The Benefits and Consequences of Genetically Modified Organisms
explanatory Essay
657 words
In the past 20 years, genetically modified foods have become more popular due to their health benefits and higher growing rates. Genetically modified organisms have many advantages but can sometimes have negative effects on the environment.
Genetic engineering is used by scientists to enhance qualities in crops that are grown by farmers. Some of the qualities that scientists engineer these crops for are taste, nutrition level, and shelf-life. The technique that scientists use to increase nutrient levels is called nutritional enhancement. For example, one case of nutritional enhancement would be the engineering of a type of rice known as golden rice. Better Health Channel says, "GM golden rice is a white rice crop modified by the insertion of the vitamin A gene from a daffodil plant"(Genetically 8). In many countries, people's diets consist of mainly rice. While white rice is rich in other nutrients, it is a poor source of vitamin A. Therefore, these people need a more readily available source of vitamin A. In 2010, the World Health Organization reported that, “Currently, an estimated 250 million preschool children in the world have vitamin A deficiency” (Rotondi 1).
According to the USDA, "...biotech corn accounted for 90 percent of corn acreage in 2013"(Fernandez 5). Farmers grow these crops over traditional crops for many reasons. The most apparent reason for the growth of genetically modified crops is the higher yield rate of these plants. Farmers not only grow these plants in order to make a larger profit at the end of the growing season, but also because these farmers have the whole world depending on them for food. Furthermore, according to the ISAAA (International Service for the Aquisition of Agri-Biotech Applications), "...
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"ISAAA Brief 44-2012: Executive Summary ." ISAAA. 2012. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. .
"Our Commitment to Sustainable Agriculture." Monsanto. n.d. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. .
Fernandez, Jorge F. "Recent trends in GE adoption." USDA. N.p., 9 July 2013. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. .
Rotondi, Michael A, and Nooshin Khobzi. "Vitamin A supplementation and neonatal mortality in the developing world: a meta-regression of cluster-randomized trials." World Health Organization. N.p., 16 Apr. 2010. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. .
In this essay, the author
- Explains that genetically modified foods have become more popular in the past 20 years due to their health benefits and higher growing rates.
- Explains genetic engineering is used by scientists to enhance qualities in crops that are grown by farmers, such as taste, nutrition level, and shelf-life.
- Explains that biotech corn accounted for 90 percent of corn acres in 2013 due to the higher yield rate of genetically modified crops.
- Explains the dangers of using chemical fertilizers on fields. genetically modified crops reduce environmental deterioration and reduce soil erosion. monsanto plans to double crop yields by 2030.
- Cites "genetically modified (gm) foods." better health channel. deakin university australia, july 2011.
- Summarizes the isaaa brief 44-2012: executive summary and our commitment to sustainable agriculture.
- Cites fernandez, jorge f., "recent trends in ge adoption." usda, 9 july 2013.
- Explains that vitamin a supplementation and neonatal mortality in the developing world: a meta-regression of cluster-randomized trials.
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- Pros And Cons: The Benefits Of Genetically Modified Foodsexplanatory essayIntroduction The debate over whether to keep the production genetically modified organisms, or to cease it all together. They help many countries around the world with low food sources, due to climate and other hindrances. With GMO’s aiding countries in need, it will have a helping hand for the availability of more food. These crops and livestock promote ideal solutions to nutrition, world hunger and the environment.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the debate over whether to keep the production of genetically modified organisms, or to cease it all together. gmo's help countries with low food sources, due to climate and other hindrances.
- Explains that biotechnology has been helping farmers increase their productivity, boosting crop yields, and providing protection from pests and viruses.
- Explains that genetically modified organisms are known to carry many risks along with its benefits. many gmo’s pose great environmental damage by cross-breeding with weeds.
- Explains that the benefits of genetically modified foods outweigh the risks when it comes to their mass production.
- Opines that re-searchers, farmers, and companies must become more responsible in the containment of genetically modified organisms from the natural environment.
