Introduction:
Recent advances in science and technology has shown a great impact on all areas of the life. One of the most important fields of science and technology is Biotechnology. The advancement in biotechnology brought forward the solutions for many of the problems that human race were facing, including the problem of feeding a large population but at the same time, it poses some new threats and challenges to human beings as well. This short report discusses the merits and demerits of extensive applications of biotechnology, specially the impacts of genetically modified/engineered crops which brought up in market 1990s.
According to Wikipedia, the definition and process of genetically modified crops is summarised as “Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering, using a process of either Cisgenesis or Transgenesis. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding (plant breeding and animal breeding), and somaclonal variation”.
Following is the table of a summary of genetically modified foods that are approved by FDA for human consumption.
Table 1
GM Foods for human consumption evaluated by FDA
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Modified attribute GM plant product (number of varieties)
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Insect resistance Corn (8)
Tomato (1)
Potato (4)
Cotton ...
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...ng areas (3). In addition to it also affects the local ecosystem of the fertile land, by affecting insect and soil properties etc. As these genetically modified species are disease free, hence have longer lives, which pose a persistent threat to the environment, via cross pollination and by affecting the normal flora of the area (2). One of the examples of such threat was the genetically modified specie of mice, developed by Australian scientist to control the population growth of mice, but it resulted in complete destruction of whole specie. This example perfectly demonstrates the extent of negative effects of this technology (2, 3).
Conclusion
Although genetically modified crops offered a wide range of benefits but it also poses some very serious threats. Hence, the use of this technology should be discouraged and alternative methods should be discovered.
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).
Genetically modified organisms are “an organism whose genome has been altered in order to favour the expression of desired physiological traits or the output of desired biological products.” http://www.merriam-webster.com/concise/genetically%20modified%20organism%20(gmo). The United States were first approved for human consumption of genetically modified foods in 1995. The techniques used for producing the genetically developed organisms include cloning recombinant DNA technology. Primary uses of genetically modified organisms are mostly in areas of agriculture and biomedical research. GMOs compromise numerous aids to society, including enlarged crop yields and the development of fresh therapeutic agents which prevent and treat a wide variety of human diseases . However there are some concerns around the use of genetically modified organisms which include the risks stood to human health and the initiation of insecticide resistant superbugs. This essay will provide evidence to support the evidence that the genetic modifications of crops produces better results than selective breeding or mutation.
Many debates are still being held by environmental agencies, food and drug control institutions and other scientific research organizations and specialists on the viability of using genetically modified foods in general. The general opinion is that the safety standards should be considered before a genetic modification is made. This is by comparing the risks of such a modification to the opportunity cost of maintaining the unmodified version. Several measures should be taken to ensure that certain effects of genetically modified foods are under control, for instance the creation of super weeds through cross pollination between Bt corn and crop weeds can be averted by using control regions where farmers plant unmodified corn in fields next to the Bt corn or planting of sterile male Bt corn to prevent the spread of pollen to crop weeds.
Are genetically modified foods safe? Genetically modified foods are crop plants created for human or animal consumption using molecular biological techniques. These plants have been modified to enhance certain traits like increased resistance to herbicides or improve nutritional content. This process traditionally has been done through breeding, but is not very accurate. Scientists have been using biotechnology to implant the gene that makes the plants act the way they want them to. Genetically modified foods have advantages and disadvantages on the environment and advantages and disadvantages on society. We have to weigh the positives and negatives to see if genetically modified foods are healthy for us and if we really need them.
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.
Thesis: Genetically modified organisms have the potential to benefit the field of agriculture as they are continuing to make advancements that should not be hindered. GMO foods should be supported because they are safer, since they utilize fewer herbicides and pesticides, produce larger yields that can reduce world poverty, and can help fight vitamin deficiencies and malnutrition.
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.
