Transgenic Salmon Cons

A GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) is a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species is extracted, then artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans. Example: The transgenic potato plants that have

The Atlantic salmon was picked by AquaBounty Technologies to undergo genetic modification. The salmon has a growth hormone

Transgenic animals have foreign genes, just like plants but different, in order to introduce the animals to new characteristics that are in the gene given. Animals are more reasonable to be giving these new genes, because this can help mankind. Most likely transgenic animals are created to help derive appropriate ideas into developing drugs that are helpful for humans. The idea is that animals, such as monkeys, that are closely related to humans sharing 99.9% of their genes with humans, when showing one result will most likely show in humans as well. An example of altering an animal is in 1997, a sheep that was cloned. The sheep was cloned in a test tube where when it was an embryo, delivered and transferred into a surrogate mother. It was

Various species of salmon span from Alaska and to the Pacific Ocean, with each species reproducing in the same fascinating way. The uncommonly high amount of omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon make it a popular nutritional choice for good health. While there’s been an increase in demand for salmon, there’s been a subsequent decrease in the wild salmon population; in an effort to reverse this decrease, salmon farms were created and now account for the majority of the world’s salmon.

From the beginning of agriculture, humans have always been experimenting with new ways to produce healthier, tastier foods that last longer and grow larger. However, scientists in the biotechnology industry have come up with a new way to genetically alter foods and other products, by producing GMOs. An acronym for Genetically Modified Organisms, GMOs are organisms that have been genetically modified to show only the desirable traits when they mature. To produce what they call, “transgenic plants”, scientists use recombinant DNA technology (JRSM). They can do this by isolating a gene that produces a specific trait from one organism and splice it into a chromosome from another organism, giving that organism the trait that the first organism originally possessed (PBS). Scientists at Cornell University discovered a way to splice genes into the chromosomes of plants, and that is by using a “Gene Gun” (PBS). Using compressed gas, the “Gene Gun” expels many of the same genes adhered to microscopic balls at a plant. When the balls pass through the plant, some genes stick to the cells of the plant, producing cells that can be grown in culture to produce a “transgenic plant” (PBS).

The genetically modified organisms or GMOs are the animals and plants that are genetically modified in order to develop the useful or desired traits. The techniques used to carry out genetic modification are known as genetic engineering techniques. The recombinant DNA technology is used for creating a new set of genes by combining the DNA molecules from different sources. The DNA is transferred into the organism in question and

The first GM crop that reached the market was Bt cotton, with this crop; farmers can spray less pesticide and improve the health of consumers. The planting of GM cotton had been very effective to farmers, “Transgenic cotton reduced pesticide use by more than two million pounds in the United States from 1996 to 2000, and it has reduced pesticide sprayings in parts of China by more than half” (Rauch). Genetically Modified crops have been successful in the United States and China because these two countries are the major producers in the agricultural world. To further prove this point, the use of pesticide had reduced by more than 14 million pounds on 23 million acres of U.S. land; ever since the use of GMO which was proven to be statistically significant (Rauch). However the various consequences that follow the benefits of Genetically Modified foods such as the threat to human health outweigh its benefits.

Secondly GMO’s are used in corn. The scientific name for corn is Bt corn Bacillus thuringiensis (Snow et al., 2005). Bt is a soil bacterium with many strains that produce various crystalline protein endotoxins each that affect specific insects(Snow et al., 2005). Genes coding in Bt toxin have been isolated and

The idea behind GMOs is to enhancement and increase crop production. One of the most common modifications is the addition of a gene that causes the plant to produce Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, that is toxic to many herbivore insects. These plants do not need to be treated with chemical insecticides. These plants contain the same nutrients as their unmodified counterparts and are able to protect themselves against the insects. The Bt toxin has not shown any effects on

In today’s society biotechnology and food science is constantly evolving and changing. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is an organism that has been modified through genetic engineering techniques. The process of genetic engineering involves taking desirable traits of plants and crops, and combining and crossing the crop to develop new verities. The process of genetic engineering is typically very long, and can take years to achieve (Key et al., 2008).

The use of TC promises significantly more flexibility in the alterations that can be made to organisms. Hybridization is limited, in the best cases, to very close plant species. On the other hand rDNA offers the possibility to transfer essentially any desirable trait. It is for this reason that the possibilities of transgenic crops are so vast, ranging from the alteration plant durability to the addition of pesticide production.

Columnist Shane Burgess also stated that GMO’s are some of the most useful, progressive, and sustainable makings in the world (Blake 1). As technology has become more prominent in recent years, advancements in the modification of food have progressed as well. The modification process is faster and more efficient than ever before, and single DNA variations can be observed in a lab (The 1). This evidence supports that genetic engineering is an efficient, speedy, and convenient way of producing certain crops.

A well known example of this is the use of Bacillus thuringiensis, otherwise known as B.t genes, being injected into corn. This gene enables corn to produce its own pesticides against various insects. Traditionally, the process of enhancing desired traits in plants was done by breeding, but the conventional methods of breeding have been found to be both time consuming and not always accurate. This traditional method stays within the limits of nature, whereas biotechnology “plays God” and disrupts natures natural course. Some examples of FDA approved GM crops include, “tomatoes and cantaloupes that have modified ripening characteristics, soybeans and sugar beets that are resistant to herbicides, and corn and cotton plants with increased resistance to insects pests” (Assouline 15). In America, nine crops are the top commercialized GM products and sold to consumers nationwide. These include, soy (98 percent GM), cotton (83 percent GM), canola (75 percent GM), corn (60 percent GM), Papaya (57 percent GM), alfalfa, zucchini, and yellow squash (Assouline 17). These new technologies, raise recondite questions that should be answered before moving forward with the advancement and use of said technology.

Today common knowledge, for every action, there is an equal, and opposite, reaction, does not spare GM foods. “Pests and weeds will inevitably emerge that are pesticide and herbicide-resistant, which means that stronger, more toxic chemicals will be needed to get rid of the pests (Nayak et al. 116).” There has already been an emergence of a super weed called rapeseed that spreads its herbicide-resistant traits to the wild mustard plants (Nayak et al. 116). There are, without doubt, going to be more cases documented. This couples with the already present problem of making pesticide and herbicide resistant plants. Since the plants will be more resistant, this enables the use of much more product, bleeding its way into the environment. Authors in the Agricultural Research Communication Centre, Nayak, Pandey, Ammayappan, and Ray state that, “scientists estimate that herbicide-resistant crops planted around the globe will triple the amount of toxic broad-spectrum herbicides used in agriculture. Genetically engineered corn, soybeans and cotton have led to a 122 million pound

Forcing genes from one species into a different, unrelated species forms genetically modified organisms. Webster’s Dictionary defines genetically modified organisms as “an organism whose genome has been altered in order to favor the expression of desired physiological traits or the output of desired biological products.” Genetically modified organisms are also known as transgenic organisms. There are many uses for genetic modification. Genetic modification is devoted mainly to the increased use of herbicides and pesticides. Most research is focused on plants to be able to produce their own pesticide to kill insects and to remain alive when sprayed by weed killers. Profit is the main motive of using genetically modified organisms.