The Benefits Of Genetic Food Engineering

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Recommended: The issue of genetically modified food

Jackie Goldman
Professor Shroyer
English 122 Section 1
7 April 2014
Genetic Food Engineering
When people consume food, do they really ever ask themselves if what they are consuming is completely natural? Researchers have proven that many of the things Americans consume are genetically modified. A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering. The beginning of this scientific inquiry, all began with the sale of “Flavr Savr”, an invention of former scientist Calgene. This invention was for delaying the food from going through its process and ripening. The main focus now is not to delay food from ripening, but to work on increasing the population on cash crops for such instance, soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil, because of the high demand of these consumptions. In such cases there being seven main foods in today’s modern day being altered, going from most common to least common, starting with corn being almost 85 percent of it that is being cropped in the U.S. takes effect to this. Second is soy, this is the one that gets altered the most in this entire country. The third is yellow crookneck squash and zucchini, the number being altered is relatively small, but contain species such as protein genes that protect against viruses. The fourth is alfalfa, this consumption consist of a resistant to herbicide Roundup. The fifth is canola, 90 percent of these crops in the U.S. are modified. The second to last are sugar beets, they make up half of the U.S. sugar production, and 95 percent of sugar beets in the country. The last common consumption being modified is milk; unlike other food being modified it is given to the producer of this consu...

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...ered. In America, they aren’t even labeled, much less banned, so the majority of the populace has no idea that they are eating lab-created DNA on a daily basis.
In conclusion, there has been and will still be many studies going on about genetically modified foods. As you can see there are many pros and cons to genetically modified foods, there is a huge controversy that will continue to take place throughout the evolution of food. As I did in the previous essay, I thoroughly described and analyzed the regulations that come with altering food, if there have been positive or negative effects on people, how all of this concern affects the European marketing of genetically modified foods, and my main thought about this controversy. All in all, everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but must make sure what they believe is true facts, and from a reliable resource.

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