Genetic Engineering: Long-Term Paper

Genetic engineering is a highly debated topic across the world right now as countries are split for and against genetically altering crops and livestock. The simple definition for genetic engineering according to CSIRO is “The use of modern biotechnology techniques to change genes of an organism, such as plant or animal.”(CSIRO, 2007)

“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.” – Ursula K. Le Guin. No matter what good some people believe they are doing, everything seems to come with a consequence, and the question is whether or not the good overpowers the bad. Many experts argue that Genetically Modified foods are actually beneficial to, not only people, but animals, plants, and the world overall. Some experts even state that, not only are they beneficial, but that they also protect the environment and aid food productivity. Most farmers actually recommend GMO’s because they are easier to grow, maintain, and tend to be more profitable; however, countless other experts have come to realize that GMO foods are untested, unsafe, and unhealthy. Studies indicate that

The topic of GMOs is controversial, debatable, often perplexing, and still in need of more research. It is difficult to prescribe a clear way to approach this issue, and proposing a concrete solution is almost impracticable considering the impacting social factors involved. However, it is an issue that deserves attention, and even though selecting on ethical approach may be challenging and controversial, it must be achieved in order to generate possible solutions and alternatives to the

In recent years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have made a significant change in our diet with the introduction of genetically altered foods, which have essentially affected human health as well as local communities. Anthropologists tells us that homo sapiens were hunter gatherers. Their “evolved behaviors helped them respond to the challenges of survival in unstable environments shifting them to live an agricultural lifestyle” (Homo Sapiens. Smithsonian ). Over the millennia, agriculture has made a huge gain in efforts to serve human preferences by domesticating crops and animals to improve production and make them resistant to diseases and pests. Genetic modification evolutionized domesticated crop plants in each crop generation. During this time, agriculture began to arise through applications of modern scientific breeding. Crop plants were the center of seminal research in genetics and scientist main focus. (Cereal Foods World 2007).

In a life of technological advancement, human beings are faced with many ethical issues regarding the natural world. People have become capable of scientifically manipulating genes to create organisms that nature never intended to exist. Although scientists have the technology at their disposal, it begs the questions: Is it ethical to change living organisms to better satisfy our own needs? Do scientists know enough about the process of genetic engineering and the long-term effects of genetically altering a food supply, to determine if it is safe and environmentally sound? Many companies have made large profits on genetically altered produce. Tomatoes are bigger and corn is more golden. Consumers are happier. The government does not require that companies label their genetically engineered products. However, through regulation and knowledge, the government could be a crucial ethical force in controlling the impact of genetic engineering on industry and society.

It is a common saying, “You are what you eat.” While many may consider this a harmless persuasion to eat healthily, the soaring popularity of GM food in society has prompted consumers to question their food choices. Ever since the initial modification of genetic material in 1972, GMOs have become an increasingly standard component in the advancement of scientific and agricultural research (Statista). However, the benefits of GMOs come at a costly price, one that is not worth paying for. While it remains true that GM foods present with some economic and nutritional advantages, there is immense retaliation regarding their contribution to sustainable development through their controversial issues. This makes them unfit and unsafe for cultivation

In our day in age, there is a heated debate around whether GMO 's are good or bad. For all of you who are new to the issue like me, we all are seeking answers in order to make our own choices. According to health and safety executive (2014), Genetic Modified Organisms are organisms, such as animals, microorganisms and plants in which their genetic material has been altered to contain segment of DNA from another organism. The newly implemented segment of DNA contains genes that determine organism’s particular function and form. As you might know, life started when domestication of animals became our source of food for survival. As we evolved, there was a shift to a society based on agriculture. The breeders started to take specific traits of interest from plants and transfer it to another plant in a process known as true breeding. Now in this technological era, we can directly alter the genetic sequence of a species in an efficient way that reduces time and money. GMO 's have swept our industry and made the impossible become a possibility. For example, according to health and science executive (2014), insulin, blood factors and growth hormones used to be obtained from cows and humans that carried there own risks of transferring diseases. But now, we can use GMO 's to generate food and medicine in a way that is safe and valuable. GMO 's are a big part of our society, from eating rice, corn, and tomatoes to vaccinations and medications.

