Genetic Engineering : Genetically Modified Crops

In a perfect world, what would everyone have? Well, they most likely would have good health, money, stability, and proper environment to live very productive lives. This is what people strive to have, but very few receive. Why? There are many reasons. One reason might be the lack of agricultural advancement in many countries. If these countries were to embrace genetically modified crops, the citizens would have much better lives. According to Osakabe, Yuriko, Kajita, and Osakabe, in their article “Genetic Engineering Of Woody Plants: Current And Future Targets In A Stressful Environment”, genetic engineering in plants is better than traditional breeding methods because “…they bypass the long generation for breeding…” (106).

This lab was performed to explore and discover GMOs in food that were given to test. Our group used oats, a GMO positive food, and a test food. Our goal was to find out whether the test food was GMO positive or negative and to record data accordingly. I hypothesized that the test food will be GMO positive. To see if my hypothesis had been correct we performed the process of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction), to find the presence of GMO positive or negative DNA in the foods. We first extracted the DNA from the foods, and then added primers to the DNA as well. I then inserted the DNA onto a gel using a micropipette. Using gel electrophoresis and a UV transilluminator we were able to view the staggering results.

Genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification, is an import, yet sometimes controversial, field of biology. The applications of genetic engineering can be found in use in numerous aspects of society, especially agriculture and medicine. Humans have been genetically modifying plants and animals for thousands of years through selective breeding, however the direct manipulation of DNA has only existed since the 1970s. One such manipulation of DNA is

However, these risks are purely speculative: 81 separate studies costing approximately $65 million have been conducted by the European Commission alone and have shown no evidence of any risk linked to GM foods (1). Indeed, the U.S. has concluded that the risk of GM crops is minimal. As a result, in the U.S., genetically altered crops accounted for 93% of planted soybeans and cotton and 86% of corn in 2009. (2). Considering the success and benefits of GM crops in America, developing countries have followed suit. In 2009, India planted 84,000 square kilometers of genetically modified cotton, and Brazil planted 214,000 square kilometers of GM soybeans, a 26% increase from the year before (3). Like the U.S., these countries conducted a risk-benefit analysis and concluded that the economic, health, and food surplus benefits of GM crops offset the unproven risks (4). Thus, agricultural biotechnology is being implemented in farming techniques throughout the world.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms that are artificially manipulated usually in a laboratory through genetic engineering (The Non-GMO Project, n.d.). These organisms are practically the combination of plants, animal, bacterial, and viral materials that do not exist in naturally. These experiments that take place in the labs to produce the GMOs can be through artificial mixing or traditional crossbreeding approaches. The aim of producing the GMOs was to increase food availability, crop tolerance, improved nutrition, and other consumer benefits, until this date this goal has not been achieved (The Non-GMO

American science-fiction writer Ramez Naam once said, “I support GMOs. And we should label them. We should label them because that is the very best thing we can do for public acceptance of agricultural biotech. And we should label them because there 's absolutely nothing to hide”. I agree with Mr. Naam in that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are not something the world should fear, but rather something the general public should embrace. Countries should not ban GMO products nor write legislation prohibiting the research or manufacture of GMO products as they provide vital benefits to the world. Among these benefits are producing high-yield, highly-nutritional crops and livestock for impoverished regions of the world, producing crops that can aid small/impoverished farmers, and producing vital medicinal products.

The marriage union has evolved from a man and a woman to same sex unions. Additionally, there has been a great increase of police brutality and numerous amounts of black on black crime. Further, they have been many breakthroughs in science, where parents can now select their baby’s gender and eye color. In regards to changes, we can ourselves a disservice to ourselves for instance, some of the ways that Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) caused damages is by altering the natural traits of our foods, negatively affecting our environment and impacting our abilities to function as regular humans.

Moreover, it is not a mystery that the human population continues to increase. The world population was estimated in 2050 to be 9.3 billion, 400 million more than previously estimated. It would seem that GMOs would be seen as a light at the end of the tunnel for 3rd world counties, and the health risks of pesticides, and for the years to come. Nonetheless, many people see GMOs as a major danger to the nation. Genetic engineering and biotechnology is creating new methods to help scientists with the issue of feeding the world. Some people argue that GM technology will replace traditional breeding and this is not the case. The importance of solving the problem of food production for a growing population like ours needs to be without harming the environment and will require traditional breeding and organic farming, plus GM crop technology, used to solve the problem at hand. Our human civilization will have the greatest challenge to ensure sufficient food production in the next few years unless all the methods are used accurately and as necessary. (Herrera-Estrella and Alvarez-Morlaes, 256-257).

