GMOs are taking over our food sections and are in many things we consume. It is a genetically modified organism, where the genes, which include specific proteins, from the DNA of one organism are put into another in a laboratory. It is known as the transfer of genes between species. They are created to fight off negative effects of the environment such as draught, pesticides, and nutrient deficient soil. People are becoming more concerned with its effects on the body. I will discuss the pros and cons of consuming GMOs. I will then make an argument on whether or not it is safe to consume, if the pros outweigh the cons. I will compare genetically modified food to naturally produced food. Do GMOs have the same chemical reactions in the body …show more content…
For this reason, many think they are unsafe or questionable. The discomfort that GMOs bring causes people to make various false claims. For example, there are theories that they cause cancer and have negative effects on the environment. The lack of education concerning GMOs invite sensationalist claims and lead people to make uninformed decisions. There are pros and cons to creating GMOs, but the pros overwhelm the cons.
There are many pros to having GMOs. According to John Hibma from the Countryside & Small Stock Journal, Dr. Margaret Smith, a geneticist from Cornell University, believes that genetically engineered food can increase the quality of the crops, increase yields, and reduce the cost of production, which will be better for the economy. The improvements can be made much faster, environmental conditions can be better tolerated, and they can be sold faster compared to traditional planting methods. Transferring genes or DNA can speed up and improve the development of crops. Defective genes can be fixed or modified. For example, corn, soybeans, and canola now have anti herbicide and insecticide traits. The reduced use of insecticide has benefited the environment by increasing the life of the soil and less use of harmful chemicals, which leads to less pollution and less intake of them through food and water. Many farmers have reported improved conditions. According to Dr. Smith, although there is a greater amount of herbicide being used for genetically modified
GMO’s or Genetically Modified Food is one of the most controversial topics that have been studied and debated for over 40 years. Scientists on both sides of the spectrum claim that these modified foods are safe for consumption, but also some argue that these foods are toxic and very harmful to human life. GMO’s are genetically modified organisms that are created and added in a lab experiment where DNA are extracted from one gene and added to another plant or animal. This allows the genes to mix with the DNA to create a desired product. For example, bigger apples, larger oranges, taller animals, and plants that can survive the changing climate. GMOs are different from organic food and products because chemicals and DNA modification is not needed for these natural stuff.
These concerns are about the potential of illnesses GMOs could cause. An article observes, “In the 20-plus years on the market, GMOs have not caused or contributed to a single illness or death” (“GMO Myths Vs. Facts”). There have not been any traces of illnesses after multiple testing of GMO products. Since there are only ten commercially farmed genetically modified crops in the United States, the possibility of people getting a disease from them is rare; especially because three of the crops are mainly for feeding livestock. People have believed multiple problems are linked to GMOs. For instance, “in 2013, the journal food and chemical toxicology retracted a paper linked to herbicide roundup and round up-tolerant GM corn to cancer and premature death in rats… they found researchers had used too few rats… and the results were inconclusive” (Colbert, par. 16). Since the researchers did not have enough evidence, the possibility of the problem being GMOs are
There is a lot of controversy surrounding the use of genetic modification in foods grown for human consumption. Many opponents suggest that genetically modified (GM) foods can affect human growth and development, increase allergic reactions in persons with allergy sensitivity or cause allergies to develop in healthy people. Proponents of using genetically modified organisms to alter and improve foods claim that there are no health risks to humans and that GM foods are subjected to stricter guidelines and testing than “naturally” grown food. They also claim that genetic modification of food is necessary to produce more drought tolerant, insect and disease resistant crops that can sustain the earth’s growing human population. A recent survey conducted suggests that public opinion is evenly divided on whether or not GMOs should be used in foods for human consumption. This paper looks to discuss the pros and cons of GMOs in food and the reported effects, if any, on human growth and development.
One of the major reasons for the use of GMOs was stated by Chris Black, a plant science major and owner of Richland Plant Food Company. When Mr. Black was asked the question, “Why do farmers now use GMOs when growing crops”, he said “It really helps the everyday farmer with economics and efficiency. Since the US population is always increasing, GMOs have made a cheaper food source to the American Market.” Mr. Black also stated that “It also helps farmers save thousands of dollars in insecticide and herbicide cost that can become overwhelming, because many of the GMO seeds now have this trait. Plus Genetically Engineered crops are more environmentally friendly than organic crops, because they require less water than organic
The obvious question for GMOs is are they safe? The answer to that is unknown. One of the main problems with genetic engineering is that the process of inserting genes into the DNA of a food plant is random; scientist have no idea where the genes go(). Various feeding studies in animals have resulted in tumors, damaged immune systems, smaller brains, livers, birth defects, reproductive problems and infertility (Kids Right To Know). Everyone is simply
Today, most soy and corn grown in the U.S. is Genetically Modified. Soy and corn are also the number one feed for the animals that we eat. Corn also provides the ingredients for most of our sweeteners and cooking oil. Most processed foods sold in the United States have ingredients from genetically modified crops. And yet, “Scientific Studies have not concluded that Genetically Modified foods are safe for the population” (Eating Well. “Should the US ban GMOs?”). The major question that has developed with GMOs is whether or not these modification in the plants we consume is detrimental to our own health. Are we trading higher crop yields for personal health risks? Are we replacing possible starvation with another form of disease or health problem? And, “Should GMOs be allowed in the General Food Supply?”
