Persuasive Essay On Genetically Modified Food

How can genetically modified food affect our society? GMOs are crops which have been scientifically manipulated to receive certain results. The United States proves their commitment to this movement, as their grocery shelves are filled with them. However, not many stand with the U.S., as many countries have banned biotech foods because of their risks. Genetically modified foods are a risk to our society as they may contaminate other productions, but they resist weather patterns; they lack the necessary tests to provide information about their possible dangers, however they are envisioned to be a solution to many health issues; furthermore, they dominate the food industry by not allowing variety, but on the other hand, GMOs may help future issues of food shortages.

“170.3 million hectares have been planted with genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for example rice, eggplant, and tomatoes” (Haspel). Genetically modified organisms are when an animal, food, or plant whose genetic material has been amended from engineering techniques. The first step to the genetically modified organisms birth was when a russian scientist in 1935 discovered deoxyribonucleic acid. Therefore, after the birth of deoxyribonucleic acid (D.N.A.) according to Dictionary.com it is “an extremely long macromolecule that is the main component of chromosomes and is the material that transfers genetic characteristics in all life forms.” Thus came the first genetically engineered crop a 1982 antibiotic resistant tobacco plant (Wikipedia). Consequently genetic engineering has come a long way in society, for example its safety issues. Hence the debate on genetically modified crops, whether they are safe still remains on a tightrope is that genetically modified crops are nontoxic of consumption.

Genetic engineering is the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material, otherwise known as DNA. Since biochemists Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer pioneered genetic engineering in 1973, the process has grown to have numerous applications such as medicine production, for example insulin (Mckinley). However, a main topic of concern is the application of genetic engineering on foods that we eat everyday. By modifying the genetic "blueprint" of crops, it is possible to improve many aspects of agriculture. But with any sort of scientific discovery that allows humans to act as Mother Nature, genetically modifying organisms has been a very controversial topic. Yet our society continues to grow, and the need for the benefits of genetically modified foods continues to grow. Genetically modifying foods should be permitted in our society because it allows larger yields of crops to be produced, produces foods with higher nutritional values, and reduces our global ecological footprint.

For a while now, the food that we consume has been generated through a far more complicated process than we had ever thought. Genetically Modified Organisms is the process by which food is being altered and grown in ways that do not occur naturally. Farming practices have been altered from organic to majorly GMO, in order to accommodate this highly profitable industry as well as the high demand by the citizens. GMOs allow food to grow faster, act as a bug repellant, and also cause the product to grow bigger in size in a short time span. We have for the most part stopped relying on local farmers and organic product to know depending on what is most convenient to us. With grocery stores being so readily available with anything you could possibly think of, or ask for, it would be hard to pass this convenience up.

People nourish themselves by consuming three meals each day. Eating is essential for survival, but what is actually in food we eat? Many are oblivious to that. People should be very informed to what is actually going into their gastrointestinal system because it significantly impacts their health, and it can between life or death. Gone are the days when people saw every step of how their food was manufactured until it got onto their table to eat. With increased human population on Earth, consequently, mass production is ubiquitous. The commonality of mass production, has led to genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods are foods that have been genetically engineered to produce effects that make them more desirable. It is also worth noting, that GMOs are not on food labeled when sold to the public. Many people are unaware of genetically modified foods as they have significant negative effects on humans in conjunction and the environment.

“When you light a candle, you also cast a shadow.” – Ursula K. Le Guin. No matter what good some people believe they are doing, everything seems to come with a consequence, and the question is whether or not the good overpowers the bad. Many experts argue that Genetically Modified foods are actually beneficial to, not only people, but animals, plants, and the world overall. Some experts even state that, not only are they beneficial, but that they also protect the environment and aid food productivity. Most farmers actually recommend GMO’s because they are easier to grow, maintain, and tend to be more profitable; however, countless other experts have come to realize that GMO foods are untested, unsafe, and unhealthy. Studies indicate that

Genetically Modified Foods or GMO's are foods that have been created in a lab.Scientist create an altered; unrelated species and mix it with the foods we consume. They consist of plant or animal matter or a source unknown to the consumer. Manufactures are not required to label what source that the GMO food has been altered with. They have been around for many years and have come under fire recently for the effects they have on humans, our genetics and the enviroment.

