In Michael Pollan's chapter of Botany of Desire, he talks about genetic modification; injecting genome into the DNA of other crops with the sole purpose to change their characteristics. Pollan genetically modifies a potato and is named the “NewLeaf”. Pollan’s research question is about creating a New Leaf Potato by injecting a bacterium called Baclilus Thuringiensis (bt) in the potatoes DNA. By doing this, it allows the potato to defend itself from their biggest threat, which is the Colorado beetle. Throughout this chapter, Pollan shows the reader that he has an opinion on genetically modified crops and how it can not only affect us today, but also in the future. He gives us some historic background regarding the New Leaf potato with the intention to get across his concern of monoculturalism. Pollan realizes that his potato is considered a pesticide when he comments: “the small print on the label also brought the disconcerting news that my potato plants were themselves registered as a pesticide with the environmental Protection Administration” (190). Throughout the chapter, he also brings in farmers from different areas and methods of plantation to give an opinion on the genetic modification and the future of these crops.
In the beginning of this chapter, Pollan knows that genetic modification has negative side effects and thus he introduces a variety of sources such as the history and gathering opinions from other farmers to prove his point. By doing so, he tries persuade the reader into thinking that genetic modification is incorrect. Not only does he believe that genetic engineering is wrong, but also those in related fields think so as well. By bringing in history, biology, reliability, and the idea of a m...
... middle of paper ...
...ly basis, but the consequences are not fully understood. As a society, we are becoming extremely dependent on the potato without having the answers to some important health questions.
Pollan’s point of view regarding the New Leaf potato is clear; he fears that the New Leaf will become popular among farmers and this will be the only crop they will harvest. This increases our chance of becoming a monoculture and seeing the results in history and talking to current farmers regarding this issue, raises Pollan’s concern. With uncontrollable biological movement such as genetic instability, the probability that the NewLeaf potato will be the only type planted in a couple of years is steadily increasing. Throughout this chapter, Pollan gives us reasons to believe that genetic engineering is wrong and uses examples in history and opinions to reinforce his point of view.
The “Botanist’s Camp” is a lithograph illustrated by John Wolseley during 1997. As a botanist, John Wolseley takes inspiration from Australia’s unique outback, detailing the minutiae of the flora and fauna in his artworks. His unconventional yet innovative artistry style includes an abstract method whereby natural agents act as printmaking tools or as stimulus. With these principles, John painted many diverse sets of masterpieces and in this case the infamous “Botanist’s Camp”. Within the 74 cm by 93.5 cm canvas, John depicted an assortment of desert wildlife. These include a frog, frill-neck lizards, and various types of flora. Furthermore, as a contribution to the painter’s
Barbara Kingsolver discusses genetic manipulation through generations of different species in her essay A Fist in the Eye of God. These genetic manipulations occur due to the species acclimating to their environment. Diversity in genes is nature’s survival of the fittest. Only the strongest survive and they pass on their strong traits. With today’s technology, we have the capability of altering genes within a species DNA. This paper examines the detrimental repercussions that GMO 's cause to the environment and insects necessary for the progression of crops.
Michael Pollan uses the potato to address the idea of control, in particular, whether we have control over nature or it has control over us. Potatoes were first found in South America growing in the Andes. The ancestors of the Incas lived in that area and were the first known humans to cultivate these potatoes for human consumption (Pollan 131). When settlers came to the New World they marveled at these new crops that grew from spuds and shipped them back to Europe. Potatoes became the crop of choice for peasant farmers, particularly in Ireland, because they contained most of the necessary nutrition required for healthy living and they grew well in nutrient-poor soils. The farmers growing these
...he reader, which creates many questions about the particular subject of genetic engineering. It also conveys the authors idea, that we really need to be careful about what we do with this new scientific marvel, effectively to the reader, thus raising the reader's awareness about genetic engineering.
The use of genetic modification in enhancing human characteristics has brought about negative issues, such as discrimination, ethical issues and corruption. With this in mind, genetic modification has benefitted humans immensely; developing the knowledge of the human mind, preventing hereditary diseases and improving the physical attributes of individuals. Nevertheless, the disadvantages surrounding the enhancement of human characteristics through genetic means outweigh the advantages as portrayed by the film and text, “Gattaca” and “Flowers for Algernon” respectively. In conclusion, the enhancement of human characteristics through genetic means should be strictly advocated against.
