Genetically Vigorous Populations Essay

The red wolf is listed as endangered under the U. S. Endangered Species Act (ESA) (United States Public Law No. 93-205; United States Code Title 16 Section 1531 et seq.). Wild red wolves inhabiting the north eastern North Carolina (NENC), USA recovery area and a single island propagation site (St. Vincent NWR, Florida) are designated as experimental non-essential populations under Section 10(j) of the ESA. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species lists the red wolf’s status as critically endangered.

Andrea Ruf succeeded in presenting largely inaccessible information in a clear and accessible manner. Her piece is well researched and does not attempt to lead the audience but instead presents raw, relevant data in an understandable language and format. The investigation of ecosystems and soil organisms is backed up with charts demonstrating the relationships of specific soil organisms ecosystems. The insecticidal Bt maize protein is used as an example for how GMOs can negatively impact the environment through the direct damage they incur on soil organisms. Ruf 's work had no room for bias as it was composed entirely of unbiased fact and references to reliable research carried out by

Masatoshi et al, in their study, concluded that when small bottleneck event occurs, then as soon as populations is large enough, due to new mutations the genetic variability increases.

Tasmanian Devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are the largest population of marsupials to be found on earth due to the extinction of the Tasmanian tiger (Thylacine). During the 1940’s the Devil species became protected due to large numbers being killed as a form of pest control. The protection of the Tasmanian devil was important as they are crucial to the ecosystem of Tasmania (live science Tasmanian Devils' Mysterious Cancer May Come in Two Varieties). The protection of the devils was necessary as the population have low genetic variability and a history of genetic bottlenecks making them more susceptible to drastic population declines caused by various abiotic

Genetically modified crops are an incredibly important issue that everyone should be aware of since it is something we are exposed to at a daily basis. Genetically modified crops also known as GM crops or Biotech crops has been one of the most heated debates of issues within our society. The debate about the safety, concerns and disadvantages of GM crops have raged since the mid 1990 's but this is due to the lack of knowledge of the general public. Many people are unaware of what the GM crops actually are and what they offer. Genetically modified crops are plants that are used in the agriculture and have been modified to initiate a new trait to plants that does not happen naturally in the species. These plants are modified using genetic engineering techniques to enhance desired traits. GM crops are made when genes of commercial interest are transferred from one organism to another.() There are many methods used for the production of GM crops but the two primary used for plant insertion are gene guns and agrobacterium tumefaciens. There are also three types of modifications which are transgenic, cisgenic, and subgenic plants. However, there are a number of issues that surround this controversial topic such as environmental, health, and economic concerns. Even though there are some worrying facts about GM crops people don 't realize the advantages or the ways it has helped humans as well as animals. There are many reasons why GM crops are proven

Genetically modified food’s, or GMOs, goal is to feed the world's malnourished and undernourished population. Exploring the positive side to GMOs paints a wondrous picture for our planet’s future, although careful steps must be taken to ensure that destruction of our ecosystems do not occur. When GMOs were first introduced into the consumer market they claimed that they would help eliminate the world’s food crisis by providing plants that produced more and were resistant to elemental impacts like droughts and bacterial contaminants, however, production isn’t the only cause for the world’s food crisis. Which is a cause for concern because the population on the earth is growing and our land and ways of agriculture will not be enough to feed

Because the Tasmanian devil has a nasty facial mutation disease it ‘causes the Tasmanian devil to be in the endangered list because it declines them. The Tasmanian devil might be very fierce but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t try to save them. The reason that the Tasmanian

Through the reduced numbers of genes passed down to devil, gene flow within Tasmanian devil populations are decreasing. This study suggests that DFTD is the major cause for the loss of genetic diversity within Tasmanian Devils.

It’s been debated many times about GMO’s negative impact on the environment. The introduction of GMO’s has been exposed to many ecosystems throughout world, bringing a wide concern towards the impact of it. “GM crops are commercially available and planted on more than 40 million hectares across six continents” (FAO). “Activists, worried about GMOs being released into the biosphere, have destroyed test plots in at least four continents. (FAO). Another big concern about GMO’s negative impact upon the environment is that the pollen from GM crops, and trees can contaminate nearby crops and wild plants. Varieties of corn in Mexico have been found to have some contamination with in it, along with many others. This can cause many major changes to varieties types of crops out there, not just corn itself. It alters the DNA within the crop causing them to grow differently.

Not only are GMOs harmful to humans they affect many other communities. “GMOs are also responsible for killing off bees, bats, butterflies, and other pollinators, whose bodies are unable to handle the onslaught of altered DNA and chemicals that are characteristic of GMO technologies”(Bensen). This shows that GMO is not only an issue for humans but it directly affects the insect and animals communities around the plants. These are living organisms that these plants need for pollination. GMOs and the pesticides used on these crops to fight off the insects and weeds is creating more powerful weeds and insects called “SuperWeeds” and “SuperBugs.” “And this built-in resistance has allowed farmers to indiscriminately spray chemicals like Roundup on their crops without worrying about killing them. But this system is now failing, as the weeds and pests targeted by GMO technologies have mutated and developed resistance to crop chemicals and Bt toxin” (Benson). These chemicals are effective for a short period of time However these chemicals become ineffective, the offspring of the insects can be immune to the chemical. This creates a need for a new and stronger chemical mix. GMO seeds and destroy the soil and kill beneficial

“In DNA, Clues to the Cheetah’s Speed and Hurdles,” by Barbara S. Moffet is an article published in the New York Times Science. This article fascinated me when I first read it because the topic not only perfectly aligned with what we have covered in class so far, but the story is the epitome of the power of genetics, genomic diversity, mutations, and natural selection playing in the ecosystem.

Digest of federal resource laws of interest to the U.S. fish and wildlife service. (n.d). Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/laws/lawsdigest/FISHCON.HTML

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).

In the other hand GM critics worry that transgenic crops could harm wildlife and cause lasting damage to fragile food chains. What will happen if GM farming practices wipe out weedy plants that some bird’s species rely on for survival? Or if insects that are important

    In order to sustain a large population, measures must be taken to improve crop efficiency with the limited amount of land we have.  The recent development of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have allowed for unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria, and viral genes that do not normally occur in nature(livingnongmo.org).  These GMOs allow a