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An essay on genetic modification in agriculture
Genetic modification of crops
Genetic modification of crops
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Introduction:
Genetic engineering is a process that allows scientists to change the DNA of a plant to make them more beneficial. This can be done by making the plant survive frost, have increased vitamins or making them resistant to diseases and herbicides (9). These are a few examples of how plants can be modified to be more beneficial. The first genetically engineered plant was tobacco which created in 1986 (2).The most recent trial was in 2007 which studied genetically engineered wheat with a gene that helps it to grow in drought affected areas (11). Some states in Australia however have banned the planting of genetically engineered plants. This is because they are looking more at the disadvantages than the advantages.
Biology:
Genetic engineering is a process that allows scientists to change the genes of an organism. This technique is known as recombinant DNA (5). The genes from different organisms are combined to form a new set. The first step of genetic engineering is to find the gene that is going to be transferred into another cell. When this has been located it then needs to cut out of the cell and put into another cell. Before this can happen, restriction enzymes are used to cut a section of the DNA up in to tiny pieces. The enzymes make it easier to remove a single gene from a cell. Then before the DNA can be transferred in to another cell, it is copied billions of times. When the section of this has been copied it is now ready to be inserted into another cell. Because a plant is surrounded by a cell wall the DNA must be transferred in to the cell using a special type of gene gun. This gun will shoot out tiny metal particles that will be coated w...
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...n(unknown),“Hazards of Genetically Engineered Foods and Crops”, viewed 27/4/10,
7. Sakko, K. 2002, “The Debate Over Genetically Modified Foods”, viewed 27/4/10,
8. Author(unknown), year of publication(unknown),“Genetic Engineering File”, viewed 27/4/10,
9. Morgan,S. 2002, Genetic Modification of Food, Heinemann Library, Oxford
10. Stoyles, P., Pentland, P., & Demant, D. 2003, “Genetic Engineering”, Macmillan Library, South Yarra
11. Author(unknown), 2007, “Vic Trials Drought Resistant Wheat”, viewed 22/4/10,
12. Author(unknown), year of publication(unknown), “Transgenic Maize”, viewed 28/4/10,
Gene transfer technology is simply a sophisticated version of a cut-and-paste operation.Once the desired gene is identified in the native organism's genome, it can be cut out, transferred to the target plant, and pasted into its genome.(The illustration to the right describes the "gene-gun"approach,which is one of several gene transfer methods.)Once the new gene has been introduced, the plant can be bred to create a new strain that passes the gene from generation to generation.Creation of an insect Resistant Tomato Plant.Cut out the gene.Insert gene into a vector with a selectable antibiotic resistance marker gene. Copy vector in bacteria. Coat tungsten or gold particles with DNA vectors. Load vector-coated particles onto teflon bullet.Load bullet into gene gun.Shooting the gene gun releases the particles at a high velocity penetrating the plant cells.The vector enters the cell .The genes are incorporated into the plant genome. The cells are plated on a selective antibiotic media. Only cells that have incorporated the vector will grow. These cells are transferred to medium containing plant growth
Pamela Ronald, a plant geneticist, presented a Ted Talk “The case for engineering our food”, Ronald points out that engineered genetics for our plants is not harmful, yet better for our environment and health. “Now, genetic modification is not new; virtually everything we eat has been genetically modified in some manner”(Ronald).
The controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) lies in the lack of acceptable research on the topic. While numerous studies and experiment have been conducted, unbiased results have yet to be published. On one hand, bioengineers claim their GMOs and GMO products are not harmful and may even be beneficial, while on the other hand, scientists and agriculturists claim they are terrified about the uncertainty surrounding these unnatural products. This paper will explain what GMOs are, then analyze positive and negative claims and determine if they have any validity.
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...
The Controversy Over Genetically Modified Foods The genetic engineering of foods has, in one sense, been in existence for hundreds of years. The first time Gregor Mendel bred different varieties of pea plants to observe the various traits present in their offspring, the concept was born. Today, genetic engineering has developed into one of the most complex and advanced fields of scientific thinking, all the while provoking many questions and acquiring many opponents along the way. While there are compelling arguments presented for each side of the issue, the simple fact is that genetically modified (GM) foods are a reality, especially in the United States, as they are already present in many products that are consumed on a daily basis.
