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Benefits of genetically modified organisms
Genetically modified foods controversy
Why should genetically modified food be labelled
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Genetic Engineering in agriculture has became a very controversial topic in the past years, although it is beneficial to both the consumer as well as the producer. The use of genetic engineering is seen as a very controversial topic because of the enviromnmental groups who speak out against the use of genetically engineered products in industry as well as the consumer market. Genetic engineering in agriculture has the potential to change the industry worldwide. The increased production of these genetically engineered varietes can be utilized in order to solve many of the issues that the world is beginning to face today. They can be used to resolve our issues associated with the growing population of our world in the coming years by helping to feed the world at an economical price point while conserving nature through the increased yield per acre or animal. Many of the varieties that are being developed for their use as crops and food can also be adopted for the biofuel industry to solve the worlds growing reliance on fossil fuels. The ability to use biotechnology in order to crossbreed diverse forms of life has had a profound impact on agriculture around the world. The two main reasons for the use genetic engineering in plants is in order to develop traits for herbicide tolerance as well as to make the plants form natural pesticides. One of the first genetically engineered crop which was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was the Flavr-Savr tomato in 1994 (Parmalee 47). The Flavr-Savr tomato utilizes genetic engineering to add a gene that would slow the break down of the cellular walls once picked so that they would stay firmer for longer on the supermarket shelves. The benefits that are available through the us... ... middle of paper ... ... the United States. April 2006: i-30. SIRS Government Reporter. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. Gottlieb, Scott, and Matthew B. Wheeler. "Genetically Engineered Animals and Public Health | BIO." BIO | Healing, Fueling and Feeding the World. BIO, 28 July 2011. Web. 31 Mar. 2014. Mather, Robin. "The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods." Mother Earth News. Apr/May 2012: 42+. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 16 Apr. 2014. Parmalee, Thomas. Genetic Engineering. Edina, Minnesota: ABDO, 2008. Print. Prah, Pamela M. "Many States Weigh GMO Labels." stateline.org. 17 Mar. 2014: n.p. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. Thro, Ellen. Genetic Engineering Shaping the Material of Life. New York: Facts on File Science Sourcebooks, 1993. Print. Van Montagu, Marc. "The Irrational Fear of GM Food." Wall Street Journal. 23 Oct. 2013: A.15. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 15 Apr. 2014.
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Modern biotechnology was born at the hands of American scientists Herb Boyer and Stain Cohen, when they developed “recombinant deoxyribonucleotide, (rDNA), [1] for medicinal purposes. Subsequently, biotechnologists started genetically engineering agricultural plants using this technology. A single gene responsible for a certain trait, from one organism (usually a bacterium) is selected altered and then ‘spliced” into the DNA of a plant to create an agricultural crop consisting of that...
SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. The Web. The Web. 19 May. -.
Because of the increase in population, products need to be manufactured in a faster and more efficient way, and with genetically modified foods, the food is larger in size and quicker to harvest. Another advantage of GM foods is that it uses less fertilizer and less water and is more resistant to insects, diseases, frost, and drought. Consumers would not want to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of possible health hazards and growing GM foods can help eliminate the use of chemical pesticides. Plants that are genetically engineered to resist strong herbicide will help prevent environmental damage by reducing the amount of herbicides needed. This will benefit both the companies and the environment because the production cost is reduced and the danger of agricultural waste run-off is limited. As more land is being used for housing instead of food production, crops need to adapt to locations unsuited
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.
Food is an essential part of everyday life without it one could not survive. Every day we make choices on what we put in to our bodies. There are countless varieties of food to choose from to meet the diverse tastes of the increasing population. Almost all food requires a label explaining the ingredients and the nutritional value allowing consumers to make informed decisions on what they are consuming. However, many may not be considering where that food is coming from or how it has been produced. Unfortunately, there is more to food than meets the eye. Since 1992, “ the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ruled, based on woefully limited data, that genetically modified foods were ‘substantially equivalent’ to their non-GM counterparts” (Why to Support Labeling). GM food advocates have promised to create more nutritious food that will be able to grow in harsh climate conditions and eventually put an end to world hunger in anticipation of the growing population. There is very little evidence to support these claims and study after study has proven just the opposite. GM crops are not only unsafe to consume, but their growing practices are harmful to the environment, and multinational corporations are putting farmers out of business.
N.p., 31 Aug. 2005. Web. The Web. The Web. 17 Apr. 2014.
Webber, G. D. Regulation of Genetically Engineered Organisms and Products. Office of Biotechnology | Iowa State University Office of Biotechnology. Retrieved September 22, 2013, from http://www.biotech.iastate.edu/biotech_info_series/bio11.html - anchor96278
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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.
“In agriculture, designer genes are used in a variety of ways, from creating drought- and insect-resistant seed strains to the modification of traits and behaviors in animals that lead them to be more readily domesticated” (“Designer Genes”). It is used in many plants and animals that are eaten by humans daily. Genetic engineering in plants allows for plants to be more beneficial to humans. In plants genetic engineering makes them last longer on shelves, last through droughts or freezing weather, and make some plants not affected by herbicides (“Genetic Engineering”). The plants commonly used for genetic engineering are the typical farm plants: tomatoes, wheat, soybeans, grapes, and corn. Genetic engineering in agriculture is a good thing because it makes those plants more available for humans to eat. In animals, genetic engineering can be used to make domestication of certain animals easier. Most animals that are genetically engineered for agricultural purposes are fish and typical farm animals such as, pigs, cows, sheep, and chickens (“Designer Genes”). Genetically engineering plants and animals ensures that humans will have food to eat, which can only be a positive thing. If it weren’t for the genetically modified plants and animals, providing food for humans would be made more
N.p., 19 Sept. 2012. Web. The Web. The Web. Salzman, James.