Genetically Modified Organisms in Our World Essay

- Pesticides can be held within the soil for many years after it has been sprayed, effecting the growth and development of crops. Transgenic methods for altering crops allow the soil to stay cleaner, allowing the plants that grow there to be healthier. The safer method would be the transgenic method as far as soil is concerned.

Recently, there has been a huge uprise in reports from all over the world of new diseases that have affected much of the population today. Diseases such as obesity, Alzheimer’s, Celiac Disease, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and so much more have been on the rise. Researchers have suspected the culprit of these diseases to be our food. Along with the diseases, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) has also been on the rise. The more poor food we eat, the greater the potential harm to our health. One of the poor foods we consume is GMO: the altering of genes in food to produce desirable effects. These effects can range from an improvement in nutritional value, texture, flavor, and a longer shelf life. These

One of the biggest advantages of agricultural biotechnology lies in its economic efficiency. GM crops are financially beneficial to both the farmer and the consumer. Due to their resistance to pests, viruses, and adverse climates, genetically altered crops produce much larger yields than organic or conventional crops. For example, studies show that if no insecticide is used, a GM crop known as Bt maize has a 48% higher yield than non-modified maize varieties

In many undeveloped countries that do not have varied sources of food, malnutrition is major issue for them. A solution would be modified foods scientist engineered to include more vitamins and/or minerals meaning that the country would be able to use the rice to combat malnutrition. An example of this would be rice that scientist modified to give vitamin A; deficiency in this particular vitamin can lead to poor eyesight and sometimes even blindness. Even so, with the way plants breed with one another has been very

Ever since the discovery of DNA, farmers have selectively bred plants in order to bring out desirable traits such a large yield or longevity. As time passed on new discoveries were made about DNA and scientist eventually became able to directly insert genes into a plant cell, permanently changing the world of agriculture. Genetically modified agriculture, or transgenic crops, are crops that have had their DNA altered via genetic engineering. Transgenic crops are often the subject of skepticism from wealthy countries such as America. In these countries the citizens are concerned transgenic crops may have a negative impact on their health and the environment. As a result transgenic crops, or any other genetically modified organism, are the subject of controversy. On one side of the debate there are the supporters who see the potential of genetic engineering and the other side there are people who fear modifying the DNA of any living creature is going too far. Although some wealthy nations refuse to grow or consume transgenic crops many developing nations can benefit from this technology. This essay is not meant to argue the moral problems or speculations associated with transgenic crops, it is intended to argue the potential benefits of transgenic crops in developing nations where there is a scarcity of quality food. In developing countries, transgenic crops can positively affect the health of citizens, the economy, and the environment of these nations.

Results: The effects of GMO’s are exemplified well by America and Madagascar. Producing goods containing GMO’s can hurt the environment around us, human health, and the way people view foods today.

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

On Friday, May 29th, 1992, the FDA decided to allow everyday Americans to consume genetically modified organisms by publishing a policy that would end up causing plenty of controversy throughout the nation. This policy was an attempt by the FDA to modernize the system for products of biotechnology; however, the safety of genetically modified organisms has become a nation wide debate. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are living organisms whose genetic material has been altered or manipulated using genetic engineering. According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, between 70% and 80% of packaged food in grocery stores in America contain GMOs (Moodie). Americans can find GMOs in cereal, yogurt, corn, and many more food items.

In this brief, the reader will see how organic and genetically modified organisms are viewed and interpreted. They will see the “facts” about the genetically modified organisms and organic organism, and how producers and consumers view this. The reader will be able to understand what is actually happening to genetically modified organisms and organic organisms during the production and when it is getting processed. They will also learn about certified organic and the USDA organic and how each one is determined in the production. Everybody has an opinion about organic and GMO and believes which ones are better. The reader of this paper will also learn the differences between organic and GMOs and the pros and cons of each of them. After reading this paper the reader will be educated on what to buy at the grocery store between organic and GMO. Organic and GMO will always be a topic that has controversy.

Having considered the potential impacts Monsanto’s GM crops contain on biodiversity, the company also diminishes aspects of food sovereignty due to the issues that modified organisms pose on human health. Since food sovereignty is associated with allowing for individuals to have control over the way food is produced and consumed, agriculture supporting modified organisms does not allow for this because there are potential impacts that transgenic crops may cause a resistance to antibiotics. When food is genetically modified, genes are added into these crops and antibiotic resistance gene markers are among these genes that are added. (Altieri , 2004). According to Altieri (2004)” Data on the safety of these are scare despite the fact that DNA does not always fully break down in the alimentary tract. Gut bacteria can take up gene and GM plasmids, and this opens up the possibility of the spread of antibiotic resistance. (p. 30). If the gene marker of antibiotic resistance is spread to humans when they consume GM foods, this will cause serious health implications. The GM food will make the bodies of humans resistant against antibiotics and this poses a threat to individuals that need antibiotics in order to fight certain diseases in their bodies. An example of a genetically modified crop that contained an antibiotic resistance gene was a Bt corn from Novartis. The crop contained an ampicillin resistance gene, which made many European countries refuse the growth of the Novartis

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

With an ever-growing population and the problems of world hunger, there has been a high demand for an increased food supply and a better food supply. Technology has been called upon to meet this challenge. The advent of genetically engineered foods, sometimes called transgenic crops or genetically modified foods, is not a new concept, but the controversy over it is. Can these "frankenfoods" be harmful to humans? What are their effects on the environment? The following paper will focus on such questions as well as providing a better understanding of what genetically modified foods are and how they should be regulated.

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 &

Are Genetically Modified (GM) crops safe for environment? Might organisms and environment be harmed by GM crops?

One positive that results from genetic engineering are plants are being produced faster, bigger and healthier. In Ending World Hunger, Norman Borlaug explains about how scientists are finding ways to transgenically modify plants to grow faster and larger to produce more food to end world hunger. However, scientists in Los Banos and Zurich have transferred genes into rice to improve quantities of vitamin A, iron, and other micronutrients (488). This process of transgenically modifying plants could end starvation and world hunger altogether. In The Time