Food, food, food, is what our American culture revolves around. Supposedly biotechnology has been used to make “improvements” in our food, from the fast food industry to our local grocery store. This has gone largely unnoticed by the general public. Maybe you’ve heard of a GMO? These supposedly improved, genetically modified organisms aren’t very beneficial to our bodies at all, but the FDA wouldn’t want us to notice that. GMOS include alfalfa, corn, flax, rice, sugar beets, yellow summer squash, canola, cotton, papaya, soy, zucchini and wheat. What are GMOS exactly? According to the Non-GMO Project they are, ”“genetically modified organisms,” are plants or animals created through the gene splicing techniques of biotechnology (also …show more content…
These weeds are then sprayed by farmers with very toxic chemicals which run off into rivers, water systems, and other resources. One thing about the resources that GMOS provides is that it makes it more efficient to produce them because they create bigger more bountiful harvests and crops. That fact should not be seen as a good thing since we know how harmful the GMOs are to our bodies. Since there is such a huge amount of crops produced, they end up in 80% of the foods in our grocery stores. These foods vary from Cheez-its to tomatoes to coffee creamer.
GMOs haven’t always been in the foods that we eat, there is a time line for these things. Before the 1900s gatherers found food from plants in nature, which were completely natural and farmers would save seeds from their previously produced crops, then plant them. During that time people began using yeast and the process of fermentation to alter foods a bit, plus research had barely begun on the breeding process of food. Once the 1900s began there was a sort of breakthrough in science over in Europe with Gregor Mendel’s genetic theory on how to alter or manipulate plants. He figured out how to cross one plant with another to make a new plant with whatever characteristics he wanted it to have. Following that, the next big discovery came from Francis Crick and James Watson in 1953. They discovered the three dimensional double helix structure of DNA. It showed scientist how to look at genes
Now, some of you may be wondering, “What exactly are GMOs,” or “Why should I care about them?” GMOs stand for genetically modified, or engineered, organisms. Scientists GM foods by inserting genes from an unrelated species into another. The explanation given from scientists on why they do this is for the safety of our health. It is believed that genetically modifying foods are to 'strengthen,' or enhance the food product. However, rather than aid our health like it was
“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.
Companies and researchers alternate the genetic structure of crops to withstand pesticides, non-GM weeds and insects can gradually develop a resistance to the chemicals. At this point farmers actually have to increase their use of pesticides. These practice causes weed populations to adapt to the herbicide and eventually become resistant to it. Once these superweeds emerge farmers must find a new herbicides and more potent products.
There are two types of GMO; herbicide tolerant and self-generating insecticide. “The herbicide tolerant variety are designed to survive high doses of toxic weed killers” (Must-Avoid Foods: Linking GMO to Toxicity and Disease, 2012). When the toxic weed killers get used on these crops, some of the toxins end up in the weed in the food. What is alarming is that the toxic weed killers are actually linked to birth defects, cancer, and hormone disruption (Must-Avoid Foods: Linking GMO to Toxicity and Disease, 2012). The self-generating insecticide such as corn, produces their own insecticide in each and every cell (Swanson, Genetically Modified Organisms and the deterioration of health in the United States, 2013). When insects eats the corn or any other food with the insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) toxin, the insecticide breaks open the stomach of insects in order to kill them. Although this supposedly applies only to insects, studies have shown that the BT-toxin can also break the wall of
Over the years, humans have committed crimes so heinous that incarceration would, arguably, not suffice as a justified punishment. These crimes are responsible for the proposal of “The Death Penalty”, which is when execution becomes the verdict after a criminal case. Some of the methods used in the past have been deemed cruel and unusual, whereas others have been justified based on overwhelming evidence of the crime committed. The most common method in modern society would be death by Lethal Injection, however, methods differ by state. For example, in the state of Utah, death by Firing Squad is still an option to convicts. This lethal method is administered in a total of 17 states. Although the person convicted is being executed, the method must still be as humane as possible, regardless of the crime. States have certain regulations for the method they use, but if it is compromised, an alternative method will be chosen by default. Alternatives could include methods such as Death by Hanging, The Electric Chair, The Gas Chamber or death by Firing Squad. Some areas of the justice system view these alternatives as barbaric or inhumane.
Gmo’s or genetically modified organisms rising, are mostly crop’s or food that has been modified to taste better and also to produce certain vitamins and minerals. Although lately in the 21st century there has been talk of these so called gmo’s , but before we get into it we must answer. What is a gmo? Well to answer it. A gmo is an organism or lifeform that has been genetically modified to have extra “effects” such as having a certain appearance or simply resisting a certain type of pesticide or product. That is considered non-harmful to humans or simply to make it produce a certain type of vitamin or mineral to help with human diet consumption.