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are organisms that have been engineered to contain and express genes from different organisms ("GMOs: Good or Bad for People and the Environment?"). A wide variety and the majority of food and resource crops in the United States are genetically modified, including corn, canola and cotton, and the United States is one of the five countries which produce over 90% of GMOs in the world market ("How Common Are Genetically Modified Foods?"). Even though GMOs have been produced and consumed on a large scale since 1996, there is controversy over whether or not GMOs are generally good or bad for the human body(OECD). Many believe that GMOs carry serious health risks

Genetically Modified Organisms or (GMOs) have become a very large part of today’s economy and food distribution. Globalization 101 presents a good definition, “A GMO is an organism (either a virus, a bacterium, or a more complex life-form) whose genetic makeup has been altered by humans for a specific purpose. (“Genetically Modified Organisms,” n.d.).” Billion dollar crop corporations, farmers, and food distributors all use GMOs to maximize their production efforts. Whether it be on a small scale, such as a family farm or on a national setting with a company the size of General Mills; this scientific advancement has proved to be extremely useful. This technology has allowed for crops to produce higher

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are highly embedded into our food systems. The use of GMOs is a subject that is often highly debated. GMOs have been viewed as a way to produce food more efficiently, and to aid in the feeding of our ever growing population. However, there are numerous countries that have placed a ban on the use of these products. Comparing production increases in the U.S. to those countries that have banned the use of GMOs will help to give insight into why these products may be a good solution to feeding our ever growing population. At the same time seeing the negative side effects of the history of GMOs may cause you to change your mind on the use of GMOs.

Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are substances which have had their genetic material altered through unnatural processes. Since the advent of the first GMO in 1973, the modification of plants and animals through the introduction of a new trait or the alteration of a gene has significantly increased (Aleksejeva 5). With increasing genetic modifications of plants and animals for food products, and the widespread presence of GM foods in the market, consumers are beginning to ask more questions about the health effects of these foods.

Over the last two decades, there has been a significant increase in food products containing genetically modified organisms (GMOs). GMOs are substances which have had their genetic material altered through unnatural processes. Since the advent of the first GMO in 1973, the modification of plants and animals through the introduction of a new trait or the alteration of a gene has significantly increased (Aleksejeva 5). With increasing genetic modifications of plants and animals for food products and the widespread presence of GM foods in the market, consumers are beginning to ask more questions about the health effects of these foods.

Among the millions of species that inhabit the planet, only twenty species provide ninety percent of the human food supply (Montgomery 2000). Since the introduction of genetic engineering, however, livestock and crops have a more productive future. Transfer of engineered genes from organism to organism occurs through hybridization, conjugation, and transformation in microorganisms. By the substitution of genes into agricultural species, biodiversity can flourish to improve social and economic development. Although methods of gene and DNA implantation quickly develop advanced products, even precise genetic alterations do not ensure that the environment will remain balanced or that changes in

Genetically Modified, or GM, crops were first designed in the mid-late 1900’s when the idea to create DNA emerged. They have proven to be genetically resistant to many diseases, leading to greater yields of crops and less manual labor. Approximately 150 million hectares of land are currently being used solely for GM plants. Farmer profits have increased by 66% and crop yields have increased by 22%. With this success rate, it might be difficult to see the negative effects of increasing the prevalence of GM Crops throughout the world and in the food supply. Although GM plants have increased the international food supply and made the process of farming more efficient, GM crops have actually decreased the biodiversity present in the world, harming the environment they inhabit and the society that depends on them. Many developing countries have have actively introduced GM plants into their agricultural sphere while many others are skeptical. Other countries are divided; though their government may approve of the use of GMO’s , many groups within the nation are in opposition for adopting them. The issue about the use of GM crops continues to remain a national issue, with each country being responsible for addressing it for their own individual nation and citizens.