genetically modified foods

Biologists now transfer genes at will from one organism to another, designing new living things to meet specific needs. Throughout research paper I will be talking about genetically modified organism. I will talk about the procedure and how they are developed. The big question is how do scientist are to do this? Scientist use their knowledge of the structure of DNA and its chemical properties to study and change DNA molecules.

This can be accomplished by incorporating genes from other organisms of by rearranging genes already present” (Schneider 1). The genes used in the GM plants either comes from other plants of the plant itself. This means nothing going into the plant is from an unnatural source. “Statement by the AAAS Board of Directors On Labeling of Genetically Modified Foods” says, “Modern molecular genetics and the invention of large- scale DNA sequencing methods have fueled rapid advances in our knowledge of how genes work and what they do, permitting the development of new methods that allow the very precise addition of useful traits to crops…” (American Association 1). In traditional breeding there is a guess and check mentality w... ... middle of paper ... ...elected and many years and a great deal of money has been put into research about concerns regarding genetically modified food.

(Campbell, 1999) These, and other, procedures have relied on mutation and genetic recombination. Biotechnology that is based on manipulation of DNA is different from earlier practices because it enables scientists to modify specific genes and move them from organisms as distinct as bacteria, plants, and animals. The actual splicing of genes into foreign genomes is very complex. Many varieties of full-grown adult plants can regenerate from single, modified plant cells called protoplasts  plant cells whose cell walls have been removed by enzymatic digestion. (Peters) Plats that can be cloned easily include carrots, tomatoes, potatoes, petunias, and cabbage.

Should Genetic Modified Food be sold? Due to modern technology scientist are able to study and even splice DNA. With this knowledge are able to adjust and add or detach parts of DNA, which is call genetic engineering. Scientist would want to genetic modified an organism if they would alter a gene in the organism’s DNA for a better gene or to exact a gene from the DNA. The scientist would first the DNA of an organism that they want to modify and extract the desired gene that wanted to replace.

In a time before genetically modified crops were as common as they are today, the use of the crop was to feed a person or use in a way to gain money. It was the responsibility of other aspects of crop growing to deter pests and keep the plant healthy. Genetically modified crops and foods are now coupled with the “proper” use of the crop and responsible for the other phase of growing crops. Many ecologists b... ... middle of paper ... ... growing of genetically modified foods may be damaging the environment and the ecosystem but when it comes to the labeling debate my opinion is a solid no despite the fears and unknown that are associated with the food. The debate over labeling genetically modified foods in Colorado revolves around the economic, health and consumer choice aspects of GM foods.

With each bonus we as a society receive from genetics, we also created genetically altered super-diseases. Genes from bacteria, viruses, and insects, which have never been part of the human diet, are being spliced into our food. Genetic engineering is not an exact science. Scientists can... ... middle of paper ... .... They want to charge for products, and a high market share.

So instead of scientists using breeding they use a method known as genetic engineering, which can create plants with desired a lot faster and with more accuracy. An example of genetic engineering in plants is, a scientist can take a gene from a crop that has drought tolerance and put that gene into another plant to give the plant more drought tolerance. Other examples of genetic engineering are the placement of genes into plants that produce crystals that will kill insects that try to eat off the plants, creating a natural p... ... middle of paper ... ...h proper nutrition. Criticisms that are against genetically modified foods are unintended harm to other species. The unintended harm comes from the genes is some crops that cause some insects to die.

There are several definitions for genetically modified crops including foods produced from organisms that have had specific changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. The way these modified DNA cells work is simple. They are created from a stem cell, which means the base cell that has all of the DNA coding in it ready for division. These modified cells are unnatural to our bodies, so often times new isn’t always the best way to go. Genetically modified crops should be used in moderation, because they can have very negative effects on the population.

Will they save the earth or destroy it? Will they result in the cornering of the global food market by multinationals or will they bring to mankind the same benefits as genetically engineered medicines? Due to huge advances in science and technology, scientists can now identify and isolate individual genes responsible for producing specific characteristics. By altering such genes, or transferring them to another organism, sci... ... middle of paper ... ...ic resistance gene marker is used, many concerns have been expressed about the possible transfer of antibiotic resistance genes to gut micro organisms which could reduce the efficiency of antibiotics as a treatment. Genetically modified foods differ from normal conventional foods in that it contains or is produced from genetically modified organisms.

There are two main types of GM crops that are in commercial use around the world. These are either crops that have been developed to be resistant to certain crop pests, or crops that have been developed to be resistant to a particular herbicide (weed killer)(5). Genetically Modified Crops are made for many different purposes, the main purpose being to create a food able to survive being sprayed with harmful chemicals like pesticides and herbicides. Other purposes are to make food stay fresher for longer, to kill pests, to produce more of the crop and to experiment with taste and quality. The most common foods are maize, cotton, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, canola, soybean and sugar beet(6).