How Genetically Modified Foods Affect Society

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.

Genetically modified foods can be good and bad for humans and the economy. For example, if you do not cook an genetically modify foods it can cause us humans to become deathly ill. If the soil is not treated before the genetically modified seed is placed into the ground it can damage the soil and the earth around it.

However awful the study done by Gilles may seem, genetically modified crops are not only altered to stop pests or create a bigger crop. There are many genetically modified plants in third world countries being modified to add nutritional value, and many of them are also being used to stop illnesses from spreading. Since 2000 there have been people working to be able to put vaccines for certain illnesses in foods such as potatoes, tomatoes and rice. These vaccines would be easier to transport, store and hand out than the shots that are usually given. This means that there would be more people protected against illnesses than there are now, and stopping these diseases from spreading and killing.

“Sixty to seventy percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain genetically modified ingredients”, according to George Erdosh and Marcia Amidon Lusted in “To GMO or not to GMO? Genetically engineered food has strong advocates and harsh critics.” Genetically modified organisms can be found in most conventional food processed in the United States., and gGenetic modification of crops is extremely common on classic Minnesotan farm plants, such as, corn and soybeans. They can also be found in papaya and zucchini, even animals such as cows and pig. In fact, the definition of (GMO) as reported by Alex K. Rich and Tom Warhol, authors of “Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview,””, is, “food in which, at some point during the production process molecules and proteins are chemically altered to give the food more nutrients, a better appearance, and a longer shelf life.” As a matter of fact, a majority of all the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. However, many people do not know what a genetic modification really is, or that the idea has been around for many years. GMOs are used to control pests and weeds. As the opposite of Non-GMO farming, this is accomplished by changing the genetic makeup of the plant, by using new technologies and techniques that allow for the use of specific chemicals.

What is genetically modified (GM) food? These are foods whose DNA have been artificially altered in some way to produce foods with unique qualities not found in nature. For example, onions that don’t make you cry when they are cut. Whenever you go to the grocery store or eat a restaurant, chances are you’re eating GM food without even knowing it. It’s in the ingredients we buy and fed to the animals we get our food from. What you may also be unaware of are the health and safety concerns, along with the lack of labeling identifying GM products. What’s more disconcerting is GM crops have the potential to change our ecosystem forever. This is a social issue that affects us all, because we all have to eat.

Some benefits of genetically modified foods include the potential to create higher crop surpluses. This is significant because of the increasing population of our nation as well as worldwide. This opens doors for better trade and can provide farmers with more efficient structures and time management. GMOs also reduce the need for herbicides and pesticides. They reduce overall need for manual labor of farmers. GMOs are seen as more economical and beneficial to manufacturers. Besides technical assets, the quality of the food can be improved drastically as well. The foods can stay fresher longer and can also endure weather fluctuations along side with having the capability to grow and produce in originally unsuitable conditions. The most beneficial factor examined from genetically modified foods would be that they can specifically and personally be altered

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

This article supplies a general overview about genetically modified crops in the United States. I will use the information in my research essay to provide context about the science of GMOs. The source explains how “GM crops were introduced in the U.S. in the mid-1990s.” It details how “the term genetically modified… refers to the transfer of genes between organisms using a series of laboratory techniques for cloning genes, splicing DNA segments together, and inserting genes into cells.” The author comments that “genetically modified is an imprecise term and a potentially confusing one, in that virtually everything we eat has been modified genetically through domestication from wild species and many generations of selection by humans for desirable traits.” In the United States,

Genetically Modified Foods (GMO) have been packed on supermarket shelves since the first GMO product, Flavr Savr tomatoes, were produced in 1994. The GMO products today are created using molecular biology and genetics to reconstruct DNA to modify the organism. Genetic engineering has made feeding the growing population much easier, however people use it for good and bad. Genetically Modified Foods have, impacted the way our foods are produced throughout time, been heavily researched in today's growing world, and affected our body's positively and negatively.

“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.

Genetically modified foods are foods with different genetic information. This is done to create more, tastier food in less time. These foods are supposed to be “better” than regular foods. “’The 1980’s marked the scientific discovery that specific pieces of DNA could be transferred from one organism to another’” (History of Genetically Modified Organisms). Later in 1990, genetically modified cotton was successfully tested. This new way of making food started with corn, but spread to all kinds of different crops. Soon Monsanto, a company that produces genetically modified seeds, introduced herbicide-immune soybeans. “Farmers have been manipulating genomes since long before they knew about genes. For thousands of years, they sought to transfer desirable traits from one plant species to another by cross-breeding” (Cothran). Farmers quickly picked up on the

Today’s genetically modified foods are made to resist pest or disease that comes in contact with the plant making them more tolerant to not being spoiled. The US department of agriculture made a guess that almost ninety percent of the US soybeans, sugar beets, and corn are part of the genetically modified foods category. The food ingredients made from these crops are corn syrup, soy lecithin, and corn starch which are found in sodas, packaged foods, and cereals. Monsanto happens to controls the genetically modified corn market and genetically modified soy in the United States market. Forty percent of the country crops were planted with Monsanto 's genetically engineered plants in 2013

Genetic modification was even further enhanced in 2000 when it was discovered that the process could be used to introduce vitamins and nutrients to enrich foods. There are four main genetically modified crops dominating global agriculture: corn, canola, soybeans, and cotton. As of 2004, GM crops were being grown by 8.25 million farmers in 17 countries. The United States is one of the leading proponents for biotechnology, and is often looked to as the “big brother” of genetic modifications as it far surpasses global competition. According to the ISAA, The United States accounts for 59% of all Genetically Modified crops (James). While modified foods have made their way into the United States’ food supply, Europe has experienced quite a bit of backlash. Mixed feelings in regards to GM foods is mainly due to the debate surrounding biotechnology.

Genetically modified organisms are one of the most important issues around the world today. Genetically modified organisms are defined as food that scientists apply special techniques to change the cell structure of plants or animals to make they could produce more fruit or not be affected by disease. Genetically modified foods are foods that are made from plants that have been changed in this way. Genetically modified organisms are the root to make genetically modified foods and are also used widely in technological research. Food is essential for human life but many people in developing countries receive very little food today, so producing more and maintaining food are emergency missions. This is why genetically modified foods have developed extremely quickly in the world. There are a lot of impacts that genetically modified foods can affect to our world in both good and bad ways. Genetically modified foods can help people to produce higher yields and increase the nutrients of foods to feed the poor nations. Genetically modified foods make plants resistant to diseases and insects so that farmers use much less pesticides than organic foods. Also, people can produce crops that can last longer in bad weather conditions such as floods, droughts or export to places further away. Beside that, genetically modified foods still have bad effects to human health such as

Genetically modified foods are genetically engineered by modifying the DNA to make it tastier and have a better colour. This new technique has been introduce to the world and has started to be practiced because of globalization. In my opinion, people should stop improving and manifesting the GM food, and just focus on planting trees, fruits and vegetable to be able to harvest foods the normal way and find a ways on how to distribute foods in each human being. This will be a big help with the problem of world hunger.