Using Genetically Modified Organisms

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.

GMOs have been deemed completely safe and legal. Other countries however, have firmly set their feet on the other side of the fence. Although it doesn’t directly affect us Americans right now, it could in 50 years when there are nine billion people. The simple fact is, if they aren’t using GMOs than they are not getting the greatest yield possible out of their crops, and if they remain anti-GMO they won’t be pulling what little weight their smaller countries can pull when crunch time comes and our world needs more food

Most developed nations do not consider GMOs to be safe. In more than 60 countries around the world, including Australia, Japan, and all of the countries in the European Union, there are significant restrictions or outright bans on the production and sale of GMOs. In the U.S., the government has approved GMOs based on studies conducted by

In contrast to popular beliefs, there are in fact regulations and standards that a GMO must satisfy (FDA). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates the food consumed and medicine prescribed for consumers (FDA). In order for a company to research, produce or market a drug or food they must first do extensive research and test the product on animals to ensure it’s safeness and effectiveness (FDA). If the product does not meet the health and safety standards, regardless of its manufacturing method, the item is not sold (FDA).

According to the article “Foreign Policy in Focus” there are twenty-six countries that have banned GMOs for good because of all the negative side effects GMOs have. Even still, there are other countries that allow GMOs but are required to have a label with everything that used to make the product. Additionally, farmers have many positive, but also negative opinions when it comes to the use of GMOs. Looking at it on the positive side they are able to use fewer pesticides on crops but farmers are afraid that sooner or later worms and weeds will adapt. If you look at it in the negative side biotechnology companies have been able to obtain patents with which to restrict the use of GMOs. As a result, the companies that make GMOs now have the power to sue farmers whose fields are contaminated with GMOs even when it is the result of inevitable drift from neighboring fields. GMOs therefore pose a serious threat to farmer sovereignty and to the national food security of any country where they are grown, including the United States. Many farmers are beginning to take different alternatives to this problem. For example, farmers are now abandoning GMO seeds for crops and using non-GMO seeds; not only are they better, but they also bring farmers a higher profit since there is a demand for non-GMO

Can GMO’s be affecting our health without us knowing? A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. The products that are genetically modified currently are soybeans and soy oil, corn, potatoes, squash, canola oil, cottonseed oil, papaya, tomatoes, and dairy

What are Genetically-Modified Foods? Genetically-Modified Foods, commonly known as GMOs, are crop plants that have been created for human and animal consumption by genetic engineering techniques of biotechnology. These crop plants have been modified in a lab to create a desired trait that has been undertaken through breeding methods. Lately, there has been major controversy and disputes on if GMOs are a solution or a problem in today’s society. Now, a question for debate is, should GMOs be considered part of a sustainable food system? Sustainability can be defined as the ability of something to be maintained or to endure itself, and takes what we, as people need to live now, without jeopardizing the needs of people in the future. GMOs have been around for years and until just recently, people are becoming concerned with them and saying they pose a serious threat to the environment as well as human health risks. On the other hand, some believe that these products are healthy and beneficial for the environment and have a great nutritional quality. I believe GMOs are both health and environmental hazards and are not benefiting society. They pose a threat for the future of food and farming all over the world.

Genetically Modified Organisms are organisms whose genetic make-up have been changed by mutating, inserting, or deleting genes, by using genetic engineering techniques or biotechnology (Klein, Wolf, Wu & Sanford, 1987). The topic of genetically modified organisms became very controversial in today’s world. GMO have been used not only in producing vegetable, but also in medical and biological researches, drug production, and medical treatments. However, the food field generates the biggest controversy since it relates to a lot of different issues. Genetically modified food concerns people over their benefits, if they are resistant to disease, or improve the nutrition of the foods. It is also a moral and ethical issue for a lot of vegan, vegetarians and some religious groups, as the transfer of animal genes into plants goes against their believes.

GMO foods have become overpopulated inside of grocery stores. These foods that are against the natural way of producing food have been forced upon the shelves and consumed by most consumers. Consequently, the United States does not make it mandatory to label our food as a GMO or non-GMO. Our government continues to force the consumer to eat GMO foods that might possibly change the genetic and chemical makeup of humans. Since the government funds and controls these modified seeds, and because the consumer is not educated enough about the potential risks about the foods in which they consume, they continue to pollute their bodies with the GMO foods that are being forced on the supermarket shelves across the country.

As Monsanto is fighting to gain seed control of the whole world of agriculture by spreading genetically-modified crops across the world (with the support of the U.S. government according to Wikileaks), there is far greater opposition from the rest of the world, where many countries are not only labeling GMOs but also banning their cultivation altogether.

Monsanto one of the leading companies of GMOs has recently placed ads on television for people to get educated about GMOs. For many people, GMOs stand in a gray area, as many do not have the background or do not fully understand what constitutes a GMO. According to a Pew survey approximately 88% of scientists believe that GM foods, like corn, soy, canola, and beets, are safe to consume. Although a majority of scientists believe that GM foods are safe for consumption only 37% of the general public believe that GM foods are safe(Lee Raine, Public and Scientists’ Views on Science and Society, Pew Research Center). Creating a gap of more than 50% between the two groups. In a short survey done at San Francisco State, we have found that four out of twelve people believe that GMOs are harmful, with the remaining eight believing that it is either harmless or unsure about its effects (Chen, Eric. “GMO Effects” Survey.). This shows that a lack of education is not the reason why people believe whether or not GMOs are harmful. When asked about their reasoning, answers were mixed. Some believed that GMOs contained chemicals that should not be consumed while other believed that the risk factor is minimal. There are many reasons why people believe what they believe about GMOs. Claire Marris discusses many of these reasons in ``Public Views on GMOs: Deconstructing the Myths.``, One of the points was that some people did not have the knowledge to understand GMOs, but they are aware of their own lack of understanding, ``participants were conscious of this technical ignorance…``. But the main point in Marris’ article is that they are not necessary wrong. Some people showed concerns about the safety of consuming GMOs, ``the principal concern expressed about GMOs were not based on erroneous information…``. Meaning that people that are anti-GMO are so because they believe that there could be any

As time goes by, the amount of land used for agriculture decreases, farmers decrease, and the world’s food supply begin to decrease. Scientists decided to use GMO’s to help stop the decrease in food supply. GMO’s are genetically modified organisms that scientists created by transferring specific genes from one plant to another to create a more nutritious product. In other words, one may say that scientists are trying to cheat nature. Some scientists claim that GMO’s have some beneficial aspects that would help society during the decline in our food surplus and provide nutrients to 3rd world countries. But, according to the “GMO Education”, about 60 countries have already restricted GMO’s or even banned them. The problem is, the United States

Genetically modified organisms are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a lab through genetic engineering, also known as GE. This is a relatively new science, which creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that do not occur in nature, or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Most all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand a direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Moreover, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.

Many foods in Australia contain GMO’s including Cereals, non-organic dairy products, papayas, bread, rice, potatoes, corn and many more. Genetic modification of foods and fibres includes inserting genes from one organism into another. The purpose of this is to modify the genetic code in animals and plants to make them resistant to pests or farming techniques such as being soaked with chemicals that would normally kill them or even just to make the plants and animals more productive. (Leigh Erin Connealy, 2013)