Genetically Modified Foods : Genetic Modification

Genetic modified organisms, or GMOs, are living organisms that, through the genetic engineering process, have been altered to withstand certain chemicals and increase the nutritional value of the product. In fact, the majority of the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. Genetic modification is becoming increasingly popular on farms throughout the United States and moving into other parts of the world due to their increasing yield capabilities and pest and weed control. However, this has been, and continues to be, an extremely controversial topic of discussion in the world of agriculture and biotechnology, as well as health food critics, because of potential environmental and health risks.

What are genetically modified foods? They are plants and animals whose DNA has been altered or change to suit the needs of humans. There are three types of genetically modified food (GM) first generation, second generation, and third generation crops. Each type is focused in different types of yields and crops so they can have a system that allows to keep production and value up.

Genetically modified foods have contributed to better foods in terms of food quality and human health.

‘With genetically modified foods I believe we have reached the thin edge of the wedge, we are messing with the building blocks of life and its scary’ - Malcom Walker, Chairman and Chief Executive of Iceland Foods (Quotes from Scientists).

What is it that we are eating? GMO’s are unnatural. Is it healthy to eat something that doesn’t belong in our digestive system? GMO’s are genetically modified food. Genetically modified foods are created by taking genes from plants and animals and inserting into our food to alter the genetic engineering. In 1984, GMO’s were first introduced when a plant was modified from antibiotic resistant tobacco. In 1994, genetically modifying food was approved by the FDA and the first GMO food, Flavr-Savr tomatoes, was released into marketing. (A history of GM) They became an issue since the beginning, creating many health problems. Genetically modifying foods should not be allowed in America because it’s unhealthy, it decreases in nutritional value, antibiotic resistance, and has shown increases in food allergy and toxicity.

Genetic modification in the food industry has always been a huge sticking point with both consumers and regulators. Genetic modification however in some instances allows crops to grow in harsh conditions and with additional proteins, and bet keratein, where food scarcity is an issue to due growing conditions. Genetically modified crops in these instances is a welcome commodity and labeling would make little to no difference in consumer interest. However, when you start talking about places like the United States where consumers have options and the food industry is regulated the debate gets more complex. Food manufacturers are required to label their products almost everything except GMOs. The health risks from GMOs remains uncertain and GMO

The development of genetically engineered foods began in the 1900s, and has been in United State markets since 1995 (Bredahl 18). The most widespread genetically modified foods are oil, maize, cotton, and soybeans (Cunningham 11). Transgenic foods were products created to increase benefit and lower prices (Whitman 2). Genetically modified foods are essential to enrichments of crops (Tan 3). It helps reduce the use of herbicides and pesticides in plants, enhances taste and quality, lower maturation time,

Many people today are often amazed by the amount of nutrition and health information required for humans. The constant stream of genetic modification of food can be confusing. Genetically modified (GM) foods are plants and animals that have had their genetic makeup artificially altered by scientists to make them grow faster, taste better, last longer and to provide more nutrients. Scientists make these alternations by transferring genes from one organism into another in order to change the condition or character of the receiving organism. This process is known as biotechnology or genetic engineering (GE), and it has revolutionized the way that agriculture is practiced in many parts of the world. Researchers are now able to use GE

Natural species are the library from which genetic engineers can work. Genetic engineers don 't make new genes, they rearrange existing ones” says George Mason University Professor of Environmental Sciences,Dr.Thomas Lovejoy(TodayInSci, 2014).Genetic Modifications (GM) have been a topical interest among the field of biotechnology, in which modern techniques directly manipulate genomes allowingthe transfer of specific trait genes from one organism to be inserted into another organism changing its genes. In doing so, an organism with the transferred gene may express the traits that it would not have naturally. These Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) or Transgenic Organisms are typically created for the benefits of humansserving in medical use where genetically modified bacteria such as Escherichia coli (E.Coli) can mass-producehuman insulin. According to Diabetes Australia,this is used for treatment in approximately 956,000 patients, or over 80% of affected diabetes patients in Australia alone(CSIRO, 2011). The topic has also sparked public concerns upon the matter, evokingethical considerations and public opinion on safety issues associated with it (Macer, 1994). This investigation aims to provide understanding towards the benefits and use of genetic modifications and its relation in medicine along with its controversial publicity in regards of ethics and safety surrounding it. The following investigation will address the curriculum statement M16.

The world is a magnificent place. Full of plants, animals, humans, bacteria, oh and genetically modified life. Yes genetically modified life is the next step to evolution and its coming without its safety harness. Because of today’s vast growing industry there’s no time to test subjects for long periods so humans have come up with a new idea… let man-kind serve as the guinea pig. Human genetic engineering has been categorized in three basic endangerments, that being its transhumanist ideas, animal-human hybridism, and genetically modified foods.

Genetically Modified foods are made when genetic material from the DNA of one species of a plant’s genes is extracted and forced into the genes of different plants in a laboratory.

Forcing genes from one species into a different, unrelated species forms genetically modified organisms. Webster’s Dictionary defines genetically modified organisms as “an organism whose genome has been altered in order to favor the expression of desired physiological traits or the output of desired biological products.” Genetically modified organisms are also known as transgenic organisms. There are many uses for genetic modification. Genetic modification is devoted mainly to the increased use of herbicides and pesticides. Most research is focused on plants to be able to produce their own pesticide to kill insects and to remain alive when sprayed by weed killers. Profit is the main motive of using genetically modified organisms.

Have you ever thought about the science perspective in the food you eat ? We know science plays a major role in life. Science has made a big change in life throughout the years. Using biotechnology and food contaminations in our food productions, there have been food genetically altered. We know vegetables and other food we buy are bigger in size than usual.We also know the shapes of these vegetables and fruits also look different. We know food production companies and farms inject chemicals into them but we never go into further details understanding why the food we eat is like that. The food we eat are mostly all genetically modified. Genetically Modified foods are used widespread throughout the world. There have been many changes to the food we eat with the use of technology.There has also been differences in the way food is grown and produced. Many foods people buy at grocery stores are genetically modified and people are unaware of that. They are modified to increased longevity ,for greater resistance to pests and viruses, shortening ripen foods and also to make food taste better with higher nutritional values. There are techniques used when food is being genetically modified. A. genetic material (DNA) is altered by adding specific genes. It is through genetic engineering in which the process of artificially modified genes are cut and spliced DNA. Genetic engineering is done to

Genetically modified organisms are not a new concept. The process of altering crops in order to develop more desirable plants is not foreign to the human race. Since prehistoric times, people have been altering plant genetics, but in an alternative method. Instead of splicing DNA, our ancestors utilized a process called “artificial selection”. This method involved selecting and breeding certain crops to develop new, more beneficial, ones (3). Over 10,000 years ago, humans began to apply this method to a plant called teosinte (wild grass).

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 &