Pros And Cons of Genetically Modified Foods

3325 Words7 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Importance of agricultural engineering to the society

The world has seen many changes and advances over the last century, but possibly none that hold as many possibilities as genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is turning up in more and more places, and it is almost certainly here to stay. Just as computers and plastics changed most aspects of living since they were invented, biological engineering has the potential to do the same in the future. This new technology has a wide range of possible benefits, from helping farmers, to improving foods, to helping the environment, to helping sick people. Genetic engineering may even one day be used to help solve world hunger. However, it also has its dangers and risks, which need to be considered along with its benefits. The fact that not everything is known about genetic engineering, and that large corporations use it to make a profit, is scary to many people. The recent technology of genetically engineering crops, plants, and animals, which involves modifying their genetic structure, has lead to benefits for farmers and everyday people; however, there are also numerous concerns due to the fact that the long term results are unknown, the possibility of dangerous accidents, and the danger of increased chemical usage.

In the past decade, the world has seen genetic engineering become more and more common, and it is affecting many aspects of life. It has found applications in fields such as pharmaceuticals, farming, and research, to name a few. But many people still don’t understand what it means for something to be "genetically altered." To understand this technology, it is necessary to explain a few basic principles.

Every living organism in the world is made up of cells that contain deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). As many people learned from watching Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park, DNA is the "blueprint of life." The online article "What is Genetic Engineering?" explains how DNA and genes work in an organism. DNA contains information that the body needs for functions such as cell reproduction (growth) and biochemical processes. All species have a unique DNA code, and every feature of an organism depends on this code to function normally. Genes are special segments of DNA, which control certain functions, characteristics, and features of an organism (such as eye color, metabolism, size, etc.). Molecular biologists have recently learned how to man...

... middle of paper ...

...d Questions". USDA. 15 Nov. 2000 .

Barret, Amy, John Carey, and Ellen Licking. "Are Bio-Foods Safe?" Business Week 20 Dec. 1999: 70-76.

"Dangers of Genetic Engineering in Agriculture". 19 Nov. 2000 .

"Genetically Engineered Food- Is GE Food Safe?". 15 Nov. 2000 .

Glickman, Dan. "New Crops, New Century, New Challenges." Washington D.C. 13 July 1999.

Nash, Madeleine J. "Grains of Hope." Time 31 July 2000: 38-46.

"Quotes from Scientists and on the Dangers of GE Food". Purefood. 15 Nov. 2000 .

Sale, Kirkpatrick. "Monsanto: Playing God." The Nation 8 Mar. 1999: 14-18.

Shapiro, Robert B. "How Genetic Engineering Will Save Our Planet." The Futurist Apr. 1999: 28-29.

"What is Genetic Engineering?". Safe-Food. 19 Nov. 2000 .

"What is Genetically Modified Food?". 19 Nov. 2000 .

"What’s Wrong with Genetic Engineering?". Purefood. 15 Nov. 2000

Show More
Related

  • The Pros And Cons Of GMO

    1119 Words  | 3 Pages

    Genetically modified? That alone should be a cause for alarm, and have you wondering, what exactly is in this that I am eating? Yet every day millions of American’s choose to load up on food filled with GMO’s, and not even know it. First we must understand what GMO’s are. GMO’s are any organism whose genetics has been altered using genetic engineering. We should not be tampering with nature, and should try to grow organically as much as possible. There has not been enough research on GMO’s to know the potential long term effects it can have on us, so this is why GMO’s should be banned.

    Read More

  • The MTV Series 16 And Pregnant

    1987 Words  | 4 Pages

    The MTV series 16 And Pregnant and its follow up series titled Teen Mom is a documentary like series that first aired in 2009 on June 11 and since then has had many seasons and sequels to follow it. Each episode in the series focuses on several young girls for 5-7 moths while they have to deal with the struggle of teenage pregnancy and “life after labor”. The initial idea or the show was to promote teen pregnancy prevention but, with many of the girls behaving scandalously and recklessly during the series, the show has become one of the most controversial on MTV.

