The Ethical Use Of Of Genetically Modified Organisms

Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMO’s, are organisms that have had genes from a different organism implanted into their own genetic code in order to produce a new result (“Genetically engineered foods”). This practice has elicited polar responses across the globe, for a multitude of reasons. Besides the obvious reason, being the morality of changing an organism's DNA for human benefit, one frequently noted problem is the monopolization of GMO’s by the company Monsanto, whose name is nearly synonymous with GMO’s due to their involvement with these crops. Monsanto has been at the center of many controversies regarding GMO’s, and is even considered to be ranked third to last for reputation among all major American companies (Bennett). Most

GMOs (or “genetically modified organisms”) are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE. This relatively new science creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods.

GMOs can help feed the future. The reasoning for this is because GMOs are capable of surviving the harsh conditions of the environment, so farmers have the capability to preserve water and energy in order to feed the future. Furthermore the article “GMOs and the Environment” mentions that “the total land devoted to agriculture around the globe is 20,000,000 square miles. That’s more than five times the area of the united states. The availability of farmland is essential to agricultural production. And yet, the availability of new land suitable for crop production is limited”(3). This key information shows the true importance of agriculture land and how this land will play a vital role ,but it is limited for the sheer fact that farmland is

It is possible that the largest threat to our world today is over population. The human population has tripled in the past 50 years, and projections show no stop to this rapid growth in the future. By the year 2050, the population could reach 9 billion people (PRB). With such rapid growth, the food industry must find a way to overcome the adversity of such crippling demand, and many scientist believe GMOs hold the key to this critical issue. The population needs to be fed without further degrading the natural resources the Earth still has, while dealing with challenges brought on by global warming and pollution like soil salinity, plant disease, and exacerbated droughts. To combat this, scientists are engineering crops to combat these ecological

GMO or Genetically modified organism is the result of a laboratory process where DNA genes from on species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrated animal or plant. The genes can be from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals of a different species and humans. Some call GMOs transgenic, genetic engineering, or genetic modification. Genetic engineering is done by using viruses or Bactria to infect animals or plant cells with new stranger DNA. Coating DNA on tiny metal pellets, than firing the DNA in cells with a special gun. Injecting new stranger DNA into fertilized eggs with a very small fine needle and even using electric shocks to create holes in membrane covering sperm than; forcing the new stranger DNA into the sperm.

Science has been a prevalent topic over the course of history. Moreover, as scientific research continues to develop it sometimes is contradictory towards the humanities. Similarly, the focus on genetically modified organisms (GMO) have been fundamental in highlighting the difference between science and the humanities. Consequently, this paper will emphasize the ethics of genetically modified organisms and the basic ethical concepts and theories necessary for reflecting upon moral beliefs using scholarly resources that underline that if people are aware of genetically modified organism they will tend to disregard GMOs.

Science has given us lots of opportunities to change different species, and even combine them. We are able to genetically modify plants and animals to have traits that differ from what they originally were created with. Genetic modification is different from selective breeding. When we selectively breed something, we decide which characteristics we want in a specific species, then select the plants that show that. We only breed those plants, until all we get are the plants with the traits that we want to show. This process can take up to hundreds of years. We selectively bred dogs from wolves this way. Genetic modification, on the other hand, takes much less time than that. A GMO(Genetically Modified Organism) is created when we insert DNA from one organism into the cell of another. The two DNA strands fuse together, and then that organism creates more cells that have that DNA. This is how we genetically modify fish to glow in the dark, or tomatos to resist cold temperatures. Genetically modified organisms are helping us, and are incredible. We need them. There is controversy over whether or not we should use GMOs, some people believe we should, and others think the opposite.

People have been farming and growing plants and grains for thousands of years while Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO’S) have been hitting the market place for decades. These are items such as produce, grain products and even the meat products we eat. A GMO is an organism that has had its DNA altered to fit a specific need or purpose. Are foods that are grown as or processed with GMO’s okay to eat, or are they unhealthy and harmful? Some people would say modifying this DNA is an unethical thing to do, and I would have to agree. If it were ethical, the question we need to ask ourselves is, why would other countries like those in the European Union, ban such modifications?