Genetic Engineering is deleting or adding different types for DNA that have different characteristics, and then adding them to a embryo to produce a specific organism. Cloning is where you move cells from the original embryo and place them into another one to produce the same organism. Genetech was the first company to first start experimenting with this new science in 1981. Gregor Mendel was the first scientist to discover this new science he called Genetics. At the time this company was valued at $200 million. Research for this t...
“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.
A GMO is a plant or animal that has been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, or other plants and animals. Most of the combinations which are used could not possibly occur in nature on its own. The intention of the process is to create a new beneficial trait such as creating its own pesticide or make it immune to herbicides. This would allow the crop such as Bt co...
The past twenty years have seen rise to a new burgeoning scientific field: genetically modified foods. During the plant breeding process, geneticists interfere with the reproduction and modify the genes of the new seedling by introducing a fragment of DNA from another organism that possesses the desired trait. With genetic modification, scientists can increase the pest, herbicide, cold, and drought tolerance so that the crop can survive in harsher climates. In some cases, the nutritional value can even be increased (Ulrich 9). Despite the obvious benefits of more nutritious foods and crops that are hardier and more resistant to harsher climates, there are some concerns surrounding GM foods. Each new alteration can cause an unforeseen allergic reaction, negate the effects of antibiotics, or potentially cause some adverse effects to the environment (Falkner 101). Every newly developed GM food must be tested on a case by case basis as there is no universal method that determines the safety of all modified components. As a result, long term effects of ingesting food with altered material are unknown.
According to an article titled “Genetically Modified Foods Eaten” regularly by Linda A. Johnson today, essentially 40% of the foods we eat are genetically modified, unless you eat organic foods and/or you grow your own. Most products containing corn, soil, canola oil, or cottonseed oil contain genetic modification. One of the biggest genetic modification company is Monsanto (Johnson). She goes on to say many Americans don’t even know they are consuming genetically engineered foods. In “Genetically Modified Foods Confuse Consumers” by Mary Clare Jalonick writing in the Washington Times, has talked about how this is because the FDA does not require them to be labeled. Jalonick has said, “Genetically modified foods are plants or animals that have
What is specifically is genetic engineering? How does it work? Genetic engineering is the deliberate use of genetic material to manipulate characteristics in an organism. There are two different kinds; cloning and transgenic animals. There is three different kinds of cloning; therapeutic cloning, reproductive cloning, and DNA cloning. Therapeutic cloning is when the embryo is cloned and produces a whole new human embryo for scientific research. Reproductive cloning is used to create a like organism to one that previously lived. DNA cloning is the act of taking DNA from one person and putting into into a self reproducing organism. First, a scientist will take an egg from a host with defective DNA and implant the live DNA of a desired donor into the original egg and then place the newly designed egg back into the original host. The egg will then mature at a slightly quicker rate than normal maturity. Soon after, the mother will give birth to this newly created offspring. These animals are called transgenic animals. Transgenic animals can be used for scientific research for diseases, medicinal purposes, or better product. The first transgenic...
Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic modification, is the process to alter the structure and nature of genes in humans, plants, and animals (what is genetic engineering). Because DNA is a code that is universal, genes can be manipulated
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 inserting it into another plant. The new genetically modified plant will now have gained drought tolerance as well.
A GMO (genetically modified organism) is the result of a laboratory process, where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and forced into the genes of another unrelated plant or animal.Foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. They are usually altered to improve the plant or animal 's ability to grow in non-native
Genetic Engineering is the deliberate alteration of an organism's genetic information (Lee 1). The outcome scientists refer to as successful entitles the living thing’s ability to produce new substances or perform new functions (Lee 1). In the early 1970’s, direct manipulation of the genetic material deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) became possible and led to the rapid advancement of modern biotechnology (Lee 1).