Investigation into Genetically Modified Flavr-Savr Tomatoes, should they be available for human consumption.
Technology has been advancing at an increasingly high rate; as a result scientists have used this development to create genetically modified foods. Biotechnologies used to genetically modify foods have contributed to the controversial statements, whether or not genetically modified foods should be available for human consumption. Genetic Modified plants and foods such as the “Flavr Savr Tomato” enhanced through the use of biotechnologies have sparked arguments in favour and against. Those in favour consider that they are advantageous for humans, those against believe that it is detrimental for human consumption and altering the genes is unsuitable. Genetic modification is also referred to as Genetic Engineering or Genetic Manipulation. These three terms poses the same meaning. “Genetic modification is the use of modern biotechnology techniques to change the genes of an organism, such as a plant or animal” (CSIRO, 2014). Many scientist use genetic modification in an attempt to enhance plants and foods for human consumption.
The Flavr Savr tomato also known as the transgenic tomato created by Calgene was first introduced in 1991 approved by the FDA. The Flavr Savr was distributed throughout US supermarkets in 1994, becoming the first commercialised genetically modified crop. Normal tomatoes exhibit the polygalacturonase enzyme. Polygalacturonase is an enzyme that is expressed during the stage of tomato ripening becoming a predominant factor once the fruit has been picked. The enzyme contributes a significant role in the diminishment of the cell wall, which leads to the softening of the fruit. Therefore the tomato cannot b...
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... flavours alongside with firmness being beneficial. In contrast the natural tomatoes became rotten or bruised tomatoes during the process of shipment. The product has been already available for consumers. The tomato has also undergone tests associated with the risks that may pose hazardous to humans and the outcome was FDA passed. The FDA only passed the genetically modified food if it was approved for consumer sale therefore being safe and as nutritious as its conventional counterparts (Healey, 2004). There are risks and benefits to everything in the world. Nevertheless, in this circumstance the benefits in my opinion outweigh the risks or are justified. Therefore, the Flavr Savr tomato should be available for human consumption as long as the public are aware of the minimal risks that may arise and the process that is involved to produce the Flavr Savr tomato.
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...
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).
Kramkowska, Marta, Teresa Grzelak, and Krystyna Czyżewska. “Benefits and risks associated with genetically modified food products.” Annals of agricultural and environmental medicine. 2013. Web. 6 May. 2014.
...to plant, Solanum lycopersicum, conferring disease resistance has also been shown to be beneficial to health, as the modification results increased nutrient content, antioxidant activity, and lycopene concentration [3]. By insertion of rolB gene from A. rhizogenes into tomatoes, there are beneficial effects. Though this is one case of success, it is definite that researchers can eventually research and produce successful products of biotechnology.
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.
The Controversy Over Genetically Modified Foods The genetic engineering of foods has, in one sense, been in existence for hundreds of years. The first time Gregor Mendel bred different varieties of pea plants to observe the various traits present in their offspring, the concept was born. Today, genetic engineering has developed into one of the most complex and advanced fields of scientific thinking, all the while provoking many questions and acquiring many opponents along the way. While there are compelling arguments presented for each side of the issue, the simple fact is that genetically modified (GM) foods are a reality, especially in the United States, as they are already present in many products that are consumed on a daily basis.
coli bacteria, called Humulin. Once Humulin hit the U.S markets, by 1994, with The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval, GMO’s were sold in grocery stores with the introduction of the Flavr Savr Tomato, a delayed-ripening tomato that had a longer shelf life than conventional tomatoes.4 Big corporations have rallied behind the few solid arguments for untested transgenic crops, and have used these to tenaciously take down any challenge that these foods are not safe for human consumption.
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.
From the Flavr Savr ™ tomato to the more recent genetically modified corn, genetic engineering has been around for about 20 years. Now, do you really know what GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are? Do you understand both the pros and the cons are? Are you positive that GMOs mat or may not affect your health or the enviroment? If you answered no to any of these questions I strongly suggest you continue reading.
Although it may seems like we may have some important questions answered with this new method, there has been much controversy circling these genetically engineered foods. In the United States and many other countries around the world, the actually safety of these foods have been questioned. There has also been much concern involving the supposed benefits for farmers, environmental risks, and labeling of these genetically engineered crops in our food.
The term GM foods or GMO (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques (Whitman, 2000). These plants have been modified in the laboratory to offer desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Also, genetic engineering techniques have been applied to create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and accurately. For example, this is done by the geneticist isolating the gene responsible for drought tolerance and inserts it into another plant. The new genetically-modified plant will now have gained drought tolerance as well.
The most wonderful activity a human being can experience is new flavors and foods. For example, the first time a person tastes a delicious juicy piece of prime rib or a delightful hamburger with cheese and ham, his world is never the same. However, since the beginning of the twentieth century, the production of food has been supplemented by science. This has triggered an angry dispute between the people who support the advances of biotechnology and people who love nature. In order to understand the controversy, we have to know the meaning of genetically modified foods. With new technological advances, scientists can modify seeds from a conventional seed to a high tech seed with shorter maturation times and resistance to dryness, cold and heat. This is possible with the implementation of new genes into the DNA of the conventional seed. Once these "transgenes" are transferred, they can create plants with better characteristics (Harris 164-165). The farmers love it not only because it guarantees a good production, but the cost is also reduced. On the other hand, organizations such as Greenpeace and Friends of Earth have campaigned against GMO (“Riesgos”) because they think that they are negatively affecting the earth (Gerdes 26). Both the advocates and the opponents of genetically modified foods have excellent arguments.
This report explains genetically modified food (GMOs) and discusses the benefits and risks associated with the consumptions of GMOs. Genetically modified foods (GMOs) are foods that have been genetically altered using engineering techniques. The most common technique used today is called recombinant DNA technology; this technology combines different molecules from different plant species to create a plant with a new set of genes, a hybrid plant. Another recombinant DNA technology being used is recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) an artificial growth hormone; this hormone is being fed or injected into cows to improve milk production. (ThefreeDictionary)
“Genetically modified foods are a "Pandora's box" of known and unknown risks to humans and the environment. They have been forced onto the American public by multinational biotech and agribusiness corporations without adequate oversight and regulation by the United States government (Driscoll, SallyMorley, David C).”Genetically Modified Food is food which has been chemically altered by scientists during the production process to give the food more nutrients, better appearance, and a longer shelf-life (Rich, Alex K.Warhol, Tom). The importance of this issue is that these GMO’s can actually have a negative effect in our society in general. It could mutate in a negative way and cause cancer or other diseases. Genetically modified food should be strictly controlled due to its various detrimental effects on the environment, human health, and potentially insect/animal effects.
Genetically modified foods most commonly refers to the plants, which has been modified in the laboratory to enhance improved nutritional content and aimed traits created for human beings and animals. With progress in various types of technology, especially in genetic engineering, farmers and scientists have changed the way in which food is grown and made, raising questions about the methods, their risks and possible effects. It is not a secret that GMF-ed foods have spread out rapidly to the whole world. GMFs have raised concerns over their own beneficial in that they are resistant to diseases, produces greater yields, and it improves the nutrition of foods making the people unaware about their effects. Every time we go to any grocery stores or supermarkets, we would not know whether the vegetables, fruits or even meats being sold are genetically modified. To make this situation worse, most consumers do not pay much attention to what they are eating, when they are actually consuming modified foods.