    Read More

  • Genetic Engineering: Brave New World

    1021 Words  | 3 Pages

    Shah, Anup . " Is GE Food Safe?. " - Global Issues. N.p., 20 Jan. 2002. Web.

    Read More

  • The Reformation: The Period Of The Protestant Reformation

    1143 Words  | 3 Pages

    The period of the Protestant Reformation was a troubling time for the Catholic Church. During this time the church was one of the most formidable organization throughout the land. The church had power, land, and was aligned with several influential people and governments. Any type of major change was difficult for the church to embrace. This is one reason why much of the doctrine and formalities remained the same for many years (west civ book). However, there were several men that had tried to change some of the principles throughout the church. The Reformation was not the work of a single person, but the work of many who over time disagreed with certain ideas that were either doctrine or beliefs that the church held. This made the Catholic church

    Read More

  • Macbeth Symbolism Analysis

    1004 Words  | 3 Pages

    In Shakespeare 's time, for play members to achieve a bloody look, “effects were created by painting, smearing, or sprinkling and by concealed bladders, sponges, and animal entrails” (Kirschbaum 517). So Macbeth travels to seek out the witches hoping they will give him insight as to who will be the one to kill him in the end. Once there, the second apparition tells Macbeth, “ for none of woman born/ Shall harm Macbeth” (4.1.80-81). Giving Macbeth the satisfaction of thinking no one would be able to kill him when the time comes. With that being said, the theme of guilt is woven into this part when the ghost of Banquo appears, after the apparitions leave, to show Macbeth that Banquo’s children will become king soon enough. This feeling of guilt is shown by an aside where Macbeth is being tortured by this

    Read More

  • The Effects Of Domestic Violence

    866 Words  | 2 Pages

    Domestic violence is a major problem in the United States. When most people think of domestic violence, they think of one person beating the other person in a relationship. Webster defines domestic violence as “the inflicting of physical injury by one family or household member on another.” Domestic violence has a major effect on children. Some people say that the violence has no effect, while others argue that the violence has a negative effect on children. Domestic violence scars children for the rest of their lives. Once children witness the act of violence, they are more likely to have problems throughout the rest of their lives. Domestic Violence has a negative effect on the way children behave, the way they learn, the careers they choose,

    Read More

  • What Are The Pros And Cons Of GMO

    906 Words  | 2 Pages

    Eating is extremely important, it is also important to eat healthy. Most Americans eat without any concerns; they are not questioning or researching what they are feeding themselves or their family. A lot of that has to do with their financial stability, not having the time to prepare a meal due to their time-consuming work schedule, also lack of knowledge and education on what they are consuming. In this bibliography, I will go over all three articles and explain what they are about.

    Read More

  • Genetic Engineering Good Or Bad Essay

    1661 Words  | 4 Pages

    Science and technology are rapidly advancing everyday; in some ways for the better, and in some, for worse. One extremely controversial advance is genetic engineering. As this technology has high potential to do great things, I believe the power genetic engineering is growing out of control. Although society wants to see this concept used to fight disease and illness, enhance people 's lives, and make agriculture more sustainable, there needs to be a point where a line is drawn.

    Read More

  • The Protestant Reformation

    2541 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Protestant Reformation: What it was, why it happened and why it was necessary. The Protestant Reformation has been called "the most momentous upheaval in the history of Christianity." It was a parting of the ways for two large groups of Christians who differed in their approach to the worship of Christ. At the time, the Protestant reformers saw the church- the Catholic church, or the "universal church- " as lacking in its ways. The church was corrupt then, all the way up to the pope, and had lost touch with the people of Europe. The leaders of the Reformation sought to reform the church and its teachings according to the Scriptures and the writings of the Apostles. They sought to simplify the church by returning to its roots, roots long lost by the Catholic church at the time, or so the reformers believed. After the fall of the Roman Empire, life in Europe declined rapidly into the Dark Ages. The Dark Ages were a time of misery and darkness. There were only two socioeconomic classes: the very rich nobility or the very poor peasants. Small kingdoms popped up everywhere, and were constantly at war with one another. Whole libraries were destroyed, and the only people who remained literate were the clergy of the Christian church. Life became such a struggle to survive that, for a period of five hundred years, very little artwork or literature was produced by the whole of Europe. Eventually, around the year 1000, the conditions in Europe began to get better. This marked the beginning of the Middle Ages. The Crusades began as an effort to revitalize the spirits of the people. However, things still weren't very good. Plagues ravaged the land, carried by rodents and destroying whole villages. With th...