According to scientists, genetically engineering crops contributes to their quality. Crops that have been genetically modified to have a particular trait can decrease the amount of herbicides needed for growing that crop. Additionally, genetically modified (GM) crops can help third world countries, where malnutrition is common. For example, to help diminish nutrient deficiencies in developing countries, “plans were underway to develop a golden rice that also has increased iron content”(Whitman 2). In addition, GM crops can be modified to be able to “withstand the environmental challenges of drought, disease, and insect infestation” (Swenson 1). Growing GM crops can also result in fruits and vegetables that stay fresh for a prolonged period of time and taste better.
Genetically Modified Organisms better known as GMOs; are organisms such as plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from other organisms in ways that would not occur naturally. GMOs are used in the manufacture of pharmaceutical drugs, agriculture, research and other experimentations in the medical field. The old common way for breeding of organisms takes plenty of human involvement; GMO’s can be created more quickly and precisely. Agricultural scientists have been experimenting with our food for centuries, that’s why most of the food we eat today cannot be found in nature.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are a cause of continuous debate. What would be the purpose of producing genetically altered food? Many argue that GMOs could prove to be very beneficial, the use of GMOs could lead to advances in medicine, and agriculture, and they could also prevent famine in poor underdeveloped countries. Genetic modification offers many benefits: pest control, disease resistant crops, drought resistant crops, no use of insecticides, nutritional beneficial foods, and less contamination. This is only a short list of the many benefits offered by the used of GMOs. With so many benefits why are we opposed to such a miracle? (NERC 2005)
Since the beginning of the agricultural revolution, the human population on Earth has continued to increase at a rapid rate with no signs of it stopping anytime soon. In response to the growing population, agricultural advancements such as new methods for growing have been made in order to address this issue. However, one advancement continues to be at the heart of a debate that has been going on for several years: genetically modifying organisms.
Val Giddings, L. “Genetically Engineered Crops Are Not Dangerous.” Genetic Engineering. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. Farmington Hills MI: Greenhaven Press, 2004. 135-141. Print.
Today you can’t go to a supermarket without encountering genetic modified food on shelves and have become a general part of our kitchen. Genetic Modified Foods or simply known as GM Foods are crop plants or animals manipulated through latest technological molecular biology application performed in laboratories to improve shelf life and resistance from pest. Since the discovery in 1983, we have been using and improving genetic food technology in order to satisfy the worlds growing food consumption. Now a days crops which had been genetically modified are able to develop even in the least ideal environment. The topic of genetic modified foods is surrounded with controversy. Though GM Foods has its advantages and impact in the world,
In general term, Genetic modification of organisms is a biotechnological process that forces genes to behave according to certain characteristics. Changing characteristics of organisms is based on changing their DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid; the acid which carries genetic information in a cell). This is being used for modifying genes in plants, animals or micro-organisms. It is being also used especially with eatables in order to improve the nutritious quality and value, make less use of chemicals such as pesticides in the growing process of food, which proved to be extremely harmful, and sometimes to add flavor. Genetically modified food (GMF) is considered as one of the modern production improvements and the largest food experiments in the world's history. However, it is very vital to dispel misconception about the nature of food. GMF is a mixed blessing with its share of benefits but at the same time may arouse problems. It has many good aspects, such as making plants ripen faster, improving the specie's taste and look good, and providing Third World countries with healthier food at affordable and reasonable rates. Genetic modification of food has won the admiration of a lot of people, including myself, because of its new and attractive accomplishments, but at the same time we should take into account its disadvantages and try to find out ways and means to avoid them. Genetically modified foo...
Since human population has increased dramatically, the demand for food is increasing also to fulfil the myriad population. Moreover, climate changes caused the natural disasters like flood and drought to happen more often, resulting in uncontrollable disruption to crops and livestocks. Hence, to overcome these problems, scientists come out with a solution, Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) which is also known as Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). One of the intentions of LMOs is to overcome food crisis. Genetically modified (GM) crops are designed to enhance their qualities such as longer storage, higher crops yield, ability to grow larger, and reduced cost in aspect of food production, need for herbicides and insecticides as well as higher nutritional value. Another concern is that LMOs nowadays are associated with pharmaceutical value, for example, vaccination does not need to be done via injection but we can have vaccines get into our bodies by the practice of LMOs consumption in the near future.