The Pros And Cons Of GMO

A GMO is a genetically modified organism that goes through the process of genetic engineering. This is when genes of one organism are extracted, altered, and then artificially placed into another organism to then grow. We typically see GMOs in the food we consume every day. These foods include fruits and vegetables, however the most common organisms that are genetically engineered include, corn, soy, and cotton. It is ultimately the unnatural cross breeding of plants, animals, bacteria, and virus genes (Non-GMO Project). But now why is there a debate for placing a label to notify consumers of GMOs in their foods? Do we know the potential harm that GMOs can cause? We have the right to know what we are putting into our bodies and what is found in our everyday foods.

For thousands of years, humans have been genetically enhancing other organisms through the process of selective breeding. Polls indicate alarm over the contamination of everyday foods. Americans are especially concerned about Genetically Modified Organisms. So, are they good or not? According to NewsELA, PRO/CON: Is it time to label GMO foods? GMO foods? Andrew Pollackmay's "Genetically Engineered Crops are Safe, Analysis Finds", and Janet Renee's "Benefits you get from a GMO" they talk about the merits and the demerits of GMO crops. GMOs are plant or animal products that have been reengineered in a lab. Scientists use the DNA of bacteria,

World Hunger is one of the biggest problems that our world faces, with more people dying from starvation every year in third world countries people are dying from a cause that is very preventable. Consumers around the world need to know that genetically modified crops are safe, healthy and extremely beneficial to economies and individuals, not just in third world countries but across the entire world. There are hundreds of relief efforts around the world that gather money through donations of people, and then try to gather enough food to feed starving people in places like Africa. However small organizations are never going to be enough to help

Genetically modified organisms, otherwise known as GMOs, are a great danger to humanity. GMOs are genetically altered organisms engineered with the purpose to be resistant to dangerous pesticides, or to repel certain pests or certain viruses. The main purpose of them is to save farmers money when it comes to harvesting crops and cutting down labor costs. Overall, GMOs (also known as biotech or transgenic crops) are not safe and there are many reasons to prove it. First and foremost, GMOs pose a great risk to people’s health. GMOs are not natural. Scientists have developed these to help increase crop yields and profits for farmers and the companies selling the seeds and pesticides. They sacrifice people’s health at the expense of risks such as, humans developing allergies and possible resistance to antibiotics. Second, the environment will suffer greatly from GMOs by increasing the use of harmful herbicides. GMOs have insecticidal properties in their DNA. This on its own can be very harmful and poisonous to the ecosystem. The required herbicides used on GMOs to kill the weeds are also very dangerous to the environment. Lastly, GMOs cause great distress to organic agriculture. The organic agriculture is being compromised and abolished when GMOs come into contact with organic crops. While only a few big companies hoard the seed industry, this can be the demise of the planet’s organic agriculture. That will leave GMO companies in charge of the

GMO’s in the United Sates are a hot topic, both personally and politically. Some people are uneducated on the GMO’s and that they even exist, others making the switch to going organic for the sake of the health of their families and themselves. On the political avenue many laws and bills continue to go through congress but never stay alive. Some states have stepped in and passed individual laws to at least require labeling on all food products containing GMO’s. The latest Bill to come up in the federal government was HR1599 Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act (Pompeo, 2015). What exactly is HR1599; from the title you would think it is something good and positive. The intent of the bill proposed by Rep. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan., said it works

The problem with the GMO current system is the bio tech regulations are clearly out-of- date. Firstly, agencies with the authority over genetically engineered crops are the EPA, USDA, and FDA, which governs the bio tech crops. The GMO companies that are widely producing bio tech foods have refused testing for natural proteins that induce a reaction in a person with allergies. The US regulations of GMO crops focus on the quantity of the harvest. Despite the possibility of dangers, the FDA, USDA, and EPA should focus on the genetic process on the quality of the crop (Chen & Gao, 2014). Secondly, the impact on the environment has originated from pesticide with are inserted into genetically altered seeds to control certain pests. Although, pesticides that have transferred into the natural environment that is causing havoc on

The discussion of genetically modified organisms (or GMOs) can cause quite a heated debate. GMOs are created by a process called genetic engineering, also known as genetic modification. During this laboratory process, the DNA of one species is removed and then added to the genetic makeup of another species (Smith, GMO Education). GMOs can increase yield, produce herbicide/insecticide tolerant crops, and in some instances have benefited third world countries immensely, but GMOs still remain to be questioned for their health and environmental effects which are global priorities. Global concerns include super weeds, environmental health, and long-term human health effects.

