In Frankenstein, the famous 19th century novel by Mary Shelley, Dr. Victor Frankenstein's attempt to create new life from stitched-together body parts harvested from a variety of corpses leads to misery, destruction, and death. Nearly two centuries later, consumers face the perilous invasion of "Frankenfoods" – a term coined in 1992 by Boston College Professor Paul Lewis – into the produce aisles of mainstream markets. More commonly referred to as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), these are foods that have undergone splicing of genetic material from unrelated plants, animals, bacteria, or viruses for purported reasons that range from vitamin enrichment to enhanced resistance to disease. (Priesnitz 16) GMOs convey a host of threats to human health and the environment. Claims in favor of GMO crop cultivation and consumption must be seen for what they are: Industry-sponsored attempts to cash in on the naiveté of a hungry public. The preponderance of the independent scientific evidence proves the health and environmental dangers of genetically modified organisms, making it incumbent upon the United States to ban the import or sale of GMOs. Study after study reveals the potential toxicity of GMOs to livestock and human beings. The Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) gene in crops that have been genetically engineered for insect resistance, for example, proves to be far from benign to people and animals, despite the propaganda spread by its producer, chemical industry giant Monsanto. A 2012 report based on a long-term rat feeding study conducted by French researcher Gilles-Eric Seralini and his team found that a diet of genetically modified corn containing Bt causes tumors, organ damage, and premature death in rats. (Tweed 14) Yet, citing... ... middle of paper ... ...licy 36.2 (2011): 197-203. Print. Hawkes, Logan. "Even the Wealthy Understand the Need for GMO Research to Address World Hunger." Southwest Farm Press 39.5 (2012): 8. Business Source Premier. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. Heinemann, Jack A., and Terje Traavik. "Problems in Monitoring Horizontal Gene Transfer in Field Trials of Transgenic Plants." Nature Biotechnology 22.9 (2004): 1105-109. Academic Search Premier. Web. 15 Jan. 2014. Pereira, Neelam. "Is Gene Modification a Panacea for the World Hunger?" Current Science 95.1 (2008): 11-12. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Priesnitz, Wendy. "What Are They Doing To Our Food? And What Can We Do About It?" Natural Life May/June 2012.145 (2012): 16-17. MasterFILE Premier. Web. 16 Jan. 2014. Tweed, Vera, and Melissa D. Smith. "Toxic Stew." Better Nutrition 74.12 (2012): 14. Academic Search Premier. Web. 16 Jan. 2014.
Robbins, John. "Can GMOs Help End World Hunger?." Huffingtonpost, 01 8 2011. Web. 17 Mar. 2014. .
GMO`s are starting to rapidly take over our food supply, but what exactly is a GMO? A GMO is a make up of DNA that is combined forcefully with a plant or animals DNA, and creates a new version of it. Seeing these products sold in stores for the first time people question what the change is from the natural, and organics, because when someone reads GMO they wonder if it is healthy and safe to consume.
Genetically modified food is a significant issue that America is currently dealing with; it has affected millions around the world. Genetically modified food is crops, plants, and animals whose DNA has been altered for agricultural and nutritional reasons. In the Alltime Conspiracies video, “How Dangerous Are GMO Food” he argues that GMOs can have budding effect on humans, and the more we consume the more damage that is being done to our DNA cells. The author Alltime Conspiracy begins building his credibility with personal facts plus highly regarded sources, citing credible facts and statistics,
Smith, Jeffrey M. "GMO Researchers Attacked, Evidence Denied, and a Population at Risk." SOTT.net. Sott.net, 01 Nov. 2011. Web. 08 May 2014. .
Naively, we human beings believe we live in the dazzling golden age of technological advancements. Only, news flash: we’re not. Global food insecurity is at an all-time high. We’re struggling to feed a population that rises as quickly as the mercury in my thermometer. As demand soars and food dwindles, the men in power only seem to grow in size: from their wallets to their waistlines. So, you must ask yourself: what’s the easiest way to produce high quality crops to satisfy our hunger and their lust for money and power? The answer: Genetic Modification. As the documentary Food Inc. suggests, the concept may be brilliant, but the outcome is abhorrent.
