The Controversy Over Genetically Modified Foods

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“The views of people with strong opinions should be given equal prominence to those with compelling scientific evidence”. Discuss with reference to media coverage of a scientific controversy. The genetically modified food controversy What are GMOs/GM foods and why are they controversial? In this essay, I will uncover whether strong opinions should be given equal prominence to those with compelling scientific evidence on genetically modified organisms and ultimately, come to the conclusion whether GMOs are safe or potentially harmful for humans and the environment. Genetically modified (GM) food is created from organisms that have had specific modifications introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. In molecular biology, genetic engineering is specified as ‘the direct manipulation of genes for practical purposes’ (Campbell & Reece, 2005: 384). Retrospectively, organisms that have been genetically engineered are scientifically called ‘transgenic organisms’, which are more commonly known as ‘genetically modified organisms’ (Karp, 2008: 770). GM food or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is used to denote crop plants whose genetic material have been engineered to modify their biology or chemistry for augmented resistance to herbicides or enhanced nutritional content. GM food has generated polemic debate amongst: governmental regulators, biotechnology companies, scientists, economic activists, environmentalists and consumers. The main areas of controversy correlated to GM food are the neutrality of scientific examination and publication, the results of GM crops on the environment and health and the role of the crops in feeding the world population. Strong opinions of environmentalists, ... ... middle of paper ... ...is demonstrates that the FCT & Monsanto coincide with the same agenda. Also, that the media and corporations have enough power to manipulate people over genuine scientific evidence. People with strong opinions such as environmentalists & anti-GMO activists support Seralini’s study as compelling scientific evidence and recognize corporate/scientist agendas, therefore, are justified in having their strong opinions. While each person can declaim these details and come to various different conclusions on the importance of GM foods as well as the moral decisions being made by the corporations in control of generating these foods. The definitive choice on GM foods should be placed onto a well-informed consumer and not left in the dark by those in rule of the government and huge corporations that may not have the general public’s interests as their main objective.

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