The Risks of Genetically Modified Organisms Essay

Genetic modified organisms, or GMOs, are living organisms that, through the genetic engineering process, have been altered to withstand certain chemicals and increase the nutritional value of the product. In fact, the majority of the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. Genetic modification is becoming increasingly popular on farms throughout the United States and moving into other parts of the world due to their increasing yield capabilities and pest and weed control. However, this has been, and continues to be, an extremely controversial topic of discussion in the world of agriculture and biotechnology, as well as health food critics, because of potential environmental and health risks.

GMO’s or Genetically Modified Food is one of the most controversial topics that have been studied and debated for over 40 years. Scientists on both sides of the spectrum claim that these modified foods are safe for consumption, but also some argue that these foods are toxic and very harmful to human life. GMO’s are genetically modified organisms that are created and added in a lab experiment where DNA are extracted from one gene and added to another plant or animal. This allows the genes to mix with the DNA to create a desired product. For example, bigger apples, larger oranges, taller animals, and plants that can survive the changing climate. GMOs are different from organic food and products because chemicals and DNA modification is not needed for these natural stuff.

What is genetically modified (GM) food? These are foods whose DNA have been artificially altered in some way to produce foods with unique qualities not found in nature. For example, onions that don’t make you cry when they are cut. Whenever you go to the grocery store or eat a restaurant, chances are you’re eating GM food without even knowing it. It’s in the ingredients we buy and fed to the animals we get our food from. What you may also be unaware of are the health and safety concerns, along with the lack of labeling identifying GM products. What’s more disconcerting is GM crops have the potential to change our ecosystem forever. This is a social issue that affects us all, because we all have to eat.

There are two types of GMO; herbicide tolerant and self-generating insecticide. “The herbicide tolerant variety are designed to survive high doses of toxic weed killers” (Must-Avoid Foods: Linking GMO to Toxicity and Disease, 2012). When the toxic weed killers get used on these crops, some of the toxins end up in the weed in the food. What is alarming is that the toxic weed killers are actually linked to birth defects, cancer, and hormone disruption (Must-Avoid Foods: Linking GMO to Toxicity and Disease, 2012). The self-generating insecticide such as corn, produces their own insecticide in each and every cell (Swanson, Genetically Modified Organisms and the deterioration of health in the United States, 2013). When insects eats the corn or any other food with the insecticide, Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) toxin, the insecticide breaks open the stomach of insects in order to kill them. Although this supposedly applies only to insects, studies have shown that the BT-toxin can also break the wall of

According to the World Health Organization, genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are “organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination” (WHO). Genetically enhancing organisms is not a new process; humans have selectively bred

In the past 20 to 30 years, the production of genetically modified food has caused an uproar in the scientific community. Genetically modified food or, GMOs are organisms that have been altered to where its DNA contains one or more genes that did not originate in that specific organism. GMOs were created to help the production of crops and to make food healthier for consumers by adding vitamins and nutrients. While some people believe that GMOs are unsafe and should be banned, I believe that GMOs are extremely beneficial to the agriculture around the world.

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.

Controversies and public concern surrounding GM foods and crops commonly focus on human and environmental safety, labeling and consumer choice, intellectual property rights, ethics, food security, poverty reduction and environmental conservation. (Bawa, 2012). Safety concerns for genetic engineering can cause various regulations intended to prevent environmental and health problems (Bawa, 2012). Concern from consumers has been expressed for GMOS because several agricultural practices, such as the widespread use of DDT in past decades, have caused serious problems that were unintended and unexpected (Old Citation: Brill, 1985).

What are GMOs? GMO stands for genetically modified organism, an organism that has had its genes or genetic makeup changed or alter in some way in a research lab. Two ways that scientist accomplish this is through either gene cloning or protein engineering (Phillips, Teresa p.1). Tampering with the genetics of any species, particularly one that we consume into our bodies has unknown effects that have not been completely research enough. We do not know how genetically modifying the foods we eat will affect our own inner bodies and genes. Big research and food companies, such as Monsanto, have put their own bottom-line, or greed, above our health and we are unwittingly being

What are GMOs? GMO stands for genetically modified organism, an organism that has had its genes or genetic makeup changed or alter in some way in a research lab. Two ways that scientist accomplish this is through either gene cloning or protein engineering (Phillips, Teresa p.1). Tampering with the genetics of any species, particularly one that we consume into our bodies has unknown effects that have not been completely research enough. We do not know how genetically modifying the foods we eat will affect our own inner bodies and genes. Big research and food companies, such as Monsanto, have put their own bottom-line, or greed, above our health and we are unwittingly being guinea pigs for these companies. Proponents of GMOs say “No, GMOs have helped people, especially in underdeveloped countries”, but let’s look at some of the facts:

Recently, there has been multiple studies regarding whether or not GMOs are safe for human and animal consumption, and the results are extremely negative (“5 Reasons NOT to Eat Genetically Modified Foods”). From these tests, researchers have found birth defects, sterility, organ damage, gastrointestinal disorder, gut rot, new allergies, accelerating aging, infertility and immune system disorder in rats (“Smith”, “5 Reasons NOT to Eat Genetically Modified Foods”). These tests are not only done on rats. Glyphosate, a substance in Roundup, caused “total cell death in human umbilical, embryo, and placental cells within twenty-four hours” (“5 Reasons NOT to Eat Genetically Modified Foods”). Therefore, Genetically Modified Organisms have been proven to be extremely dangerous to our health. Lastly, “After GMOs were introduced in 1966, the percentage of Americans with more than three chronic illnesses went from seven percent to thirteen percent in nine years” (“Smith”). Additionally, “food allergies skyrocketed, and disorders like autism, reproductive disorders, and digestive problems are on the rise” (“Smith”). Genetically Modified Organisms cause extreme damage on our bodies and should be banned.

Genetically modified organisms (GMO) are organisms that have been manipulated in a laboratory using genetic engineering techniques. The government does not mandate labeling for GMO foods, only organic non-GMO foods. Customers do not know what is actually in their foods. GMOs are awful and should be avoided at all costs, because they negatively affect the environment, our health, and our bodies.

Many Americans consume thousands of pounds of genetically modified foods every day. Throughout the 21st century, genetic engineering tremendously impacted new research in pharmaceutical and forensic science. During that time, it also revolutionized the food in America and many other countries around the world. Using Recombinant DNA biotechnology on crops and farm animals helps improve nutrition and quantity of foods. However, crops that are altered with hybrid genes can also contain chemicals harmful to humans. By using developed biotechnology, scientists are able to inject viruses and bacteria into the embryos of plants to produce genetically modified crops (). The same is applied for transgenic farm animals to increase the size of the

Could it be that there are dirty little secrets lurking inside the foods you put on your table? “Do you really know what’s inside the tomato you just put on your salad? Do you care to know if that cheeseburger you just ate is not infused with liquid nitrogen?” There are no notices, no warnings and most definitely no labels. Genetically modified food (GMF, GM Crops, or Bio-Food) are the norm in America today. Some even say we are just another Human Experiment for our American Government. While others claim if it weren't for scientists and their experiments we would never have discovered genetics and DNA.

Are Genetically Modified (GM) crops safe for environment? Might organisms and environment be harmed by GM crops?