“In a sweeping 400-page report, the country’s top scientific group found there was not evidence to support claims that genetically modified organisms are dangerous for either the environment or human health” (Heikkinen, 2016). Even Europe, a country that does not use this technology has proven that GMOs are a safe food source. “There is a scientific consensus, even in Europe, that the GMO foods and crops currently on the market have brought no documented new risks either to human health or to the environment” (Paarlberg, 2010). The biggest argument against GMOs would be that they are not safe to humans or the environment, but there has not yet been any documented evidence that approved GMOs have brought on new risks either to humans, animals or the environment (Paarlberg, 2010). Along with being scientifically proven numerous times to be a safe food source, there is also no confirmation that GMOs pose any risk to humans, animals, or the environment. “The central issue with GM crops is that because there are no concrete adverse effects for people to quantify, they can only focus on theoretical and largely unquantifiable ones” (Buiatti, Christou, & Pastore, 2013). Hundreds of experts have all concluded that GMOs have not presented any new risks to humans. “The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris organized a conference with 400 expert
80% of all crops and produce that are consumed in the United States are genetically modified. Genetically Modified Foods are plants or animals that have undergone a process wherein scientists alter their genes with DNA from different species of living organisms, bacteria, or viruses to get desired traits such as resistance to disease or tolerance of pesticides. It is my intention to show the negative side effects of GMO products; which explains why so many people are becoming increasingly concerned about consuming GMO products.
Although it is safe to say that GMOs do hurt human life and the environment, it is also necessary to acknowledge the pros in having genetically modified foods. It is believed that farmers would be able to spend less money producing more food organically because of GMOs. The cost of the technology used in plowing fields would drop drastically if crops were to be modified. Likewise, farmers would have bigger yields to land and be able to use less herbicides and
Another popular concern is that GMOs contain toxic substances which is true. Some GMOs that have been made pesticide resistance actually do contain toxins but the good news is the toxin is made to only work on certain insects and does not have any affect on other animals, including humans.(Misconceptions About GMOs) One more misconception is that many people believe the grocery store is full of GMOs but there are actually only nine genetically modified crops you may find in stores: corn, cotton, alfalfa, soybeans, potatoes, canola, papaya, sugar beets, and squash.(Get to Know GMOs)
Genetically Modified Organisms, often called GMOs, are genetically altered organisms generated in a synthetic environment, such as a laboratory, that offers alternative methods for manufacturing foods. Subjected to much debate, GMOs have steadily acquired prejudice stigmatization by the public of America; however, the beneficial and adaptive features of GMOs, including high yields, quality nutritional values, and sustainability, far out way the preconceived risks. GMOs compose over 70 percent of manufactured food products in America, which provides significant relevance towards this controversial topic. GMO’s have gained the support of credible scientific organizations, such as the American Medical Association and the American Association
Through scientific research there have been no substantial findings of harmful side effects on eating foods that have been genetically modified. In his article,” National Academy of Sciences Report on GMOs”, Steven Novella states that “It is especially compelling that over the last two decades, animals and humans exposed to GMOs have not experienced any relative increase in any major disease” (Novella). With over 20 years of observations and conclusions, there has been no evidence to support the argument that GMOs are harmful to humans or animals. Furthermore, Alan McHughen, in his article, “A Path Forward”, says “Every major scientific body in the U.S. and around the world has reviewed independent research related to GM crops and food and has concluded they are as safe as food and crops developed from other methods in use today” (McHughen). Thousands of reports and findings
“70 percent of our corn farmland and 93 percent of soy farmland are planted with crops genetically engineered to resist pests and herbicides and increase crop yields. 60% of all the processed foods in the United States are genetically modified; a shocking statistic has the concern of many Americans. However, most people are uninformed about the beneficial impact that genetically modified food has on their diet. GM is the use of molecular biology technology to modify the inherited structure of organisms. Genetically engineered crops increase nutrients, drought tolerance, provide more food for growing populations, and resists diseases and pesticides. Genetically engineered foods are crucial to the improvement of economy, agriculture, society, and health choices. The creation of GM foods was one of the most significant breakthroughs in food industry. Genetically modifying foods is a key component that is harmless for the enrichment of our foods.
The effects of GMO foods on our health, GMO (genetically modified organism) also known as genetic engineering, biotechnology, or recombinant DNA technology (rDNA). Where the gene extraction resulting from the DNA of one species and inseminated artificially into unrelated plant or animal genes. These foreign genes come from the following sources: bacteria, viruses, insects, animals, even humans. GMOS are also known as “transgenic” organisms as it involves genes transferring. It’s also called genetic engineering (GE) or genetic modification (GM). Current genetic engineering is very crude. Inaccuracy of new gene insertion disrupts organism of DNA. With current extremely limited knowledge of DNA it is impossible to predict or
One of the biggest debates around the world seems to be if genetically modified foods be banned. This is a very interesting and important topic to most people because health is the number one priority in life. In order to survive and live a long life is to have good health. A genetically modified organism, GMO, is an organism whose genome has been altered by the techniques of genetic engineering so that its DNA contains one or more genes not normally found there (GMO). GMO is introduced to a lot of foods in America because the demand for food is so high here and is on the rise. The only solution for the high demands is to increase produce activity. One of the ways they change that is by adding GMO to things like chicken or crops to make them increase in size so there is more to give and make. This problem needs to be solved because the risks outweigh the benefits. GMO is added to almost every food product because it increases food productivity. The benefits of having genetically modified foods is it has longer shelf life, easier to ship, enhanced tastes, resistance to disease, pests, and herbicides, “green”, and food security for a growing population. The disadvantages of GM foods is the safety and health issues associated with this, environmental risks, possible monopolies for businesses, ethical concerns and only rich countries can afford this. Genetically modified foods causes potential risks and harm on a human’s health and environment, moreover, it can bring the impact