Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Foods 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.
GMO (genetically modified organisms) What is is a GMO? A GMO is a genetically modified organism. GMO’s are good so we should modify more organisms because they are helpful and we will need them in the future. Also genetically modified organisms have a lot of benefits to the like making more with less or getting bigger food also these benefits are not just for plants but for for people bugs insects and all living organisms. But There are Also a lot of concerns for genetically modified organisms because we are making the food in a lab and not naturally growing it and also that it can cause cancer or that it can produce super weeds and many more.
Even though genetically modified organisms were created to grow more food there are negative aspects to these types of crops that are harmful to humans and animals. Therefore GMO’s should be studied more because there are positive impacts but harmful side effects. Genetically modified organisms is an organism whose genetic material has been changed using genetic engineering techniques. Organisms that have been genetically modified include microorganisms such as bacteria and yeast, insects, plants, fish, and mammals. GMO’s are the source of genetically modified foods, and are also widely used in scientific research and to produce goods other than food.
Third is separating DNA is when biologist use a gel and electric voltage so when the powers turns on,DNA molecul... ... middle of paper ... ...is the major food for billions of the world’s people, this rice may improve the diets and health of many people supplying an important nutrient. Much of the debate about GM organism (GM) in agriculture is political, social, economic or ethical. But we should consider the biological concerns about GM crops. Some biologist, particularly ecologists are concern about the unknown risks associated with the release of the GMO’s in the environment. They have been debating if GMO’s will actually harm the environment or human health.
Our society should be more accepting towards genetically modified foods because they are a great way to feed our growing population, extra nutrients can be added to the foods, and they offer us a wider, cheaper variety of food. To better understand the controversy of genetically engineered food, it is important to understand what they are exactly. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory defines genetic modification as “a special set of technologies that alter the genetic makeup of organisms such as animals, plants, or bacteria” (Oak Ridge National Laboratory). Naturally, when these organisms reproduce, their genes are mixed and the offspring receives a random set of the parent genes. When scientists create genetically modified foods, they are taking this process that occurs in nature and removing the randomness.
What if people could create an organism that was stronger than it was previously? More resistance to diseases, poisons, and that could thrive in a hostile environment? That is what scientist are creating with GMOs (Genetically Modified Organism) but mostly with plants that farmers produce for food such as corn or soybeans. Scientist can create modified organism when they pick an organism (such as corn) and then have certain changes introduced into their DNA using genetic engineering. It is different from breeding because instead of getting random genes, scientists are putting the desired gene directly into the plants’ DNA.
Hybrid crops are plants whom breed with other plants producing a better offspring, for the consumtion of the consumer. Genetically Modified Foods are plants that have had their DNA tampered or mixed with another gene or chemical, producing a brand new strand of DNA. It is believed that when mixing the DNA and genes in Genetically Modified Foods is that, it will create a better nutritious long lasting fruit or plant for the consumer. Producing new strands of DNA can be deadly, as it can produce wild outcomes that may not be able to be controlled. What the unknown is that, the consequences maybe deadly to the consumer, it is unknown how the human body can react the tampered food.
This can be achieved by modifying the genetic makeup of the parent plant that produces the seeds. As the amount of land for food decreases with the growing population, the quality and success of crop growths have to be achieved without flaw (Siedler 48). “Many of the techniques used in biotechnology today are not new but are more precise and more rapid versions of traditional methods used throughout history” (Siedler 48). This means that genetic modification is just a more advanced version of cross-breeding plants used in the earlier days. By insuring in genetically modified foods, it is possible to reduce the chance of widespread famine (“Genetic Engineering”).
Genetically modified foods can have many positive effects on the world. We can use fewer pesticides by inserting a pest resistant gene into the gene of plants. Farmers use many pesticides over and over to keep the insects from eating their crops. This is usually a high costing process and time consuming. When the plants receive water the excess water runs into another source of water and when that happens it picks up the chemicals that the pesticide had left on the soil.
However, the GMF are beneficial to human because there are reducing the pesticide use, amount of land devoted to agriculture and at the same time enhancing on the qualities and nutrients of the foods. Aren’t these the goals and aim of the organic movement? Many organic advocates claims that the GMF crops that have higher resistance towards pesticide will bring certain side effects in a long run of time. They believe that the crops that have been genetically modified to produce their own pesticide might make the insects or pests become more resistant to the artificial pesticide. Infact, one of the terrifying effects of the effort of the usage of pesticides, for pests and insects control, is that the side effect of using pesticides on crops and environmental pollution will not be realized nor discussed by the ignorant advocates for many years and decades.