Defining Sustainability : A World With Information Just A Keystroke Away

Genetic engineering is already providing a more stable solution for agricultural production in the economy to stand on. In nine years (i.e. 1996-2005), profits from genetically modified crops were twenty-seven billion dollars. Those twenty-seven billion dollars were not just in the United States or countries like it, but the profits almost split half and half between first and third world countries (O'Neill 19). In India, for example, cotton yields have jumped to one hundred-fifty percent from the use of genetically modified crops, vastly increasing the farmers’ profits (19). The planting of these crops can really help farmers know what they are going to make every year and plan accordingly. Also, helping the farmers’ expenses is the lack of chemical pesticides needed on the crops and reducing time spent using the pricey traditional breeding methods (Mannion and Morse 749-751). Even if genetically modified crops are not planted in every field, adjoining fields can benefit due to the “halo effect.” The “halo effect” is the ability of pest protection on the genetically modified crops to affect the non-genetically modified crops due to the lack of insects in the genetically modified field (754). Genetically modified crops affect the economy in a positive way and should be seen as a smart

Genetic Engineering has a multiplicity of uses in agriculture. It can be utilized to increase crop output, resistance to pest and diseases, and enhanced growing conditions. Sagoff states “Genetic engineers can help peasant societies by engineering plants and animals to stand up to the challenges of local conditions, such as blights that affect yams and other traditional crops” (14). The article “Biotechnology and Agriculture: The Common Wisdom and Its Critics.” by Sagoff. Discusses how genetic manipulation of crops would be of major benefit in developing countries, primarily because said countries can 't grow enough food to suffice the populous. Genetic manipulation of plants can make food easier to grow in these countries.

In this unit, the two periods of biology studied and learned more about GMO’s. We looked into things such as breeding and eugenics and how exactly it relates to the overall action of genetically modifying organisms. A genetically modified organism is the result of a gene from one organism, purposefully being changed to improve another organism. According to americanradioworks, organisms were being manipulated dating all the way back to prehistoric times to the 1900s. Farmers and naturalists began to notice “hybrid” plants, being produced through natural breeding. In 1900, European plant scientist began using Gregor Mendel's genetic theory to manipulate plants to produce a more desirable outcome. This means that Organisms have been getting genetically modified for years. Although the event of this action dates back for years, controversies are still shared in classrooms and homes, about whether GMOs are a necessary part of today’s life.

Additionally, the source elaborates on the potential applications for genetically modified crops in the future (e.g., biofuels). The author also provides information on how GMOs are regulated in the United States through the FDA, USDA, and EPA. Equally important, the source describes transgenes, which are the transferred genes inserted into plant cells through use of gene gun or agrobacterium tumefaciens. The next step is to develop a whole plant from the modified plant cells or tissues in “a process called tissue culture.” The process is done under controlled conditions. Following the completion of these steps, the crop developers complete a “series of evaluations.” These evaluations include “strict guidelines” and monitoring to avoid the risk of cross pollination. Overall, I think this article is great; it has useful facts and knowledge that I can incorporate into my essay. The article explains how and why plants are genetically modified, in addition to which GM crops are most prevalent. It was written by Professor Patrick Byrne from Colorado State

To be able to grasp the stakeholders arguments it is important to become familiar with these concepts: genetic engineered food, industrial farming, sustainable farming, and deregulated. The first concept is genetically engineered food, which is when scientist introduces new traits or characteristics to an organism from another’s DNA. There are multiple terms used to describe genetically engineering, some of the other terms that all mean the same thing are modified living organisms and genetically modified organisms. Foods created from genetically engineered plants were introduced into our food supply in the 1990s (FDA,

Biotechnology provides farmers with tools that can make production cheaper and more manageable. For example, some biotechnology crops can be engineered to tolerate specific herbicides, which make weed control simpler and more efficient. Other crops have been engineered to be resistant to specific plant diseases and insect pests, which can make pest control more reliable and effective, and/or can decrease the use of synthetic pesticides. These crop production options can help countries keep pace with demands for food while reducing production costs. The USDA also mentions the fact that they are still trying to discover new methods to help the U.S. Often people worry about the negative rumors of what happens to crops when Genetically engineered plants are being grown. Genetically engineered plants are also being developed for a purpose known as phytoremediation in which the plants detoxify pollutants in the soil or absorb and accumulate polluting substances out of the soil so that the plants may be harvested and disposed of safely. In either case the result is improved soil quality at a polluted site. Biotechnology may also be used to conserve natural resources, enable animals to more effectively use nutrients present in feed, decrease nutrient runoff into rivers and bays, and help meet the increasing world food and land demands. Researchers are at work to produce hardier crops that will flourish in even the harshest environments and

Genetically modified organisms also known as (GMOs) were introduced with good intentions, by Monsanto in the early 1990s. GMOs were created to help farmers increase crop productivity, by resisting pests and to reduce the weed in crops. Genetic modification alters the characteristics of the plant. This was done by extracting the DNA from the plant, then injecting new genes from other plants bacteria or animals. For example, when Monsanto genetically modifies strawberries so they stay can stay fresh for a longer period of time, and

