Transgenic Organisms in the Agricultural World

What are transgenic organisms? How are they made? Are they safe? Are they a good source of food? These are all questions that are asked about transgenic organisms. Through this paper we will discuss these questions and give viable answers. We will look in detail into the role these organisms play in today’s society.

Transgenic organisms are organisms that have been genetically modified through the insertion of DNA from one organism into the genome of another organism (WiseGeek, 2011). In our case the organisms are agricultural plants that are being modified to produce a desired phenotype. When these plants are fully developed they will exhibit the desired traits that were inserted to improve the plant. When these organisms reproduce they pass on the traits, that were inserted into them, on to the new plants as if they were always their own.

In the United States, genetically modified crops include canola, chicory, corn, papaya, potato, rice, soy, squash, sugar beet, golden rice, tomato, and many more. Out of these transgenic crops, corn, papaya, and soy are the three most distributed transgenic crops in the United States (Dubey, 2010). Internationally, the four principle genetically altered crops are corn, cotton, canola, and soybeans (Nguthi, 2011).

There are many benefits of growing transgenic crops; they can be made stronger, more nutritious and are also easily cared for. Transgenic crops are also pest resistant, herbicide tolerant, disease resistant, tolerant to the colder weather, drought tolerant, more nutritional, have pharmaceutical benefits, and are able to under go phytoremediation. Genetically modified crops can increase the nutrition of the public, while increasing the profits of farme...

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Soderlund, C., Collura, K., Wissotski, M., Ashley, E., Morrow, D., Fernandes, J., Walbot, V., Yu, Y., Descour, A., Kudrna, D., Bomhoff, M., Boyd, L., Currie, J., Angelova, A. (2009, December 10). What Are the PROS & CONS of Transgenic Crops. The Maize Full Lenght cDNA Project. Retrieved October 21, 2011, from http://www.maizecdna.org/outreach/e1.html

WebMD (2003). Are Biotech Foods Safe to Eat?.WebMD. Retrieved October 23, 2011, from http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/are-biotech-foods-safe-to-eat

Whitman, D. B. (2000, April). Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?. ProQuest. Retrieved October 24, 2011, from http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php

WiseGEEK: (2011). What are transgenic Organisms?” Clear Answers for Common Questions. Retrieved October 27, 2011, from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-transgenic-organisms.htm