For decades, scientists have been discovering new methods of producing food for the population. One of these methods is genetically engineering food. Though genetically modified food is consumed by the majority of the American population, one must wonder, what are the ethics of it? How will it affect the consumer and the environment? Based on prior knowledge of this topic, I know that scientists change the genetic makeup of certain foods. I also know that different genes are inserted into different organisms.

Agribusiness and large scale farming have seen their fair share of both critics and supporters, especially today, as the internet has become an unlimited source of information and biased articles. Throughout the last few decades, technologies in the farming industry have advanced immensely as the need for more food faster has increased, but some still question the safety and trustworthiness of genetically modified organisms, also known as GMOs, while others find these technological advances necessary to feed our endlessly increasing population.

As modern society shifts towards healthier alternatives to french fries and hot dogs, practices in the food industry that were once acceptable have begun to come under public scrutiny. Out of these issues, none are more controversial than the use of GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms. Since its first use in 1973, genetic modification has been applied to almost every crop imaginable. Countless fields of beans, rice, and corn have become subject to genetic modification as more and more farmers begin to realize the benefits of growing “super” plants. With so little drawbacks and so many advantages, it is easy to see why GMOs are as widespread as they are in today’s society.

In the agricultural industry, the term genetically modified organisms (GMO) refers to crops that are produced through genetic engineering. The processes involved in genetically modifying agricultural products involve the introduction of the genetic materials of a foreign organism into the genetic code of the organism that is to be altered. This process has been a cause for concern because of the lack of scientific data on the long-term safety of these processes. To understand what contributes to the supply and demand of GMOs, it is important to understand the relationship between the scientific and business communities in developing GMO technology and introducing GMO products to the consumer. This section will evaluate the development of GMO technology, the commercial factors effecting GMO technology, and the foundations of social opposition to GMO agricultural products.

By 2050, the world’s population is expected to exceed over 9 billion people, and the existing amount of usable land is expected to decrease significantly due to climate changes and urbanization. The projected rise in population and food consumption per person, particularly in countries like China and India, make efficient land use a necessary solution for long term plans. According to USDA, a 10% change to a genetically modified herbicide tolerant crop would yield around 1.7% increase in productivity. Biotechnology companies are confident that such crops will most definitely improve the live hood of farmers around the world. What exactly are Genetically modified crops? People always wonder about the effects of genetically modified foods. GMO is food that contains foreign genes from other organisms in its genetic code and its purpose is to speed up the process of selective breeding and introduce new nutrients and vitamins to enrich foods. The process of genetic engineering began in 1994 and since then has been used primarily on cash crops with high demand such as soybean, corn and canola. Most scientists believe that GMOs are not only safe but also beneficial due to the positive effect on many world economies, the environmental benefits, the improvement in nutritional values and the fact that there is no proof of harmful effects.

Genetically Modified, or GM, crops were first designed in the mid-late 1900’s when the idea to create DNA emerged. They have proven to be genetically resistant to many diseases, leading to greater yields of crops and less manual labor. Approximately 150 million hectares of land are currently being used solely for GM plants. Farmer profits have increased by 66% and crop yields have increased by 22%. With this success rate, it might be difficult to see the negative effects of increasing the prevalence of GM Crops throughout the world and in the food supply. Although GM plants have increased the international food supply and made the process of farming more efficient, GM crops have actually decreased the biodiversity present in the world, harming the environment they inhabit and the society that depends on them. Many developing countries have have actively introduced GM plants into their agricultural sphere while many others are skeptical. Other countries are divided; though their government may approve of the use of GMO’s , many groups within the nation are in opposition for adopting them. The issue about the use of GM crops continues to remain a national issue, with each country being responsible for addressing it for their own individual nation and citizens.

According to the World Health Organization (2014. 1), "Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. The technology is often called 'modern biotechnology ' or 'gene technology ', sometimes also 'recombinant DNA technology ' or 'genetic engineering '. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods.” Many organic crops farming farmers are against cultivating of GM crops because of the threat to farm land and environment however, biotechnology companies and GM crops growing famer desire to have profit and consumer look for low price. Thus, the debate over the environmental impact of genetically modified GM crops is growing. Although GM crops negatively affects on some organism in environment, they reduce the use of pesticides and increase crop yield.