For the last several decades, the world has been plagued by widespread starvation and poverty. Economies are failing in numerous countries, and developing nations struggle to feed their inhabitants. As a result of the world’s mounting overpopulation, food has become scarce and resources are rapidly dwindling. However, modern science has provided a solution: agricultural biotechnology. Genetically engineered crops represent the bright future of agriculture. Crops like cotton, corn, and soybeans can have genes inserted or deleted into their cell membranes; this modification facilitates pest and virus resistance, drought tolerance, and even provides nutritional enhancement. Genetically altered crops produce much higher

Did you know that 95% of the nation 's sugar beets, 94% of soybeans, 90% of the cotton and 88% of feed corn today are genetically engineered. According to the Institute for Responsible technology, Genetically Modified Organisms are the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. Today in the United States there are seven major genetically altered crops including Maize, Soybean, Cotton, Canola, Sugarbeet, Alfalfa, Papaya, and Squash. GMO’s came along by farmers having flaws with a crop, like if a tomato had a beetle every year and the farmer was spending large amounts of money on pesticides every year. Then a biotechnology company comes out with a tomato that produces its own natural pesticide, you would be nuts to continue in the old ways.

After world war 2 about 70 years ago, scientists bred of corn and rice. These new crops helped make twice as much grain as earlier crops. This was helpful for poorer countries with growing populations, such as India and Mexico. They were able to make quicker, more food for the people who needed it. This was helpful for avoiding hunger. It solved one problem, but another was created. It led to monoculture of crops. That means that only one type of crop was grown in some places. This hurts the soil and forests by quickly consuming the nutrients in the ground. Biotechnology is good, but after it led to monoculture.

It has been over twenty years since genetically modified crops were initially commercialised. And the debate over if they are good for society or not still rages. It is a polarising topic, wrapped in propaganda and biased attitudes. It has divided the opinions of nations and brought the USA and Europe to the brink of a trade war. The acronym ‘GM’ is weighted down with cultural baggage and, in general society, has come to mean the unnatural mixing of genes by scientists who are playing God. However, genetically modified crops are actually defined as the manipulation of a plant through the insertion of specific DNA sequences to produce a desired trait. This

Future considerations are not taken into account. People are not scientifically looking at the implications. Through this we are trying to step outside of nature—the illusion of control—and thus setting ourselves up for dangerous complications. He also highlights our reliance on technology—as shown with GMOs. Overall, there is a lot of uncertainty surrounding the long-term effects of GMOs. The process itself is uncertain, rather than being clearly objective and scientific. Gene transfer ranges from 10-90%, which shows genetic instability and variability. Scientists are not sure how genetic modifications works, and what the long-term effects are on the plant (who may become susceptible to the bugs) or people. The foreign genes can greatly affect its environment. Some scientists have even identified this as “biological pollution” because “once a transgene introduces a new weed or a resistant pest into the environment, it can’t be very well be cleaned up” (Pollan 213). Genetically modified potatoes can lead to the evolution of insects resistant to the Bt inserted into the genetically modified potatoes. Plants have actually manipulated us to propagate themselves in

The history of genetically modified organisms is very complicated and long. But what is a GMO? A genetically modified organism is the result of a laboratory procedure that DNA from one species are extracted and forced into the genes of an unrelated organism ( It started in 1935 by a russian scientist, his name was Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky). But what Nikolaevitch did was he isolated pure deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Then in 1953 James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA, this lead to many more discoveries because now we know the main structure for DNA, this also lead to scientist to identify and splice genes. “In DNA splicing, one organism’s DNA is cut apart and another organism’s DNA is slipped in the gap” (Gaughan). In 1973 Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen put together their own research to create the very first successful recombinant DNA organism. So why in the world would we ever change a plant, or an animal? The reason people have engineered GMOs is for crops to resist pathogens, herbicides, also the crops have bigger yields, faster reproduction basically what ever makes the organism better and more abundant.

Chemical and seed companies have been working the last several years to alter the genetic make-up of certain crops to combat heavy pressure from insects and weeds. Through genetic manipulation plant breeders have been able to make certain crops resistant to different types of chemicals and insects. Breeders can alter the crops by adding to a specific plant one or more genes from other related crops with a known resistance to an insect or herbicide The use of genetically engineered crops has become a hotly debated topic over the last couple of years. Environmentalists are concerned with how these new crops will affect the environment. Farmers want to know how these crops will help them to increase production

One industry that plays a vital role in our society is the agricultural industry. The agricultural industry is responsible for the growth of all our valuable crops such as cotton, corn, fruits, other vegetables etc. These crops are planted and then gathered to be sold to consumers. These primary resources are important to our daily lives because they are valuable sources of food and clothing, which are highly needed for our survival in life. Over time, it has been discovered that genetic engineering in plants can be an alternative way to “alter a plant’s genetic makeup” (Nutrition & Weight Control for Longevity, 2005). Why would we want to alter a plant’s genetic makeup? Well, the main reason is to “produce a desired characteristic or weed out an undesirable one” of a plant (Nutrition & Weight Control for Longevity, 2005). Approximately “75% of processed foods contain at least some genetically engineered ingredients” (Nutrition & Weight Control for Longevity, 2005). In the United States, soy beans, cotton and corn are among the many crops that are genetically modified to “resist common herbicides” (Nutrition &