Introduction
The debate over whether to keep the production genetically modified organisms, or to cease it all together. They help many countries around the world with low food sources, due to climate and other hindrances. With GMO’s aiding countries in need, it will have a helping hand for the availability of more food. These crops and livestock promote ideal solutions to nutrition, world hunger and the environment. With all that being said, GMO foods are one of the most frowned upon food sources in the world. We asked the question “How Does the Ever-Increasing Need for GMO’s affect the Food Industry in the States, and Abroad?” And what are some of the pros, cons, and ways of containment of GMO’s?
Benefits of GMO’s
Biotechnology has
…show more content…
Genetically modified organisms are known to carry many risks along with its benefits. Many studies have shown that eating new genetically modified organisms cause more allergic reactions found in people some of the reason is even if people don’t consume GMO crops. Animals are being fed GMO products such as soy beans, and corn then the animal is consumed by us. Many GMO’s pose great environmental damage by crossbreeding with weeds. This is a threat because most genetically modified crops are made to be herbicide resistance, when cross-breeding happens the weeds also become resistant to herbicides making it easier for them to spread. The time for the genetically modified organisms to grow is generally about the same amount of time as non-genetically modified organisms. One of the biggest cons to GMO is that no one really knows if they are safe for consumption. Studies have been done but in some cases there is a risk of cancer. Also pesticides have been found in some of the genetically modified crops. This leads to more toxins in our bodies which can lead to more cancer diagnosis. With all of these risks the concern of genetically modified organisms is still growing. Figure 2 shows a general idea of consumer’s feelings towards …show more content…
It is important that we safeguard the environment by continuing the separation of genetically modified organisms from the organisms that exist outside the grasp of genetic engineering, in the natural environment. In truth, there’s a lot to feel good about in the way modern agriculture is shaping up to the big challenges of the present – reducing carbon emissions, preventing soil erosion and minimizing any environmental damage by herbicides and pesticides (Roush). Doing this will secure the future of
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...
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.
How many of you hear the words “genetically modified food” and immediately think “BAD”? How many of you scorn the idea that genetically modified foods are useful? How many of you have been manipulated by the media to think that all biotechnology is evil? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been genetically spliced to achieve a certain trait. As the demand for a larger food supply is increasing due to population growth, the benefits that GMO foods provide are being hailed as the only solution to the food crisis. However, many people are making inadequately informed decisions, and are pushing them to the back shelf. I will inform you on why genetically modified organisms may be the only way to a stable, safe future for the less fortunate.
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 use of genetically engineering in agriculture and food production has an impact, not only on the environment and biodiversity, but also on human health. Therefore, thorough biosafety assessment requires, not only an evaluation of environmental impacts of genetically engineered organisms, but also an assessment of the risks that genetically engineered food pose for the health of consumers. Let us take deeper look at some of the aspects related to genetically engineered foods.
Scientists have been changing genomes of plants and animals by integrating new genes from a different species through genetic engineering, creating a genetically modified organism (GMO). Consumers in America have been eating GMOs since 1996, when they went on the market. There are benefits to genetically modifying crop plants, as it improves the crop quality and increases yield, affecting the economy and developing countries. But there are also negative effects from GMOs. Consumption of GMOs has various health effects on both body systems of animals and humans. GMOs also affect the environment, ecosystems and other animal species. The cons outweigh the pros in the case of GMOs.
In the article Showing True Colors: Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Food buzzle.com says GMO or Genetically modified foods are good. And well who doesn’t love fish is there tomatoes. But there is both sides to the story.
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.
This report explains genetically modified food (GMOs) and discusses the benefits and risks associated with the consumptions of GMOs. Genetically modified foods (GMOs) are foods that have been genetically altered using engineering techniques. The most common technique used today is called recombinant DNA technology; this technology combines different molecules from different plant species to create a plant with a new set of genes, a hybrid plant. Another recombinant DNA technology being used is recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) an artificial growth hormone; this hormone is being fed or injected into cows to improve milk production. (ThefreeDictionary)
“Genetically modified foods are a "Pandora's box" of known and unknown risks to humans and the environment. They have been forced onto the American public by multinational biotech and agribusiness corporations without adequate oversight and regulation by the United States government (Driscoll, SallyMorley, David C).”Genetically Modified Food is food which has been chemically altered by scientists during the production process to give the food more nutrients, better appearance, and a longer shelf-life (Rich, Alex K.Warhol, Tom). The importance of this issue is that these GMO’s can actually have a negative effect in our society in general. It could mutate in a negative way and cause cancer or other diseases. Genetically modified food should be strictly controlled due to its various detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and potentially insect/animal effects.
A Genetically Modified Organism can be known as a “sped up process of evolution” (Penn State Ag Science Magazine). Genetic modification is done by removing a certain part of DNA from a gene, then placing it into a different organisms gene. The technology is widely used by farmers (Penn State Ag Science Magazine). Genetic modification is usually performed on crops, therefore is “in 70% of our food” (Davis). Genetically Modified Organisms are unsafe for the environment, and will create more long term problems. One might say GMO’s ( Genetically Modified Organisms), are excellent for the economy. But, is an affordable cost, worth poisoning our bodies, and possibly destroying the pollination process around us?
In 1980, the first GMO patent was given to a genetics engineer for an engineered bacteria which consumed the oil from oil spills. Scientists carried out further studies, and in 1944, a tomato with modified DNA to delay rotting, sparked a controversy over the safety of genetically modified organisms. The questions regarding safety of GMOs remains constantly debated today. DNA edited and changed by scientists has the potential to harm or help the environment, and is important to keep legal so further studies can be completed to better the world.
Genetically Modified Organisms are one of the most controversial issues facing our world today. GMOs are foods produced from organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering for improvement of productivity and product quality. GMOs have raised concerns over whether or not there beneficial or harmful to our health. It is not secret that GMO foods have had a dramatic impact on the world and humans deserve to know how they are not all that they appear to be. GMOs pose a serious threat to our health, lead to serious destruction of the environment and have contaminated organic crops. On the other hand they are resistant to disease, help humans suffering from famine, produce greater yields, and improve the nutrition of foods. In my personal opinion they are more detrimental to our wellbeing then helpful, however they are not completely useless.
GMO’s are a danger to people, and their health, GMO’s are used and made simply, there are a few pros, but all in all GMO’s are harmful to us and the environment. GMO’s should be illegal! They hurt food, they hurt vegetables, they even hurt people.
Genetically modified crops and food involve the deliberate altering of the genetic material of plants and animals that have caused concerns over the environmental and economic issues that this technology affects. A genetically modified organism is an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that its DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there. Around 57 percent Americans believe that GMOs are unsafe to eat, meanwhile only around 37 percent think that they are safe. All around the world, people have been discussing the PROs and CONs of genetically modified organisms leaving a whole group of people wondering which side to believe. According to the online article, 10 Reasons to Avoid GMOs,