If you read the paper or watch the news, you’re undoubtedly aware of the debate raging over genetically modified food. Is it bad or is it good? Between the feuding sides, you might find yourself a little lost and wondering which side is right. Answers to seemingly simple questions have been blurred or exaggerated by both sides. On one side genetically modified food is more sustainable, safe, cheaper, easier to grow and has the potential of creating disease-fighting foods. Although this is positive and good intentioned, there may be unintended consequences that we have been quick to overlook. Those opposing genetically modified food clam that it is dangerous, harms the environment, increases health risks, and causes infertility and weight gain. Even things like the declining bee population may have closer ties to modified food than previously thought. We must look to science for answers. By studying genetically modified organisms (GMOs) we can guide our decision about whether we want to be consuming them.
Conversely, there have been multiple indicators correlating these products to cancer, allergies, infertility, organ damage, genetic defects, and premature death. Scientists do not come to an agreement regarding these investigations, because most findings have been derived from short medical studies of 12 months or less. It is known that “short-term studies are useful for ruling out acute toxicity, but do not provide valid evidence regarding the long-term safety of GMOs”. (Fagan, Antoniou, Claire
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.
In a feeble attempt to cure world hunger scientists developed GMOs, or 'genetically-modified organisms', which are genetically enhanced crop plants created for human consumption, and although GMOs were initially designed to benefit the world, it appears as though they are doing as much harm as they are good. Originally, GMOs were designed to c...
This has created a large amount of debate on local, national, and international levels about the safety of genetically modified foods to human health. There are many angles that have been taken from different groups on this issue. Some believe it is harmful to our health, with one source stating that, “mice eating GMO corn had fewer and smaller babies (Jagelio 2013).” Without testing on humans how are we to know these harmful effects aren’t impacting our health and reproduction. Other groups see GMOs as being both beneficial and having no impact on human health.
How many of you hear the words “genetically modified food” and immediately think “BAD”? How many of you scorn the idea that genetically modified foods are useful? How many of you have been manipulated by the media to think that all biotechnology is evil? Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms that have been genetically spliced to achieve a certain trait. As the demand for a larger food supply is increasing due to population growth, the benefits that GMO foods provide are being hailed as the only solution to the food crisis. However, many people are making inadequately informed decisions, and are pushing them to the back shelf. I will inform you on why genetically modified organisms may be the only way to a stable, safe future for the less fortunate.
“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.
As human technological innovation proceeds into the twenty-first century, society is faced with many complex issues. Genetic engineering and cloning, encryption and information security, and advanced weapons technologies are all prominent examples of technological issues that have substantial moral and ethical implications. Genetic engineering in particular is currently a very volatile subject. One important aspect of this field is GMO or Genetically Modified Organisms, which has far-reaching potential to revolutionize modern agriculture. GMO crops are already being developed by many leading biotech companies, and have come under intense scrutiny by society. This is easily understood, however, because there is not much that is more important than how people get fed. Specifically, where their food comes from, and how it is produced. Thus, it is essential that we examine the ethical dilemmas as well as the practical benefits posed by such a powerful technology.
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. With all that being said, GMO foods are one of the most frowned upon food sources in the world. We asked the question “How Does the Ever-Increasing Need for GMO’s affect the Food Industry in the States, and Abroad?” And what are some of the pros, cons, and ways of containment of GMO’s?
American Public Health Association:Toward a Healthy, Sustainable Food System. Retrieved from APHA: http://www.apha.org/advocacy/policy/policysearch/default.htm?id=1361. n.p. 2014, February 28. The "Quotes Corner" - "The 'Quotes Corner'" Retrieved from http://www.philharding.net/quotes-corner/quotes-corner-1sd.htm#future. Reisch, L., Eberle, U., & Lorek, S. (2013).