It is wise for one to be skeptical of new technology, when this technology is untested. However, if these ideas and products are then proven to be safe and beneficial, it is important to accept them, to continue the evolution and betterment of the human race. Sometimes it is hard for a society to accept a radical technological change, as is the case with genetic engineering. Despite decades of studies and implementation of genetically modified organisms without a single case of health or safety issues, environmental groups and many governments vehemently oppose genetically modified foods (Reville). This fear is based off of inaccurate science or no science at all, and is restricting the implementation of hugely beneficial technology. Extensive research into this subject has come to one conclusion. Genetically modified foods have a positive impact on society and the environment. In order to fully understand the issues faced by genetically modified foods, it is important to understand the basics of natural selection and genetics. The basis of all genetic engineering technology is that all of nature operates under a single, rather simple code. Every life process in every living organism, whether it is a bacterium or a human, is controlled by sets of proteins. These proteins are aligned into chains, which control the biological processes of organisms. When a species evolves, its genetic code is changed through random mutations, and the mutated organisms that are the most fit for the environment survive. Geneticists use this concept of evolution to produce varieties of organisms with more evolved characteristics. Scientists are able to remove and add pieces of protein to the genetic code, and are even able to create new se... ... middle of paper ... ...n. "Seeds of a New Medicine." Florida Today. 17 May. 2011: D.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 03 Feb. 2014. Mestel, Rosie. "FDA Too Slow to Approve Biotech Foods?." Los Angeles Times. 02 Oct. 2012: A.1. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 03 Feb. 2014. Piller, Dan. "Drought-Tolerant Seeds on Way." USA TODAY. 31 Aug. 2012: p. B.3. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 03 Feb. 2014. Reville, William. "Let's Open Our Minds and Mouths to GM Food." Irish Times. 17 Oct. 2013: p. 12. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 03 Feb. 2014. Tiedje, James, et al. "The Planned Introduction of Genetically Engineered Organisms: Ecological Considerations and Recommendations." Trans. Array Ecology. Ithaca: Ecological Society of America, 1989. 298-315. Web. 4 Feb. 2014. Van Montagu, Marc. "The Irrational Fear of GM Food." Wall Street Journal. 23 Oct. 2013: A.15. SIRS Issues Researcher. Web. 03 Feb. 2014.
The controversy surrounding genetically modified organisms (GMOs) lies in the lack of acceptable research on the topic. While numerous studies and experiment have been conducted, unbiased results have yet to be published. On one hand, bioengineers claim their GMOs and GMO products are not harmful and may even be beneficial, while on the other hand, scientists and agriculturists claim they are terrified about the uncertainty surrounding these unnatural products. This paper will explain what GMOs are, then analyze positive and negative claims and determine if they have any validity.
Charles, Dan. "Top Five Myths Of Genetically Modified Seeds, Busted."NPR. NPR, 18 Oct. 2012. Web. 08 May 2014. .
Experts say, “Unless you consume only certified organic foods […] you’ve almost certainly eaten foods containing ingredients whose genes have been tweaked […].” (Anonymous, 2013, p.4). This assertion proves that people is eating food with Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’s), nevertheless they disown the consequences of its intake. The opinions in the scientific society are divided, however recent experiments let predict the possible effects that GM Food production and consumption generates in a global scale. Genetically Modified Foods should be banned because it generates a negative impact on humans’ health, affects the environment and harms the third world nations.
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.
Whitman, Deborah. "Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful?". Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. Available online at http://www.csa.com/hottopics/gmfood/overview.html. Accessed November 9, 2003.
GM food has generated polemic debate amongst: governmental regulators, biotechnology companies, scientists, economic activists, environmentalists and consumers. The main areas of controversy correlated to GM food are the neutrality of scientific examination and publication, the results of GM crops on the environment and health and the role of the crops in feeding the world population.
Falkner, Robert. “The Global Biotech Food Fight: Why The United States Got It So Wrong.” Brown Journal Of World Affairs 14.1 (2007): 99-110. Academic Search Premier. Web. 2 Nov. 2011.
Raeburn, Paul "Biotech Foods Aren't Out of the Woods Yet," Business Week April 17, 2000, p. 56.
Phillips, Ph.D., Theresa. “GMOs: Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DNA Technology.” Scitable. Web. 14 April 2014.
Genetically modified foods could cross-pollinate with other plants and create an entirely new species. In addition, there is the danger of biotech-resistant weeds and insects evolving. GMO’s have the potential to alter ecosystems in significant ways. Companies are currently engineering salmon, tilapia, carp, and other fish to promote faster growth or to provide resistance to certain diseases. Aquaculture farms are located in oceans and other bodies of water and the fish escape the nets regularly, ecologists worry that genetically modified fish could breed with natural fish.
In conclusion, the application of genetically modified food has a lot of pros and cons. There is so much disagreement about the benefits and risks of GM because there are so many different views surrounding it. This issue is very important today because it will change our future. How would the world be when every single living creature will be in some aspect genetically modified? Would we be more resistant to illness? Or would we be weaker and more vulnerable to diseases? Would this be the beginning of the mutant era? Regardless of the answers to these questions, we will need to consider the implications of genetically modified foods.
Genetically modified foods are a controversial subject in today’s society. A genetically modified food is the result of biotechnological procedures that allow the genetic makeup of a food or organism to be altered in some way. They benefit the human race in many ways but they also pose many risks to the health of humans and the good of the environment. There is currently not enough proof to ensure the safety of these genetically modified products. Consuming these genetically altered and more processed foods can lead to increased
Although genetically modified organisms haven’t been around for long, they have progressed a great deal since they were first introduced. Before altering genes was discovered, farmers in the 1800s would selectively breed their livestock to produce bigger offspring of cows or chickens. Modern genetic engineering is built off of the foundation of Gregor Mendel and his work done to pea plants in the 1800s. Mendel bred the pea plants based on color and favorable traits. The idea of breeding plants was in order to create plants with favorable outcomes, for
Freedman, David H. "The Truth about Genetically Modified Food." Scientific American. N.p., 1 Sept. 2013. Web. 13 Feb. 2016. .
“Adoption of Genetically Engineered Crops in the U.S.” ERS/USDA Data. Web. 12 May 2012. .