Genetically Modified Foods Essay

Over the years there has been a rapid increase of foods that are genetically modified being sold to us throughout the U.S. Genetically modified foods contain organisms that have had DNA from a non-related species transferred into their genes via biotechnology to permeate them with specific traits. And doing so these foods should not be sold. Crops that are genetically modified such as corn, soybeans, and tomatoes are toxic for the environment. Also, the health consequences of eating genetically modified organisms are largely unknown. And, genetic engineering creates dangerous side effects.

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).

Genetically modified crops are harmful to humans and the environment and shouldn't be used. Agriculture should proceed in harmony with nature and nature only. That is why some people have decided to buy organically grown food. From their experiences with organic food, they believe that the organic system can be economically practical. This system also provides a wide range of environmental and social benefits, and most importantly, it enables consumers to make a choice about the food they eat. According to Diana Brander, an American biology teacher, we should have the choice of the type of food we eat.

Many people feel that genetically modified organisms are unsafe, untested and therefore not something they want in their food or environment. I feel that without the proper studies and research we are putting ourselves in the hands of large corporations that have more of an interest in making money than offering a safe product. I feel it is important to make an informed decision when it comes to products or organisms affecting ourselves or our environment.

However, it is possible that GMOs cause negative effects within the environment that outweigh the positive goals. Environmental affects are important to consider in the context of human health because, as Caitlin Shetterley constantly argues in Modified: Gmos and the Threat to Our Food, Our Land, Our Future, humanity and nature are inextricably intertwined, and therefore harm done to nature is a direct harm to humans. The process of growing GMOs involves the use of heavy pesticides, which has led to the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds that cause major crop loss (Yang). Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned that GMO crops have the ability to spread their genetic material to non-GMO organisms. Contaminating non-GMO crops can cause mutations within the organism, leaving crops vulnerable to disease (Yang). Also, studies regarding whether GMO crops and non-GMO crops can coexist are showing coexistence is nearly impossible (OECD). This inability to co-exist reduces plant diversity which negatively impacts ecological systems. The combined effects of mutating weeds and reducing plant diversity support the idea that the negative impact of GMOs outweigh the positive

An objection to this argument is that some environmentalists oppose GMOs, arguing that genetically modified foods have a negative environmental impact, especially for agricultural practices. For example, they contend that the modified genes created by genetic engineering can spread through pollen to other non-GMO plants outside of their intended cultivation area. “If a GMO is herbicide-tolerant,” some environmentalists believe this characteristic can spread to other plants with the possibility of creating “super-weeds” which will be difficult to suppress (Thompson 213). Others argue that widespread use of GMOs can lead to a reduction in the biodiversity of plants and insects. As more and more GMOs are used, the genetic diversity of other similar plants may be lost, as conventional and organic seeds are no longer used for agricultural practices (Gertsberg). It is debated that the “toxins produced to kill insects in GMOs can also kill ‘non-target species,’ which are insects we may not want to kill”, such as monarch butterflies, leading to a loss in biodiversity (Thompson 213). Conversely, overreliance on a single pesticide can lead to the development of resistant “super-bugs” which also hurts the environment.

Genetically modified crops have a positive impact on the environment because they limit habitat loss. Although using genetic modification on crops is good for the limitation of the loss of habitat for wildlife, it also benefits humans because it prevents deforestation and the depletion of oxygen. “Bt cotton, for example, has lowered production costs for cotton and led to increased amounts

GMOs, or “genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations of genes from different species cannot occur in nature or in traditional crossbreeding. There are currently eight Genetically modified organisms available in grocery stores across America, they are cotton, alfalfa, papaya, squash, soybeans, canola, corn and sugar beets. Many believe putting genetically modified organisms in our food system is unsafe when others believe it is saving the world. After this paper you can decide what you think.

Thesis: Genetically Modified Foods are a large part of our agricultural society and pose potential health risks.

A Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is a plant or animal that has had its DNA modified through the integration of genes from a different organism into its own genetic genomes (Zaid et al., 2011). Genetic Modification is claimed to create more drought and disease tolerance (CommonGround, 2015), but there are widely held concerns about the safety of these GMO’s (Cummins, 1999; Gurian-Sherman, 2009). This critical evaluation of two websites that discuss Genetically Modified Foods notes that although the Sustainable Table webpage and the CommonGround webpage each detail arguments both in support and in opposition of GMO use, they contrast distinctly. The rhetoric and evidence chosen for the Sustainable Table website makes it clear that the authors oppose genetic modification, while the CommonGround website which has been established by farmers, employs powerful marketing strategies to present carefully selected information designed for the purpose of gaining consumer trust and confidence in GMO foods.

GMO’s can also bring up controversy with Environmental Groups. GMO’s are modified for herbicide resistance. According to the Organic Center’s Critical Report on The First Thirteen Years, herbicide use has increased 15% worldwide or by 383 million pounds in the US alone since the introduction of GM crops (Benbrook, 2009) . The IUCN also states “Another criticism ... is the extensive cultivation of uniform, high yielding crop varieties that has led to the replacement and

Most public concern has been focused on human health and safety regarding the use and consumption of these foods, but potential environmental impacts are important to consider as well. Many varieties of genetically engineered crops are intended to decrease the need for chemical pesticides and fertilizers, but the scope of environmental impacts does not stop at chemical usage. Common concerns about GM crops include the effects of cross-pollination, so-called “genetic contamination,” and the escape of GM crops from cultivation and their interactions with native species. Conversely, the environmental benefits of GM crops range from reducing dependence on chemical pesticides to the ability to treat polluted soils with bioremediating plants (Ford, 2004).

You may wonder why I begin this essay on genetically modified plants. How did all of the genetically modifying plants started. there are many interesting facts about genetically modify plants. Is eating genetically modify plants good or bad for you and the prows and conns. How do they grow genetically modify plants, and the process. Why is genetically modified plants cheaper than original plants.

Nowadays, most people assumed that the genetically modified (GM) technology is the greatest biotechnologies in agriculture. However, people are unawareness about the effect of genetically modified GM crops for the health, the environment, the society, the food safety, and the food security. There are many methods have been proposed to separates the genetically modified GM crops from non- GM crops by using the distance between the crops. However, the value of cross-pollination can be affected in many different factors such as the insects and the air which are natural elements. Furthermore, to solve these problems, this study suggests a hybrid method (FPSOSVR) that contains particle swarm optimization, fuzzy logic, and the support vector regression, for knowing the cross-pollination value of pollen recipient from the pollen source to shows the real solation of genetically modified GM and non-GM maize. (Lee et al., 2013) The European Union EU were still debating on the genetically modified crops (GM), which are based on the positions by the public, non-governmental organizations ( NGOs ), and industry. The farmers in this issue have lacking debate about whether the genetically modified GM crops will be crucial on the future of the technology in European agriculture. As a result of using Q methodology, which divided three groups, one are support the idea of genetically modified GM crops reliably, second are equal with knowing the

GM crops are created by inserting a gene externally from an foreign source into unrelated species. This has granted an ability to overcome many physiological barriers and to exchange genetic information among all living organisms. The purpose of genetic modification is to create a faster, efficient, and much more precise way to achieve the same results from artificial selection. Additionally, it can be used in order to introduce a new trait to the crop that would not be usually naturally occurring.