1055 wordsRead More - The Benefits of Genetically Modified Organismsanalytical essayGenetically modified organisms Genetically modified foods are found in almost every store and are very common in America. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is a very controversial and heated topic in the agricultural industry. Humans first began to genetically alter organisms and crops in the 1990’s and began to be widely used in the early 2000’s. This new technology has scared many uninformed people who fear change and new agricultural techniques. GMO fearing individuals need to realize the benefits of GMO’s; genetically altered crops are the future of agriculture.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that genetically modified organisms (gmos) are a controversial and heated topic in the agricultural industry.
- Explains that the world population has exceeded seven billion people and the earth's population is projected to reach 9.6 billion by 2050. gmo crops will help increase yield and decrease waste.
- Argues that genetically enhanced crops and organisms are safer than heavily-pesticide-treated counterparts. the minimal use of pesticides could make them safer.
- Explains that many farmers and growers have adopted the new ge crops rather than stick with traditional, non-enhanced crops.
- Explains that genetically modified organisms are a necessary change in agriculture because of the large, growing population, safe healthy technology used, and the variety of successful crops.
863 wordsRead More - The Pros And Cons Of Genetically Modified Foodsexplanatory essayGenetically modified foods or GM foods are foods that have been changed to improve the size of the product and to progress the efficiency of food production. Genetic engineering can be done on both plants and animals and are processed to make the desired characteristics that are required for selling. Genetically modified food has become a controversial topic because people have different viewpoints on which type of food is better for their health. Many protests were created to ban genetically modified foods because of the harm that it caused to the people and the environment. Although people have different opinions towards this topic, there are numerous advantages and disadvantages in producing and consuming genetically modified foods.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that genetically modified foods have become a controversial topic because people have different opinions on which type of food is better for their health.
- Explains the pros and cons of genetically modified foods and how they have made the world a safer place to live in.
- Explains that some people agree with genetically modified foods, but others disagree because it can cause unpredictable genetic and ecological effects, harmful toxic and new allergens in food, and disrupt seed market.
- Explains that genetically modified foods are known for their fast production and large size. because people feel differently about them, it has become a controversy occurring in the world.
702 wordsRead More - The Benefits of Genetically Modified Organismsopinionated essayGenetically modified organisms or better known as GMO is one of the worlds most debated topics. GMO was made when a scientist took a crop and transferred the genes from another plant or bacteria to change things about the original crop . Once they are together the newer modified plant will fight against diseases, drought, or certain types of bugs. The gene is inserted by putting it artificially together and cutting the plant open you want to change. Changes are something that can not be found in nature or in the process of cross breeding plants. The two most commonly used GMO in the United States are soy and corn. Two plants have many benefits, soy is now resistant to a herbicide called Roundup. New soy plant allows the farmers to kill weeds with the Roundup without killing the plant itself which is amazing. There are benefited of corn by feeding more people than it normally would and helping farmers farm more at once. Although the most commonly used crops in the whole world is: corn, soy, cotton, canola and sugar beets. While these plants have benefits, they also have multiple concerns for humans. Corn has had the worst reaction to humans thus far, it has been linked to many health problems, such as weight gain and organ disruption. Other concerns are these commonly asked questions; “What will this do to my body?” and “Will there be any concerns in the long run?”. Many developing countries do not believe in these genetically modified foods because they often think that these crops and meats are very bad for them. Although there have been many polls to see if people want their food to be labeled a BioTech lobby has made it is impossible for it to pass. Every time there has been a poll a significant majority of the ...
In this essay, the author
- Explains that genetically modified organisms are one of the most debated topics in the world.
- Explains the benefits and drawbacks of labeling gmo foods, including knowing what you are putting in your children's stomachs.
- Opines that the gmo foods are not bad. it has had a fault which was when the corn hurt people only once. farmers can make more money because they plant these crops resistant to almost everything.
- Opines that labeling gmo foods would be a bad idea, since people would destroy it if they didn't like the fields that these plants are in.
- Explains that europe started labeling any food that had gm or gmo’s in it on april 18, 2004. more than 60 countries have banned or restricted these products.
- Opines that if they were labeled in the united states, they would still eat the food with no problems or questions asked.
