What are genes
All living organisms are made up of millions of cells that contain DNA, DNA is made of genes which give an organism its characteristics. The combination of DNA of both parents gives the child’s hair colour, it is the same in parent plants there DNA determine the characteristics of the offspring such as size and colour etc.
What is selective breeding?
Changes made to a gene may change the characteristics of a plant or animal. In society today there is a high percentage of our food is changed in some way today of the food we eat. For years people have been selectively breeding crops to produce higher yields or greater disease resistance. Various fruit and vegetables that we eat today were not available years ago.
What is genetic engineering?
Scientist discovered how to alter and single out certain genes. This means that they can transfer genes to another organism which in turn makes it possible for scientist to “engineer” the characteristics of that organism to produce a new variety. This method is now used in production of medicine, pharmaceuticals and now genetically modified plants and animals.
What is genetically modified food?
Genetically modified foods are foods produced from organisms where there genetic makeup was altered specifically by using the methods of genetic engineering. The term genetically modified foods is mostly used to refer to plants created for human or animal consumption using genetic engineering. The plant’s DNA is changed to enhance specific traits such as increased nutrition Genetic engineering, makes it possible to create plants with the desired traits with very little time need with great accuracy. Plant geneticists can isolate a gene in one plant for the resistance of drought and insert i...
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• Pharmaceuticals - Medicines and vaccines often are very costly to make and sometimes they need special storage conditions that would not be available in third world countries. Researchers are working to develop edible vaccines in tomatoes and potatoes. If this is possible it would be much easier to ship, store and administer than injectable vaccines..
Disadvantages
Environmental activists, religious organizations, public interest groups, professional associations and other scientists and government officials have all concerns about genetically modified foods, and criticized agribusiness for trying to gain profit without taking into consideration the potential hazards. It appears that everyone has a strong opinion about modified foods. Most concerns about GM foods fall into three categories: environmental hazards, human health risks, and economic concerns.
DNA is the genetic material found in cells of all living organisms. Human beings contain approximately one trillion cells (Aronson 9). DNA is a long strand in the shape of a double helix made up of small building blocks (Riley). The repeat segments are cut out of the DNA strand by a restrictive enzyme that acts like scissors and the resulting fragments are sorted out by electrophoresis (Saferstein 391).
Some people have raised concerns to the topic about genetically modified foods, but there are pros and cons to both sides. People worry about their lives being in danger from consuming genetically modified foods and the allergic
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.
Genetic modification (GM), also known as genetic engineering and recombinant DNA technology, is a process that involves combining DNA, and later inserting the newly recombined DNA into cells to be expressed through protein synthesis. The use of this technology in food can result in both positive and negative consequences. Genetic modification of food can aid first world countries by improving the economy and increasing food supplies, and third world countries, by resolving the issue of nutrient deficiency. In spite of that, genetic modification of food can also have negative effects. These include disruption of the food chain and biodiversity, the production of new, unfamiliar allergens, and even economical decline. Currently, genetically modified food is permitted for use and importation in Australia (Benefits of gene technology, n.d.), which raises the question, whether the genetic modification of food can only have positive outcomes for today’s consumers.
Genetic engineering, sometimes called genetic modification, is the process to alter the structure and nature of genes in humans, plants, and animals (what is genetic engineering). Because DNA is a code that is universal, genes can be manipulated
2). As a result, this scientific experiment changed the relationship of humankind and nature by foreseeing the modification of DNA of bacteria, yeast, plants, and animals to discover new medicines and to provide solutions for inherited diseases (Le Vine, 1999, p. 2).
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.
Genetic Engineering is the deliberate alteration of an organism's genetic information (Lee 1). The outcome scientists refer to as successful entitles the living thing’s ability to produce new substances or perform new functions (Lee 1). In the early 1970’s, direct manipulation of the genetic material deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) became possible and led to the rapid advancement of modern biotechnology (Lee 1).
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 organisms have also been developed for commercial use. Perhaps the most famous example is the food crops, such as soybeans and corn, genetically modified crops and genetically modified crops. Scientists have studied “knock-out” mice，which are transgenic mice that have a particular gene of interest disabled. By studying the effects of missing genes, scientists can better understand the normal function of the gene and how can we improve the uses of transgenic technology. The more we know about genes, scientists can create more useful things for human beings through transgenic technology.
Genetic engineering has been around since the 1960’s although major experiments have not been really noticed until the 1990’s. The science comes in different forms the two major being cloning and genetic reconstruction. Cloning is the duplicating of one organism and making an exact copy. For example in 1996 the creation of the clone sheep named Dolly the first mammal to be cloned which was a great achievement. The other form, genetic reconstruction, is used to replace genes within humans to help or enhance the life of an unborn child for a medical reason or just for the preference of a parent.
Genetic modification is currently at the forefront of modern science and is being utilised in various fields such as medicine, agriculture and industry. Genetically Modified or transgenic organisms are organisms that have been genetically altered in a specific way for a particular purpose. It is now possible for scientists to exchange genes from one species of organism to another. This process is performed when certain characteristics of one organism are desired in another organism of a different species. For example a pig could be genetically engineered so that it will produce human insulin for those suffering from diabetes. Also, it is seen that it could be possible to cure certain allergies or diseases by replacing the genes responsible for causing the allergy or disease in one organism with that of a gene belonging to an organism that has a resistance to the specific allergen.
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.
...ound in the organism. An example would be that organisms are currently on the market and also include plants with the resistance to some insects and also plants can also tolerate herbicides and also crops with modified oil contents. (Biosafety, 2005) Genetic engineering was found to be a changing of an organism. The first big success of genetic engineering was found to be the production of insulin which is a hormone which is produced by the human’s pancreas by something called genetically modified bacteria. Then today’s genetic engineering techniques are used in a lot of different areas.