benefits. Corn now has additional vitamins and minerals because of genetic engineering to provide greater
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.
Many countries do not have or do not apply any legislation or regulation about food or GM crops, others have a law, but do not apply it, and others continue to study and promote measures to protect consumers. The European Union and OMS have studied and analyze the benefits and harms of genetic alteration in food in the market to support the use of one or the other altered product.
The biotechnology frontier, especially developments in the field of genetic, promises- and to some degree has already archived - a revolution in agriculture and human health care. But proving the means to develop plant species that are more disease-and-pest-resistant, more tolerant of drought, and able to grow during extended periods of adverse conditions.