Genetically Modified Plants Would most people eat a hamburger if they knew that the cow that provided the beef possessed genes from a sheep? How about bacon that came from a pig with sheep traits? More likely than not, they would refuse to consume such products, denouncing them as unsafe and irresponsible. Protests over these animals with mixed genetics would probably begin. This genetic tampering has been occurring in plants for years, but the majority of consumers do not think twice about purchasing products derived from these genetically engineered plants. While some may claim that the benefits of these genetically modified plants outweigh the negative effects, it becomes apparent that the crops cause more harm than good. Genetically engineered plants should not be produced because of the harm they cause to farmers, because of the harm they cause to the environment, and because of the harm they cause to people. Contrary to what the companies that produce these altered crops would like people to believe, genetically modified crops fail to help farmers. Rather, they affect farmers adversely when compared to natural crops. Organic farmers face especially high risks because these plants can and will breed with other nearby crops, whether they are genetically modified or not. If fact, one study “demonstrated that more than 50% of the wild strawberries growing within 50 meters of a strawberry field contained marker genes from the cultivated strawberries” (Hanson). Because these modified crops spread so frequently, it proves almost impossible to ensure that the organic crops are natural and are not the offspring of a modified plant. These crops also threaten conventional farmers. Many of these altered plants are resi... ... middle of paper ... ...omois JS, Roullier F, Cellier D, Séralini GE. A Comparison of Effects of Three GM Corn Varieties on Mammalian Health. Int J Biol Sci2009; 5:706-725 “The Establishment of Genetically Engineered Canola Populations in the US.” Space Daily 18 Oct. 2011. General OneFile. Web. 1 Nov. 2011 Hanson, Michael. “Jeopardizing the Future? Genetic Engineering, Food, and the Environment.” Pest Management at the Crossroads. 6 Feb. 1999. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. Ho, Mae-Wan, Li Ching. Lim, and Joe Cummins. The Case for a GM-free Sustainable World. London: Institute of Science in Society, 2003. Print. “More Bt Corn Plagued by Pest.” St. Louis Post-Dispatch [MO] 24 Sept. 2011: A10. Infortac Newsstand. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. “National: Environment; Europe Accused of Hypocrisy Over Opposition to GM Crops.” Observer [London, England] 23 Oct. 2011: 23.Infortrac Newsstand. Web. 31 Oct. 2011
Van Eenennaam, Alison L. "GMOs in animal agriculture: time to consider both costs and benefits in regulatory evaluations." Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology 4 (2013): 37. Academic OneFile. Web. 29 Mar. 2014.
Smith, Nicola. “Roundup Ready Or Not: There Seems To Be Little Middle Ground On the Subject of Genetically-Engineered Crops”. Valley News. Valley News, 4 Aug. 2013. Web. 14 Apr. 2014
A debate is ragging over the advancements being made in genetic engineering. Scientist discovered that genes are the map of every aspect of a living organism, this has furthermore led to the prospect of altering this coding. By modifying one’s genes parents will one day be able to pick the color of their unborn child’s eyes and farmers will have the ability to develop plants that will produce bigger and healthier harvest. With the growing anticipation that some feel towards genetically modified crops others question it effects on the surrounding environments. Often pesticides are more heavily relied on for genetically modified crops and some cases have found pollination decreased in areas dominated by GM plants. Since there are so many aspects of genetic modification that have yet to be explored, much more research is required before distributing GM seeds internationally, but from the information already available the sides have begun to divide.
Smith, Jeffrey M. "GMO Researchers Attacked, Evidence Denied, and a Population at Risk." SOTT.net. Sott.net, 01 Nov. 2011. Web. 08 May 2014. .
In today’s scientific topic trends, GMO production and consumption is one of the most controversial topics. The acronym GMO refers to “genetically modified organism.” Loosely put, it refers to when a gene from a species with specific traits is injected into an unrelated living organism leaving it genetically modified. (1) I shall introduce the supposed negative aspects of GMOs and clarify the issues stated against it. The basis of my research originates from a review article provided by Alessandro Nicolia and other Italian researchers who have complied “An overview of the last 10 years of genetically engineered crop safety research.” Specifically, the classification of 1783 scientific records on GR crop safety.