The ethics behind genetic engineering have been discussed and argued for years now. Some arguing points often include competitive advantages, playing God, and the polarization of society, but Sandel takes a different approach in explaining society’s “unease” with the morality of genetic engineering. Broadcasted through several examples throughout the book, Sandel explains that genetic engineering is immoral because it takes away what makes us human and makes us something else. He states that by taking control of our genetic makeup, or the makeup of our progeny, we lose our human dignity and humility. Our hunger for control will lead to the loss of appreciation for natural gifts, whether they are certain talents, inherited from the genetic lottery, or the gift of life itself.
Beauty can be defined in many ways. Though, regardless of its definition, beauty is confined by four characteristics: symmetry, health, vibrancy and complexity. Michael Pollan, in the book The Botany of Desire, examines our role in nature. Pollan sets out to discovery why the most beautiful flowers have manipulated animals into propagating its genes. Most people believe that humans are the sole domesticators of nature, although, beauty in some sense has domesticated us by making us select what we perceive as beautiful. In flowers, for example, the most attractive ones insure their survival and reproductive success; therefore the tulip has domesticated us in the same way by insuring its reproduction. Whether it is beauty or instinct humans have toward flowers they have nevertheless domesticated us.
The lack of knowledge has always tricked people because they only focused on the negative perspective of genetic engineering and not the positive perspective. In this paper, I will be talking about how Genetic engineering is connected to Brave New World, how the history of genetic engineering impacts the world, how genetic engineering works, how people opinions are influenced, how the side effects can be devastating, how the genetic engineering can be beneficial for the society and also how the ethical issues affect people’s perspective. Brave New World is a city that produces mechanical offspring and manipulates science to genetically modify citizens. In the novel, Brave New World, the citizens are all genetically modified.
Potatoes have become a staple to the diet of humans.They have become so popular since they come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and tastes. They are also cheap and easy to grow, and they taste delicious! Potatoes have changed the course of history in several ways. Who knew that potatoes, just a starchy vegetable, could have helped shape the world in so many ways. First, the Irish Potato Famine killed a million people and caused another million to move out of Ireland. Second, soldiers in the United States army were able to eat potatoes throughout the war. Third, they prevented a famine from occurring in England after there was not a sufficient amount of crops going to sustain the country's cries for food. Many people wonder if potatoes have
Sandel, M. J. The case against perfection, ethics in the age of genetic engineering. Belknap Press, 2007. Print.
Throughout The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan, the author argues that the coevolution of plants and humans is seen within the relationship of humans manipulating plants to fulfill their desires. Pollan touches on four main examples where coevolution can be easily seen throughout history and the present. The apple satisfies sweetness, the tulip beauty, marijuana intoxication, and the potato control. As we are benefitting from evolving the plants for our own interest, the plants themselves are benefitting as well. The environmental message of the book surpasses that of coevolution and dives into the technology of genetic engineering
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.
Coker, Jeffrey Scott. "Genetic Engineering Is Natural and Should Be Pursued." Genetic Engineering, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2013. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context,
The main ethical dilemma presented in the film is the use of genetic modification technology in humans. The scientists initially approach this dilemma by thinking like classic teleologians. “By incorporating human DNA into the hybrid template, we can begin to address any number of genetically influenced diseases…Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, even some forms of cancer”. (Splice, 2009) They are producing a greater good by choosing this ethical path. This is the core motive for the current use of GMOs. According to the Human Genome Project (U.S. Department of Energy Genome Programs, 2008), GMOs have a variety of applications; To increase the yield of crops and animal products, to make plants and animals more resistant to certain disease, and more efficiently processed are but a few. The end product of these applications is, in theory, to benefit humanity. If we are already genetically modifying plants and animals, is a...
...-scale potato chip manufacturing operations are designed to make to be economical, to make money, not benefit their consumers or protect the environment. Only when a regulation is imposed (such as those from the EPA or FDA) are processes and procedures adjusted. Perhaps in the future with advances in technology, large potato chip manufacturers will integrate better ways to dispose of their by-products and create healthier chips at the same time.