A GMO is an organism whose genetic makeup is changed by humans. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic code has been altered, subtracted, or added (either from the same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics that it does not have normally.

In the past few years, society has been made more aware of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Because of this, GMOs are being replaced in diets with more natural and organic options. GMOs have been researched and found to cause adverse effects on human health because of the gene splicing, or genetic alterations that are done to create them through genetic engineering. Before this issue became an issue, many people were eating processed and even healthy foods without understanding what chemicals and toxins they were actually putting into their bodies. GMOs are infused into food without awareness because one never really understands what all those unpronounceable words, label GMOs, really are. Due to recent research, it has been found that genetically modified organisms are harmful and can lead to increased risks of disease and cancer.

GMO’s, or Genetically Modified Organisms, have recently in the past years become more noticed by the public as they’ve begun to show up in many of our foods and are becoming more and more controversial. A genetically modified organism is an organism that has had genes from the DNA extracted from another organism and have been artificially placed into its genes. It is used to give desirable traits to an organism and to make it easier for the people using it to make profit. There’s been much debate over how the GMO will affect humans and their health, and to date there hasn’t been any solid evidence that GMO harms humans’ health. The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved the cultivation of GMO and has stated that it is not substantially different from its counterpart, and does not affect the health of humans. There have been several studies however that may say otherwise, though they haven’t been completely proven and is more speculation than anything. Some organizations, such as the AAEM

Our world is full of complications, situations that need people’s attention. Scientists are attempting to find answers for most of the world’s difficulties. Nevertheless, a solution for one problem creates some other obstacle. It becomes impossible to create a solution that does not have side effects. One of the difficult situations in this world is hunger and poverty. Many people lack enough food to live a healthy life, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. In order to provide sufficient food and maintain food security, scientists discovered genetically altered foods. Genetically engineered foods are grown from plants or animals whose genes are modified by inserting new genes that can increase the plant’s and animal’s resistance to diseases and worms. By doing so, researchers improve crop yield and animal products. In addition to increasing the amount of food produced, scientists enhance the nutritive content of crops by using biotechnology, which results in reducing malnutrition. Furthermore, some investigators claim the environmental importance of

only harm the environment, but humans as well. Many studies have shown that people get toxic

Michael Specter, a journalist of The New Yorker, stated, “All the food we eat – every grain of rice and kernel of corn – has been genetically modified. None of it was here before mankind learned to cultivate crops.” Genetic modification occurs when genetic material from one organism is implemented into the genome of the other in order to gain desired effects. Genetic modification has been implemented since the 19th century and has been used in pharmaceutical products as well as food products. In the United States, 89% of corn, 94% of soybeans, and 91% of cotton planted each year are genetically modified (“Eliminating GMOs Would …” par. 10). Advanced research and wider availability of GM crops has led to recent debates in regards to safety. Genetically modified crops, which can improve the current status of world hunger and can better the environment, are a safe answer for the future as current bans on

Beginning in 1996, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) were first introduced into the widespread media. Genetically modified organisms are living organisms whose DNA has been in, some way, modified; mixing and matching to create a certain effect. The difference between “classic” breeding and genetic engineering is that, “classic” breeding only crosses the same plant DNA, only two different types of the plant; genetic engineering crosses with anything, meaning food can cross with any DNA of insects, animals, etc. They are created by using something called “the gene gun”, meaning it shoots the genes into the plant and then insert themselves into cells, which can create another plant. An example of an industry that uses this is, Monsanto an

    Humans have been intentionally changing the genetic properties of animals and plants for centuries, through all the standard breeding techniques of the use of radiation and chemicals to create random mutations, some of them turn out to be useful, for example Genetic Modified (GM) Foods. What is Genetically Modified (GM) Foods? GM foods are foods that are derived from organisms that have been genetically engineered. Also they are called genetically engineered (GE) or transgenic crop that are generally made of a genetic marker. GMO have a very long history. In fact, they have been around for thousands of years. So perhaps the conflict over their safety shouldn't be about whether they are safe for humans to consume, but rather how they will impact long term.Even though Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) would increase food costs, these can improve yields for farmers, provide nutritional benefits,and help to alleviate the increasing global population of third world countries.