The very First GMO ever to be created was in 1973 from bacteria. Over time GMOs have made their way into our food supply. GMOs have been around since it was first introduced to soybeans in 1999, now about 89% of soybeans are genetically modified along with 80% of cotton and 61% of Corn in 2006. Today more than 80% of processed food is or have a GMO ingredient.GMOs are not used to Enhanced Health or nutrition GMOs are to make the plants herbicide tolerance and bug tolerance. Growing evidence has connects gmos with health problems environmental damage Major research on GMO is
what are GMO’s? GMO’s are (Genetically Modified Organisms in food). Scientist are genetically altering food with unhealthy GMO’s, therefore food companies should naturally grow and raise their food, should have to meet higher health standards, and the government should think about outlawing GMO’s. GMO’s were introduced in 1994 to the store and approved by the FDA. When companies have food with GMO’s in it they are required by law to label that this food has GMOs in it. GMO’s are most common in corn, soy, cotton, and animal.
Commercial Farms use pesticide to kill insects and weeds. The farmers spray stuff like Roundup over the crops to get rid of everything that they don’t want to grow. For a while, those sprays get rid of all the insects and weeds, yet, the weeds and insects adapted to the harsh chemicals in those sprays. So they thought to put the GMOs in them, which made the crops themselves pesticides. The farmers say they use the GMOs so they can feed the world.
“Believe that fate is the optimal combination of choice and chance.” -Cindy Hilsheimer. Fate determines a person's life and destiny. Our choices are the ones that direct us to our fate. No matter what, our fate is already written and nothing can be changed about it. It can come in many different ways as in a serendipity or as in misfortune. I believe everything happens for a reason and we just need to keep on living in order to one day see or seek this fate that will come to us eventually.
Multitudinous Americans consume GMOs every day and are unaware of what they are eating. GMOs are created by attaching different strands of DNA together, which bring new genetic material into an organism’s DNA. These man-made organisms were first introduced in foods to allow them to stay fresh for a longer period of time. As a result, the longer the shelf life is, the easier it is for shipping and maximizing the producer’s profit. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, first approved GMOs safe for humans to eat in 1994. The Flavr Tomato was the first modified food allowed for sale because it had a slower ripening rate compared to the standard tomato (Woolsey). After a short twenty years of being on the market, GE foods currently make up a majority of the foods in America. Nearly “90% of corn, 94% of soy, and 90% of cottonseed grown in the US are from genetically engineered seeds” (“Just Label It FAQS”). The most common and commercialized GE crops are corn, soy, cotton, alfalfa, canola, papaya, sugar beets, and zucchini (“Getting GMOs and Toxins Out of Our Food”). These ingredients are primarily found in packaged foods, e.g., chips, cereals, ice cream, cookies, crackers, candies, high fructose corn syrup soda, and frozen dinners.
A GMO is a genetically modified organism. GMOs are living organisms that have been changed and modified in laboratories through genetic engineering. Over the years, scientists, researchers, breeders, and farmers have been working to change and modify plants to better fit human needs. 10,000 years ago, humans began crop domestication using selective breeding and in the 1700s, scientists and farmers began cross-breeding plants within a species. Though the 1940s and 1950s, researchers looked for other ways to introduce genetic variation into the gene pool of plants. In the 1980s researchers created a more controllable way to create plants with more desirable traits resulting in the first GMOs being introduced to the market place in the 1990s.
The history of genetically modified organisms – GMOs – in agriculture authentically commenced afore recorded history. Prehistoric farmers have been culling the most productive plants and seeds from their domesticated crops for up to 10,000 years.
In the United States, 85% of the food we eat spends more time growing in a laboratory being genetically modified, rather than on a farm. It all started in 1994 when the first genetically modified organism (GMO) product, the Flavr Savr tomato was introduced to American consumers. Unfortunately, the non-GMO tomatoes did not sell well because not only was an inferior-tasting product, but it was more expensive than the regular tomato. Genetic modification is a dangerous practice that negatively affects people and the environment and should be prohibited in the United States
Halloween is one of the oldest existing holidays celebrated around the world but it’s also a holiday that has found itself cast in a controversial light over the years. It’s celebrated during the time of year, between the bustling, hot summer days and the joyous holiday celebrations of Thanksgiving and Christmas. Many people look forward to the Halloween festivities for the fun, creative, community interaction. The holiday encompasses the idea of children, dressing up, handing out candy, costume parties and fun; but for some, it’s a holiday based on fear and misconceived notions about its history.