790 wordsRead More - Genetically Modified Organisms and its dangercomparative essayWhile many argue that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO's) are beneficial, it has been proven otherwise. The term GMO is an organism where it's genetic material has been modified through genetic engineering or gene splicing. (NON-GMO PROJECT, 2014) GMO ranges from plants, insects, mammals all the way to micro organisms and bacteria. (EFSA, 2014) GMO's can reduce the need for herbicides and pesticides as well as alter components of food such as nutrients, However, even though GMO's has its benefits such as its resistance to pests and herbicides (Whitman, 2000) the disadvantages outweighs the benefits by far. Genetically Modified Organism are a danger to the human health because GMOs harm the environment and pose a national health risk in addition to economic concerns.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that transgenic crops have destroyed the environment as well as the organic farming industry.
- Explains that genetically modified foods: harmful or helpful? is available at www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php.
- Cites gilbert, n. (n.d.). case studies: a hard look at gm crops.
- Explains that genetically modified organisms (gmos) are beneficial, but their disadvantages outweigh the benefits. gmo's harm the environment and pose a national health risk.
- Concludes that genetically engineered organisms are a danger to the human health and should be widely recognized and tested to reduce health risks.
- Explains that bt-corn is what it is and how it works. philips, t. (2008, january). genetically modified organisms: transgenic crops and recombinant dna technology.
- Cites feature, w., and norwood, m. (n.d.). genetically modified foods: pros and cons.
768 wordsRead More - The Consequences Of GMOexplanatory essayThere is a big issue at hand that many of us are unaware of and it involves GMO’s. GMO’s are genetically modified organisms. They are basically plants that are engineered genetically, by using DNA that comes from other plants and animals, bacteria’s and also viruses. This is a cause of concern for many because GMO’s cannot happen on its own in nature; or by the traditional methods of crossbreeding. This leads to the bigger issue in relation to the health problems and environmental problems that are caused as a result of GMO’s. This maybe shocking but all consume GMO’s on a daily basis and are unaware of it and the consequences that go along with it. This is because the USDA does not have a law in affect that requires companies to list if there products were genetically modified.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that gmo's are genetically modified organisms, which are used by other plants and animals, bacteria, and viruses. the usda does not require companies to list if there products were genomodified.
- Explains that gmo's have not been tested with enough scrutiny to determine what the long-term health effects may be.
- States that they are against gmo's because they cause environmental damage. they argue that gm crops cause more monoculture, which threatens biological diversity of our food supply.
- Opines that they are against genetically modified organisms because of the way usda regulates them.
- Opines that gmo's can have a devastating side effect on the whole population, and that it is time to stop using them as science experiments for farmers and large corporations.
681 wordsRead More - Genetically Modified Organism:explanatory essayGenetically 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.
In this essay, the author
- Explains the use of genetically modified organisms in agriculture and biomedical research. they provide evidence to support the evidence that the genetic modification of crops produces better results than selective breeding or mutation.
- Explains that crops have one or more genes coding which have desired traits for insertion. these traits are targeted through genetic engineering.
- Explains that genetically modified crops produce more crops compared to non-modified crops, and that a significant portion of the global crop area is now being developed in developing countries.
- Explains that insect vermin affect crop losses to farmers and starvation in developing countries. growing genetically modified foods such as corn helps eliminate the use of pesticides which reduce the cost of crop market.
- Explains that genetically modified organisms increase the farmer's productivity, decrease the growth time, and reduce the overall cost of bringing crops to market.
669 wordsRead More - The Downside of Genetically Modified Organismsopinionated essayAlthough having seeds that can thrive in extreme environments may sound like a good idea, the side effects may change one’s opinion. GMO’s aren’t as good as they seem because they may contain a high level of allergens, they have killed and deformed some test subjects, and they haven’t had as strict tests as they should. Because these products do not have a designated label explaining what they contain, a high level of allergens can cause serious problems with some people when they ingest them unknowingly. Many problems have been reported when scientists test these genetically modified foods on animals; everything from death to disfiguration was reported. Lastly, these products have few reports of testing and when tested, they’re tested as if they were a regular food and aren’t checked for many different problems. Genetically modified organisms have a greater number of bad issues than the good ones they claim.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that gmo's aren't as good as they seem because they contain a high level of allergens, they have killed and deformed some test subjects, and they're not checked for many different problems.
- Explains that genetically modified foods have a protein that has been changed to give the desired effects. cooked gm soy is an example of high allergen containing food.