Arthur Keith once said, “the discovery of agriculture was the first big step toward a civilized life.” GMO products originally went up for sale around 1994. These products were not yet fully understood by the public or their inventors, yet they stayed on the market and are still on the market today. Although most companies say that these products are harmless, many studies show that these products can be harmful. I used to not know the difference between non-GMO and GMO products. Research and my family have taught me that GMO products are much different than non-GMO products. My grandfather grows much of his own food, and he helped teach me about GMOs. My father also helped teach me. My father works in an all natural non-GMO greenhouse company by the name of BrightFarms. Exploring my father's greenhouse, I met many chemists who keep the water, soil, and air in the optimal conditions for their plants. Instead of using GMOs, pesticides, or herbicides, they use natural predators to get rid of pests. They also keep natural pollinators in the greenhouse. Some of the insects my father said that he uses include “bumblebees, praying mantises, and aphidoletes.” My favorite insect that my father uses is the diglyphus which he said “lays eggs inside of caterpillars that eat tomatoes in the greenhouse.” Agriculture does not have to be done with GMOs and can be done in a completely natural way. I am against GMOs, and “today, genetic engineering techniques allow scientists to cross unlike species” (Swisher 13). Crossing these species has many bad side effects, and new side effects are still being found now. Genetically modified organism consumption should be avoided because these modifications and the pesticides used on them can cause harm to the environment, the wildlife, and the human body.

Our project is about Gmos and how a farmer took a chance to feed the world. One reason we chose this topic was we found it interesting because the roots of Gmos started with a farm boy from Iowa named Norman Borlaug. We both thought it was amazing that something so big came from Iowa. Another reason we picked this topic was both of our members is related partly to Norman Borlaug. We wanted to know about our distant relative and how he changed the world

GMO’S are genetically modified organism that lots of farmers are starting to use. Personally I do not agree with gmos because they can harm our environment and they aren’t the safest thing on planet earth. Although I do understand that gmos are in almost everything we eat I am still against it.

According to Dr. Keith Kantor (2013), the fundamental modification of GMO based crops include such venues as, the addition of antibacterial genes to plants, the introduction of genes to facilitate growth, endurance, or the creation of new foods from those in existence, as well as, the intermixing of plant and animal genes. Furthermore, T. Colbert (2014) , maintains that a substantial number of products consumed by the American public contains either GMO crop items or ingredients because a large majority of products are GMO corn or soy seed-based accounting for nearly ninety percent of foodstuffs via information garnered through the Center for Food Safety. Thus, only foods grown organically or animals maintained organically can label their products as GMO free per the United States Department of

It has been well over 30 years since our ability to produce genetically engineered plants and debate rages on over the “safety” of consuming these organisms. Often times the media bends data collected by the scientific community to power political and anti GE crop campaigns entirely disregarding the consensus of the scientific community. In the heat of this discussion the data collected speaks for itself however a multitude of sociopolitical factors causes the debate to worsen further into stalemate. I believe that GMO crops are safe, but also have an incredible amount of benefits that are impossible to deny without straight out disregarding the data collected over several decades. According to the United Nations about 21,000 people a day (roughly

The author of this article, Jennifer Ackerman has written many informative books about science and nature for 25 years. She has also won the award of “Best Science Book of 2016” by the Wall Street Journal which shows the author’s credibility and experience in writing informative pieces which include scientifically accurate information about different topics. The article is meant to inform people, especially those with little knowledge or opinions about genetically modified foods-- as shown through the question and answer format and by the presence both the beneficial and harmful effects of GMOs. This article includes information about the opinions of all three sides, and is a good general synopsis of the facts which each side will likely use

Earlier today (November 19th) the FDA approved the first ever GMO animal for human consumption, the AquAdvantage Salmon. This particular "animal drug" (as the FDA is terrifyingly classifying it) has had its genetics manipulated to have it grew faster.

GMO’s (also known as genetically modified organisms) is a process in which scientists take the genes from the DNA of one species and put it into the genes of an unrelated species. Our group observed how much GMO’s were being used but also how severe world hunger is. “ 815 million people which is 1 in 9 people are going to bed hungry every night and 1 in 3 people are suffering from some form of malnutrition,” (Zero Hunger). We also observed that GMO’s have a common misconception around them that they are dangerous to human health. We questioned with all of our background knowledge Could GMO’s be a way to reduce or even eventually end world hunger? We selected this topic because of how serious a problem world hunger is and how much GMO’s could help this issue. Our group also wanted to research this because of the controversy behind GMO’s and helping people realize the good they have for us. We were trying to learn with this research if it would ever be possible to end world hunger using GMO processes.