Pros And Cons Of Genetically Modified Corn

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The idea of changing natural processes to produce an “ideal” crop raises concern amongst environmentalists. Extracting bacteria from soil and inserting it into an entirely different species may appear unethical because of the changing of natural processes. Genetic engineering promotes producing a type of crop that is not susceptible to pests, but carries the risk of decreasing genetic variation (Green Peace). Once a crop is perfected, farmers then mass produce that specific crop, and the different variations of the crop are lost (Green Peace). Another concern regarding the use of the Bt protein is the increased risk of allergies (Smith). The transgenic protein comes from bacteria in the soil, and thus raises the concern of allergic reactions to the corn. Consumers are worried that the cry protein injected into Bt corn could have allergies unknown to them because of the cry protein’s characteristic of an extended digestion time. Consumers are also skeptical that genes of this antibiotic resistance could somehow be introduced to other bacteria in the soil, and possibly infect consumers with this bacteria. A major ethical concern of genetically modified crops, specifically Bt corn, is the lack of knowledge of the long term effects these crops have on humans and other organisms. Consumers are uninformed about the

Approximately 85% of modified corn grow in US. Even genetically altered corn was used by many food brands. Many manufacturers modified corn so they are resistant to the herbicide glyphosate .Bt corn reduces the need for pesticides, and while the primary benefit comes largely during a heavy corn-borer infestation, an unpredictable event. Indeed, this application of GM crops seeks to turn corn into cost-effective pharmaceutical factories and may bear the mark of unacceptable risk. It is currently the subject of intense

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).

Our ancestors first cultivated plants some ten thousand years ago. They domesticated animals later and then selectively bred both plants and animals to meet various requirements for human food. Humans discovered natural biological processes such as fermentation of fruits and grains to make wine and beer, and yeast for baking bread. Manipulation of foods is not a new story, therefore. The latest agricultural discovery uses genetic engineering technology to modify foods.

There is an ongoing debate over whether or not producing genetically modified foods particularly corn, produce any harm to humans, their livestock, as well as the environment. GM corn does have the capability of causing harm human and our livestock’s health. The presence of preservatives and fertilizers used on plants as they grow, give farmers of corn and other produce free reign in the use of pesticides. The potential for GM corn to cause harm in individuals, and the livestock is great, however it may not be through the over usage of pesticides, fertilizers and preservatives but the overconsumption of this product. GM corn is a prime ingredient in so many products of consumption. Not only is it feed to chickens, cows, pigs and any previously

Major risks and long-term damage to the environment occurs when corn is grown in a hospitable farming area. In many instances, genetically modified corn is grown in areas where there is crossbreeding with non-genetically modified plants. For example, when weeds that were not modified begin to cross over with the corn. This leads to farmers having to increase their efforts of genetic modification, as corn that is grown to be resistant to herbicides can result in the growth of weeds and other plants that are also unable to be killed off with

Throughout history, Europe has been more advanced and developed than much of world Europeans took many voyages to spread their knowledge and gain power in the world. They began to colonize in almost every part of the world, beginning with the Americas. They eventually lost most of their control there and moved on. It soon became all of the west that was colonized in the east, which lead to imperialism. Similar to many other events in history, colonization and imperialism are very polarizing. There were two opposite sides and, like much of history, one side wasn’t really considered. The people who lived in the countries being colonized didn’t ask the westerners to take control of their country. The native people were mostly opposed to imperialism,

What is a GMO? A GMO is a genetically modified organism. This means that we took a look at the DNA of an organism and took some out and replaced it with a strand from another organism to make that organism resistant to things like diseases or change the plant, animal, or bacterias product. There is also a process called selective breeding which is where we will breed animals with certain traits to other organisms with the same trait, hoping that their offspring will carry the same trait. I do not think that genetically modifying organisms is the right thing to do, I think that selective breeding is a healthy alternative compared to GMO’s.

Humans have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding techniques. Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to hairless cats. But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent generations, and has been limited to naturally occurring variations. GMO’s achieve what natural breeding cannot by allowing precise control on what the organism’s traits are. Genetically modified organisms have become very common and have a wide variety of applications from medicine to agriculture. Issues revolving around GMO include dangers to the eco system and there have been studies relating GMO’s to negative impacts on human health. GMO’s can optimize agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil

Genetically modified organisms (GMO’s) are they our friends or foes? Firstly we most answer the question; what are GMO’s? GMO’s are organisms that are genetically altered by methods of biotechnology or genetic engineering. GMO’s, while commonly found in food are also used in medical and biological research, additionally they are used for developing biodegradable plastics (Goldbas, 2014). Furthermore GMO’s encompass a wide range of products and applications and are developed through a variety of means. So it is relevant to define which type of GMO’s is being discussed when framing an argument for or against them, this is because different GMO’s have varying pros and cons (Ehrenberg, 2016). So what is the controversy over GMO’s

Over 30 years of research and development has gone into genetically engineered plants, and yet the “debate” over the safety of GMO still rages on. According to the Journal “An Overview of the Last 10 Years of Genetically Engineered Crop Safety Research”, all studies (nearly 1,800) have not been able to produce any sign of health risk directly from GE plants while performing these studies under rigorous regulation and scientific standards. They go on to state how the media often distorts and uses the natural state scientific discussion and review “inappropriately” in political and anti GE crop campaigns. Regardless of the numerous benefits provided by GE crops, people often disregard the international scientific consensus on the matter and still choose to spread misinformation about the topic. Many times poorly peer reviewed studies are used “evidence” of the “obvious health risks” caused by GE crops. This is especially dangerous to the scientific community and even stated in “An Overview of the Last 10 Years of Genetically Engineered Crop Safety Research” that

Advocates of GMO assert that transgenic crops possessed harmful insect resistance and herbicide resistance helps to reduce the environmental contamination. However, the resistance genes injected to the crops could easily spread to the ecological system. Consequently, the change has resulted in being caught in a vicious circle due to the birth of super weeds and super insect by spreading the genes to them. Also, the emergence of a mutation by biotechnology has altered the ecology and gives rises to destruction natural restoration. The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates pesticides. They said that GMO crops often have posed serious risks to the ecology in 2000 because the crops which contained ‘plant incorporated pesticides’ (Bt toxin) killed useful insects and produced the toxin by the plant as it grows. Also, the EPA evaluates risks to human health, non-target organisms, and the environment by pesticides. Even worse, it is impossible to abolish GM crops like it is impossible to dispose of nuclear waste from a nuclear generator. Restoration ecology plays an important role in organic farming. GM crops have a disastrous effect on organic farming, especially in light of the most important parts of organic crops is keeping its cleanness and lacking of pollution. However, seeds of GM plants are carried by wind and contaminate the natural

For many years, the environmental community has had strong feelings about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and/or genetically modified (GM) crops. Those in agriculture biotechnology also have very passionate emotions about GM crops as well. The environmental community, typically against, and the agriculture biotechnology field, typically for GM crops make the topic very polarizing. The environmental field have reasonable concerns about herbicide and insect resistant GM crops. These concerns include the possibility of evolutionary resistance in non-target organisms, and the flow of genes from GM crops to wild species. On the other hand, the agriculture biotechnology field have logical reasons to support herbicide and

The benefits and fears relating to GM crops. How they affect us and the environment.