- Explains how animals of all sizes began to change genetically after being exposed to the new organisms. rats and mice were shown to have a decrease in the size of their offspring after feeding off of the gmo.
- Opines that the dangers of genetically modified organisms increase when the products are not labeled or tested properly.
- Explains that gmo's contain an extraordinarily high amount of allergens, which can be a serious risk to many people allergic to them. they can also deform and stunt the growth of offspring.
- Cites crenshaw, w. s. and pushztai, arpad. "genetically modified foods: are they a risk to human/animal health?
- Analyzes smith's "in praise of the non-gmo project." institute for responsible technology. the herald.
870 wordsRead More - Monsanto Case Studyanalytical essayThe consequences of genetically transforming our food and environment are unpredictable and irreversible, and will affect all future generations of species on this planet. For many of reasons, the corporate media has been all but silent about this transformation. Although most Americans are unconscious of it, more than 60% of the food we are eating is genetically modified. These days, genetically modified (GM) corn, soybeans, and canola are added to much of our processed foods, starting from breakfast cereals to corn chips to soft drinks. Even fresh vegetables are genetically altered.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that consumers want to protect the "right to know" of gm food products. biologists argue that genetic alteration should be determined under the same safety and toxicological tests required of all "food additives."
- Explains that the u.s. government rejects long-term research on the effects of gmos on human health. the monsanto protection act bans the courts from stopping the sale of genetically-modified seeds.
- Explains that monsanto and gmo lies revealed, retrieved november 22, 2013.
- Cites unknown, continuing the green revolution: the corporate assault on the security of the global food supply, volume 13, number 4, retrieved november 22, 2013.
- Explains that monsanto's gm seeds haven't been accepted everywhere, and the european union has banned them.
- Argues that the consequences of genetically transforming our food and environment are unpredictable and irreversible.
- Explains that the us environmental protection agency issued a notice of violation in may 2011 to monsanto, declaring violations of federal environmental misreporting requirements at its phosphorous manufacturing plant in soda springs, idaho.
850 wordsRead More - Genetic Engeneering of Foodanalytical essayThroughout the United States and the rest of the globe, genetically engineered food products are becoming increasingly used in agricultural and manufactured food goods. Because of the increase of genetically altered foods, an increasing population has become hesitant to accept the products and agriculture derived from genetic engineering. The large increase in genetically engineered foods has proved to have adverse health effects on humans. These health risks are becoming increasingly common as we continue to genetically alter foods. The main health concerns of genetic modification include virus spread, antibiotic resistance, and allergen effects. Genetic modification should stop and organic farming should be used instead for the future health of the planet. Provided evidence will support the claim that, genetically engineered food will have lasting effects on the population, the health in each of the provided categories will decline, and world hunger will actually increase with the high amounts of genetically altered food products.
In this essay, the author
- Argues that genetically engineered food products are becoming increasingly used in agricultural and manufactured food goods.
- Explains that genetically modified foods are altered through inserting foreign genes or chromosomes to receive a desired trait or effect in the plant.
- Explains that viruses are introduced into modified plants to designate specific wants from the geneticist. the cauliflower mosaic virus is placed in most current genetically engineered agriculture.
- Explains that emerging viruses are less known but still potentially lethal, such as monkey pox, hanta virus, infectious bursal disease virus, rabies virus added to tomatoes to act as a low-cost vaccine, and african scorpion virus.
- Explains that genetically modified foods introduce allergens through cross-breeding food crops with similar characteristics. the problem is on a larger scale for children.
- Explains that the most famous case of an introduced allergen was a brazil nut gene strand inserted in the soy bean gene structure. the main concern of allergic reaction is in children.
- Explains that the final health risk from genetically modified foods is antibiotic resistance. antibodies are used as an insecticide or as a resistance from other invasion.
- Proposes creating ecological gardens with a web of animal life to create much healthier plants that don't carry risks to your personal health.
- Opines that genetically modified foods will not solve the problem of world hunger because people assume that the modified food is going to the countries in need. genetic engineering firms create their seeds for profit and not the good of the people.
- Cites barnett, a. and cummins, j. cauliflower mosaic virus recombination, when and where?
1473 wordsRead More