    Read More

  • The Reformation: The Origin Of The Reformation

    1125 Words  | 3 Pages

    At the start of the sixteenth century, the Reformation had put an ungracious end to the dependent unification that had prevailed under the Roman Catholic Church. In response to the growing sense of corruption in the church, the reformation began. Many people began opposing views of how Christian practices were expressed, which led to the formation and spread of Protestantism. While the Pope is head of the Catholic Church, Protestantism is a general term that refers to Christianity that is not subject to papal authority. (1.)

    Read More

  • Essay On Gmo Food Pros And Cons

    1107 Words  | 3 Pages

    GMOs have their pros and cons, but in terms of their effects on biodiversity, the technology is almost solely negative in how it affects the environment. Genetically modified food can damage agriculture as it allows for less restraint on chemical usage which leads to stronger weeds and weaker soil. The crops can easily spread their genetically modified genome through the wind. GMOs damage living organisms by making nasty insects stronger and vital insects weaker. GM foods are correlated with the decline in mammal and bird health and the introduction of GM animals like salmon poses a threat to the ecosystem of wild fish. GMOs can also bear consequences in terms of genetic pollution and alteration through contamination and mutation to adaptation to evolution to species extinction. Indeed, some claims are not well supported and may require testing, like genetic alteration through consumption or the validity of correlating animal health deficits with GM feeds. However, overall, GM foods clearly affect the world negatively in terms of biodiversity and ecosystem impacts.

    Read More

  • The Reformation and the Church

    1602 Words  | 4 Pages

    The Reformation was a decisive period in the history not only for the Catholic Church, but also for the entire world. The causes of this tumultuous point in history did not burst on the scene all at once, but slowly gained momentum like a boil that slowly festers through time before it finally bursts open. The Reformation of the Church was inevitable because of the abuses which the Church was suffering during this period. At the time of the Reformation, a segment of the Church had drifted away from its mission to bring Christ and salvation to the world. Throughout the Middle Ages, the Church had gradually become weaker because of abusive leadership, philosophical heresy, and a renewal of a form of the Pelagian heresy.

    Read More

  • Healthy Diet Essay

    1056 Words  | 3 Pages

    A person should eat healthy and nutritiously balanced diet to maintain a good health. He should has such a diet in which he can get all the important nutrients and vitamins that are essential for overall growth and development. He should also take care of an amount of calories and servings that he takes on daily basis to ensure a good health. I recorded my food intake for two consecutive days and compared it with Canada’s Food Guide in order to know where I need to make improvements for a good health.

    Read More

  • The Protestant Reformation

    3071 Words  | 7 Pages

    The Catholic church was losing ground physically and in the hearts of the people. While there were still a great many who remained loyal to Catholicism, there were still people like Calvin, King Henry VIII and Luther who felt the need to call the Catholics out on the problems within their faith, and how it was affecting everyone else.

    Read More

  • Bad Nutritional Habits Essay

    951 Words  | 2 Pages

    The diet of the average person in the United States can be seen as less than ideal to anyone who has knowledge of nutrition and proper diet. According to Center For Science In the Public Interest (CSPINET), the diet of the an average individual in America is said to lead to increase the risk of many diseases. This is due to the amount of saturated fat, sodium, calories, and added sugar (para. 1). In 2016, Frerichs, Intolubbe-Chmil, Trowbridge, Brittin, Teitelbaum, & Huang, explain that the factors of

    Read More

More about Pros And Cons of Genetically Modified Foods

Open Document