Whitman, Deborah. "Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?". Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. Available online at http://www.csa.com/hottopics/gmfood/overview.html. Accessed November 9, 2003.
Genetically engineered (GE) food crops have caused heated debate in the food industry for many decades and have caused many consumers major concern. According to Dr. Carroll Rawn, a biology professor at Seton Hall University, genetically engineering food entails taking genes from a certain crop and inserting those genes in the DNA of another. This process changes the nucleotide sequence of the crop and, therefore, its characteristics. The debate lies in the question of whether these changes are beneficial for the productivity and quality of the harvest. Jeremy Rifkin argues in his article, “Science and Technology: O Brave New World,” that GE foods are not beneficial for the environment by stating, “Virtually every genetically engineered organism released into the environment poses a potential threat to the ecosystem” (247). On the other hand, the internet article, “New Research Confirms Environmental Safety of GE Crops,” argues, “A comprehensive review of international research conducted on areas of potential concerns related to genetically engineered (GE) crops concludes that such crops do not provide unique ecological risks and may contribute to ecological benefits such as increased biodiversity.” Increased biodiversity means an increased number and variety of crops farmers are able to produce, which has many benefits, specifically feeding starving people around the world. Thus, it is clear that, while genetically engineered food crops do introduce some dangers to consumers and the environment, their benefits, specifically pest, herbicide, and disease resistant capabilities and the new opportunities they provide through biodiversity, clearly outweigh the...
Okigbo, R., Iwube, J., & Putheti, R. (2011). An extensive review on genetically modified (GM) foods
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.
We see the fruits of years of genetic research all around us. Genetically modified foods are everywhere. Biotech seeds yield a hefty portion of the corn, tomatoes, soybeans and other agricultural products and derivatives consumed by the American population on an annual basis (2000, Sunstein). Over 70% of the items Americans find on their supermarket shelves contain genetically modified content (1999, Wastell). We did not get to this point without endless hours of research and testing by dedicated scientists and researchers. This technology however is not without its opposition, in Europe genetically modified food products are aggressively regulated and labeled (2000, Sunstein). Papers have been written that allegedly show these crops not only damage the ecosystem as in the case of the Monarch butterfly but also are a danger to the animal or human who would ingest them as cited by Dr. Arpad Puzstai (1999, Lean).
Scientists have been changing genomes of plants and animals by integrating new genes from a different species through genetic engineering, creating a genetically modified organism (GMO). Consumers in America have been eating GMOs since 1996, when they went on the market. There are benefits to genetically modifying crop plants, as it improves the crop quality and increases yield, affecting the economy and developing countries. But there are also negative effects from GMOs. Consumption of GMOs has various health effects on both body systems of animals and humans. GMOs also affect the environment, ecosystems and other animal species. The cons outweigh the pros in the case of GMOs.
They observed that the rats exposed to these diets developed more tumors than those that had not been exposed to the genetically modified corn and Roundup. Thus, the group concluded that GMOs can lead to the development of cancer in humans.
Val Giddings, L. “Genetically Engineered Crops Are Not Dangerous.” Genetic Engineering. Ed. Louise I. Gerdes. Farmington Hills MI: Greenhaven Press, 2004. 135-141. Print.
GMOs contain negative health risks for the human body that are undetected and unadvertised by most tests conducted by GM food production companies. Not only do GMOs have negative effects on the body, but they also harm the environment. The environment is defined by the surroundings or conditions where a person, plant, or animal lives and operates. Some claim that GM crops benefit the environment by reducing pesticide use and increasing the crop yields, but the past 20 years have shown the opposite. GMO crops have not improved yields and have increased the use of glyphosate, the active ingredient in certain herbicides. According to USDA and EPA data, by 2011 there were three times as many herbicide-resistant weeds found in farmer’s fields than there were in 2001, one of the early years, farmers started using GMOs in their
... There is an expression that the world is round and our actions as developed countries will someday come back to haunt us. Therefore, we have to be responsible if we are to live harmoniously with the rest of the world. Developed countries, like the United States, must face the consequences of presenting GM crops to Third World countries and must offer to amend any problems with honest and just solutions. Developed countries can then truly say that they are responsible leaders of the world.