Essay on Torn at the Genes Case Study

Which of the following is an environmental concern of genetically engineered crops mentioned in your text?

Question 9. Which of the following is an environmental concern of genetically engineered crops mentioned in your text?

3. With regards to the genetic makeup of target insect populations, heavy pesticide use can alter their DNA to the point where the insects develop a resistance to certain insecticides like malaria mosquitoes to DDT. These effects can be counterproductive to long-term insect control because one the

This suggests that the roadsides was once beautiful and bloomed with healthy and lively vegetation; however, they are now destroyed due to the use of pesticides. From these examples, it can be shown that even though pesticide is beneficial, its deadly effects outweigh its benefits; in addition, it is a dangerous substances to the environment, organisms, and even human.

The first genetically engineered whole product--a tomato--went on the market in 1994. The FDA determined that the new tomato, which could be shipped vine-ripened without rotting rapidly, was as safe as other commercial tomatoes. Since then, more than 50 other genetically engineered foods have been determined by the agency to be as safe as their conventional counterparts.

The FDA in particular goes into detail explaining their review process. Taking a neutral stance in the GMO debate, they encourage (but do not require) manufacturers to consult them about their products before they market them. The manufacturers then produce a safety assessment of their GM products which for evaluation by the FDA. The agency’s evaluation team must approve of the assessment before the GM products can go to sale (“FDA’s Role in Regulating Safety of GE

For this assignment, consider what we learned about natural selection and mutation, as it pertains to health issues like TB and head lice, and apply it to pesticide use and farming. Next explain, pesticide treadmill and, “Why it is a concern to farmers and consumers.

DDT, one of the first insecticides, showed resistance to a species of insects starting as early as 1946, and this resistance has continued to progress and become documented showing that insects can become resistant to any insecticide. (“Insecticide Resistance,” 1958). Insecticide resistance has been shown in four major ways: behavioral resistance, penetration resistance, knock-down resistance (kdr), and metabolic resistance (Bartels et al., 2001). All of these types of resistance are allowing insects to avoid the effects of the insecticide either by physically avoiding through their behavior, or in the case of knock-down resistance, a phenotype trait is inherited giving the insect nerve insensitivity of the major insecticides – DDT, pyrethrins, and pyrethroids – through a point mutation (Gellatly et al.,

“All the food we eat - every grain of rice and kernel of corn - has been genetically modified. None of it was here before mankind learned to cultivate crops. The question isn 't whether our food has been modified, but how” (Specter, Michael). Because there are various GMOs on the world, it is crucial that mankind doesn’t rule out all GMOs but carefully evaluates each GMO. More specifically the health risks, ecological risks, and societal benefits should be tested on each individual GMO. Not only, should the composition of these seeds be tested, but also the process of how these seeds grow. For example, the insecticides and pesticides used on GMOs should be tested prior to the release of these crops to the

Many varieties of genetically engineered crops have been designed to decrease the need for chemicals, particularly pesticides. Herbicide-tolerant varieties are among the most widely used type of genetically-modified crop, which enables farmers to use a single herbicide to eradicate weeds rather than rely on a cocktail of pesticides and herbicides. Eliminating weeds in this fashion also decreases the need for soil tillage, which can negatively impact soil ecology. (Ford,

As an added benefit to the environment, genetically modified organisms also address the widespread problem of soil erosion. The quality of topsoil used in agriculture is quickly degrading and it is estimated that there may only be 60 more years of usable topsoil remaining (What if the World 's Soil Runs Out?). Topsoil is important because it supplies water and nutrients to plants, while giving microbes the carbon they need (What if the World 's Soil Runs Out?). Degraded soil results in lower crop yields, which is counterproductive to supplying sufficient food to the world’s growing population. The way that genetically modified crops help this issue is by allowing farmers of modified plants to till their soil much less often, if at all (Johnson). Soil tilling also harms helpful organisms, such as worms, microbes poisoned by oxygen, and fungi that have healthy symbiotic relationships with plants (Johnson). While tilling removes weeds, the process also contributes to soil erosion. Since the farmers of herbicide-resistant crops can effectively use herbicides in limited quantities to remove weeds, they can leave plant residue, such as fallen leaves or dead plants on the ground to help create new topsoil and maintain soil quality (Johnson).

The pollen of Monarch butterfly caterpillars died because of the pollen of Bt-corn, which is a combination of commercial corn and a naturally occurring soil bacterium called Bacillus thuringenesis. Monarch butterfly caterpillars do not eat Bt-corn but the pollen of Bt-corn can be transferred to milkweed plants which Monarch butterfly caterpillars usually eat for growth, through the medium of the air. Since these Bt-toxins are very fatal to many larvae, this had been connected to high mortality rate in caterpillars. Though it was a laboratory experiment which circumstances were artificial, this phenomenon could happen in the real nature very easily. Besides by wind, this indiscriminate transferring could occur by soil also. Non-modified organism which is adjacent to the genetically modified one could cross breed indiscriminately(Losey, Rayor & Carter, 1999). Moreover, if a crop that is engineered for pesticide tolerance and a weed cross breed, the pesticide resistance genes from the crops relocate to the gene of the weed. Converted genes that are modified for herbicide tolerance could transfer to pests which are adjoining it, and the weeds herbicide resistant. As a result, it associates with the birth of super-organisms such as super weeds and super pests. Then, it will be more difficult to control noxious plants because we can’t eliminate weeds by normal level of herbicides. Furthermore, this cross-pollination method induces variety of mutations

Despite being customized to be resistant to pests, it is shown in the report of the United States Department of Agriculture that herbicide usage on genetically modified plants has been increasing significantly over the years (Benbrook , 2004). Benbrook (2009) states that such an increase usage in herbicide is driven by the occurrence of herbicide-resistant weeds. If the genetically modified plants are to be sprayed vigorously with more

Let’s face it, the term genetically modified (GM) foods is not the most appetizing word in the English language and neither is the term genetically engineered foods for that matter. Whether or not you realize it, you have consumed at least one product that contains genetically modified foods. These “modified foods” are hiding all over your supermarkets and in some instances, there is no way to tell just by looking at it. But, they have been around for more than two decades and it has helped to keep our food supply alive.

Transgenic crop plant contain several genes that has been introduced to plant in order to modified genetic make up with the use of recombinant dna technology (“Transgenic crops: An introduction and resource guide,” 2004). Transgene that involves transfer of DNA from same species of plant DNA , or from completely different species DNA to another plant trait animal DNA artificially into species (“Transgenic crops: An introduction and resource guide,” n.d.). Soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis in corn and cotton that produces its own insecticides and contain gene from a bacterium that serves as a basic in soil that roots transgenic corn and cotton varieties with an insecticidal protein that are toxic to certain insects and protects the plant till up to its life. (“Transgenic crops: An introduction and resource guide,” n.d.). When pollination occur in plants this transgenic plant inherited transgene with remaining genes of plant and modified for specific