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Essay on The Ethics of Genetically Modified Food Production

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The Ethics of Genetically Modified Food Production

As human technological innovation proceeds into the twenty-first century, society is faced with many complex issues. Genetic engineering and cloning, encryption and information security, and advanced weapons technologies are all prominent examples of technological issues that have substantial moral and ethical implications. Genetic engineering in particular is currently a very volatile subject. One important aspect of this field is GMO or Genetically Modified Organisms, which has far-reaching potential to revolutionize modern agriculture. GMO crops are already being developed by many leading biotech companies, and have come under intense scrutiny by society. This is easily …show more content…

A bacterium is merely a single self-containing living cell. E. coli is a well-known example. E. coli Bacteria cells are much smaller than human cells- about one-hundredth the size of a typical human cell. In fact, they are impossible to see without the assistance of a microscope. In an infection, bacteria cells actually float around inside a larger organism’s cells like rafts next to an ocean liner.

Bacteria are also much simpler than other cells. A bacterium consists of an outer layer known as the cell membrane, and a watery substance inside the membrane called cytoplasm. Cytoplasm itself is probably about seventy percent water and the other thirty percent is filled with enzymes, which are proteins that are actually produced by the cell, as well as other molecules such as amino acids and glucose (sugar). In the middle of the cell there is a ball of DNA (think ball of wadded-up string), which if stretched out would be close to one thousand times longer than the cell containing it.

Inside the cell enzymes can be found constantly performing the work that allows the cell to function. A bacterium such as E. coli will have over a thousand different enzymes working within its cells at any given moment. Enzymes themselves are extremely interesting entities that possess fascinating properties that enable them to act as tiny machines performing various chemical reactions. It is these reactions that a cell uses to build or take apart things as needed, which is what

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