“All the food we eat - every grain of rice and kernel of corn - has been genetically modified. None of it was here before mankind learned to cultivate crops. The question isn 't whether our food has been modified, but how” (Specter, Michael). Because there are various GMOs on the world, it is crucial that mankind doesn’t rule out all GMOs but carefully evaluates each GMO. More specifically the health risks, ecological risks, and societal benefits should be tested on each individual GMO. Not only, should the composition of these seeds be tested, but also the process of how these seeds grow. For example, the insecticides and pesticides used on GMOs should be tested prior to the release of these crops to the

There is much controversy when discussing the topic of Genetically Modified Organisms. Whether it may concern moral or ethical factors, there always seems to be considerable arguments either defending or arguing against GMOs. Based on research, GMOs prove to be extremely present in our food supply worldwide. Chemical engineering, fertilization, as well as other methods of manufacturing come into question when formulating an opinion on GMOs. Due to the manipulation of biotechnology that effectively yields products like GMOs, the public is not only susceptible to whatever side effects that may come with chemically altered produce but also the mind boggling conscience of consuming food that isn’t necessarily “all natural” or “natural”.

Genetically modified organisms are living organisms whose DNA is replicated in order to survive harsh conditions and they are also known as transgenic organisms because it involves the transfer of genes (author pg #). The use of biotechnology and artificial selection develops the way GMOs are created by finding desired traits in different organisms (Phillips 1). Phillips, author of “Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Transgenic Crops and Recombinant DA Technology” includes in her article, “Crop plants, farm animals, and soil bacteria are . . . examples . . .that have been subject to genetic engineering” (Phillips 1). The ethics of GMOs is a widely controversial topic that has been discussed ever since

While there isn’t a consensus on whether genetically modified crops are dangerous to human health there has been an increase in the amount of research that has been done with genetically modified crops. With GMO technology scientists have the ability to insert genes that would allow crops to increase yields, grow in more diverse climates, and even have increased nutritional values. If these technologies become reality then the stress that agriculture puts on the environment could be reduced. Useable farmland is also decreasing from erosion, increasing salinity, and a decline in soil fertility GMO crops could be a viable solution to increase food production and decrease the amount of land required to farm crops. (Ritzer & Dean, 2015) Though without the long term studies being performed by independent scientists people like Stephen Trinkaus owner of Terra Organica are worried that, while GMO’s haven’t caused anyone to get sick directly, they could still be linked to the increase in allergies and

Genetic Engineering has been around for thousands of years, but testing on increased usage of Genetic Modification may be required to satisfy concerns over how GM crops affect humans and the environment. Some of these concerns include, but are not limited to, potential toxicity, allergenicity, and possible gene transfer to humans or genetic out crossing to other organisms. Yet, crops are grown easier on an unprecedented scale, can have a higher nutritional value, and novel organisms that are resistant to disease are being made available on the market thanks to Genetic Modification. Genetic Modification should not be banned because of the endless opportunities it gives to us despite the insubstantial negative effects it may have on the environment.

Humans have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding techniques. Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to hairless cats. But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent generations, and has been limited to naturally occurring variations. GMO’s achieve what natural breeding cannot by allowing precise control on what the organism’s traits are. Genetically modified organisms have become very common and have a wide variety of applications from medicine to agriculture. Issues revolving around GMO include dangers to the eco system and there have been studies relating GMO’s to negative impacts on human health. GMO’s can optimize agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil

For as long as there has been life, the natural process of breeding has always taken place between two similar species. In this way, only dominant genes designed to help a specific lifeform survive its environment have been passed on within the genepool in a logical way. As science has delved deeper into the realm of DNA and tampered with the natural order of genetics, we attempt to synthesize new organism that would never have occurred in nature. A consequence of this is Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs’. Unlike their natural counterparts, GMO crops have been engineered to have traits that are not native to them in an attempt to increase their ability to survive. While this may seem like a good thing, not only is there no evidence

Humans should continue growing and distributing genetically modified crops. The benefits of biotechnology significantly outweigh possible consequences.