What Is Genetically Modified Organisms

“Agriculture is the most healthful, most useful, and most noble employment of man,” George Washington. Agriculture has been around for 12,000, this changed the lifestyle of people from hunting and gathering to permanent settlements with a steady food source (“Development of Agriculture”). From this, civilizations and cities grew, food could now be grown to meet the demands of the ever growing global populations. Since the development of agriculture advancement has been made to feed the population. One of the many modern advancements has been genetically modified organisms. Genetically Modified Organism, is the results of a laboratory process, where genes from the DNA of one of the species are extracted, and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal. Some of the unanswered questions about GMO’s have been what they are, companies that are involved,

Genetic engineering is already providing a more stable solution for agricultural production in the economy to stand on. In nine years (i.e. 1996-2005), profits from genetically modified crops were twenty-seven billion dollars. Those twenty-seven billion dollars were not just in the United States or countries like it, but the profits almost split half and half between first and third world countries (O'Neill 19). In India, for example, cotton yields have jumped to one hundred-fifty percent from the use of genetically modified crops, vastly increasing the farmers’ profits (19). The planting of these crops can really help farmers know what they are going to make every year and plan accordingly. Also, helping the farmers’ expenses is the lack of chemical pesticides needed on the crops and reducing time spent using the pricey traditional breeding methods (Mannion and Morse 749-751). Even if genetically modified crops are not planted in every field, adjoining fields can benefit due to the “halo effect.” The “halo effect” is the ability of pest protection on the genetically modified crops to affect the non-genetically modified crops due to the lack of insects in the genetically modified field (754). Genetically modified crops affect the economy in a positive way and should be seen as a smart

But how will these crops solve a problem? Will they really make sure that there is no food shortage? And along with that take away the diseases in third world countries? That would be a high hope for these crops. Though

In 2011, more than 66 million hectares of GMO plants were grown throughout the world. These plants were “engineered to produce a bacterial toxin lethal to some insects but harmless to people,” (Carrington 1). By altering the plant’s genes, scientists were able to design the plant in a way so it could control the pest population without the need of using as many chemicals in comparison to pesticides. Therefore altering the plant’s genes proves a method for controlling pest populations because it reduces the amount of harmful chemicals that are used. Pesticide use is dangerous to the environment because of the pollution involved. Studies have found that farmers using GMO seeds use 37% less pesticides, and since “these seeds don’t need to spray as much pesticide, which means less pesticide ends up washing off the fields and into streams” (Horowitz 2). Ultimately, pesticide pollution can endanger entire ecosystems and even threaten human lives. By significantly reducing pesticide use, there would be less dangerous chemicals to threaten local environments. As well as reducing pollution, GMO replacement of pesticides helps increase populations of pest predators. Carrington states that GMOs have the “added benefit of looking after the predators that could have been killed by the pesticides” (2). By substituting GMOs for pesticides, which kill more than just the targeted pest, farmers can help

Currently over 7 billion people inhabit the earth, current estimates are that the world’s population could be as high as 10 billion by 2050. (Cleland, 553) In order to maintain a sufficient healthy food supply for a population of that size, the farming industry must continue to rely on scientific discoveries to raise crop output levels and raise nutritional values of that production. Beyond the discoveries that have already been made in the genetic altering of food supplies through mixed breeding of similar species. The next plateau will be the reliance on genetically modified organisms (GMOs) to provide required crop supplies. Therefore, genetic modification of the world’s food supply is a sustainable effort to allow the human race to continue to support the ever-growing world population.

A GMO expert at the University of Arizona, named Yves Carriere, explained in an article that, “Carriere argues that bug-killing crops are beneficial because they reduce the use of insecticides, which can harm people and the environment,” (Potenza 2). With genetically modified crops, farmers no longer have to use harmful chemicals, such as insecticides. He also pointed out that, “Developing crops that can survive dry climates, others say, could help us grow food as climate change makes the planet more prone to droughts,” (Potenza 2). For example, places like California could benefit a lot more if people could grow and sell GMO’s.

What are Genetically Modified Organisms or GMOs? “GMOs are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE” (Clendaniel). The genetic modification of food is defined as essentially, “any change to the heritable traits of an organism achieved by intentional manipulation,” or more specifically, “recombinant DNA technology, which is the process of removing individual genes form one organism and transplanting them into another organism” (MacDonald and Whellams 181; Kirby 352). This genetic modification or gene splicing is the basis for modern bioengineering. With ever-growing populations the need for food, now more than ever, is in great demand; along with environmental issues related to climate change, bioengineering has been the answer to a multitude of global tribulations. Scientist have created “drought resistant corn and soybeans,” rice with increased nutrients, and “pest resistant plants” (Kirsch 21). It is evident that growing food with GMOs can result in increased availability of crops that are naturally resistant to insects. Along with this, “The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations reports that some GMO foods have been engineered to be more nutritious in terms of mineral or vitamin

GMO Foods help eliminate the need for pesticides and other insect killing products. Lowering the pesticide content in our food will help increase our health. Also, GMOS can help prevent the spoilage of food increasing the amount produced each year.

According to a census done by the United Nations, as of October 31, 2011 the world’s population has reached seven billion people. The earth’s population is estimated to reach between 8.3 and 10.9 billion by 2050. Will the earth be able to sustain and feed that many mouths? The planet’s current population is already two to three times higher than the sustainable level. Approximately fifty percent more resources than the Earth is producing are being consumed. The longer we consume more resources than the sustainable level, the quicker the sustainability of earth decreases. In 1990, a new technique called genetic engineering entered the food industry. Genetic engineering is the alteration of the basic make up of plants and animals to produce a desirable trait. Some scientists believe that GMOs increase yields, but according to some research, “GMOs have nothing to offer the goals of reducing hunger and poverty, improving nutrition, health and rural livelihoods, and facilitating social and environmental sustainability” (Institute for...). About 30 countries around the globe ban GMOs, including Australia, Japan and all of the nations in the European Union. Activists that are against Genetically Modified Organisms have organized campaigns to raise customer awareness of their existence in the majority of the food supply. Most Americans aren’t

Genetically modifying foods can get rid of unwanted seeds in watermelon, they also can help the food by having a longer shelf life in stores. (Mandel, “GMO Food Pros and Cons”) GMO crops can have bug repellent in their systems, so that when the grow bugs and bacteria will not infect the crop. When genetically modifying seeds, scientist can also make the crop handle horrific weather and lower risk of crop failure. (Mandel, “GMO Food P and C”) Some GMO foods can lower the amount of nutrition, but some crops have better nutrition because they have lots of minerals and vitamins modified into them. (Mandel, “GMO Food P and C”) Do not forget that GMO foods have much better texture and flavor, than non-GMO foods. GMO foods have negative effects on the environment, but GMO’s can also positively affect the environment. In places where plants have a hard time growing, like sandy or places with bad soil, scientists can genetically modify plants so they can grow in those environments. (UC Santa Cruz, “Benefits of GM

There is a great debate going on right now on the subject of genetically modified foods, or GMOs. For some, the idea of GMO food is a good one because the modifications allow crops to become resistant to drought and infestations, letting more people have more regular meals. Some research even shows that the world produces 17% more food than it needs to produce to provide each current human with three squares per day (Healthcare Articles and Infographics, 2013)! Others look at genetically modified foods as a dangerous proposition. From allergic reactions to potential intestinal damage, many people wish to avoid GMO foods because of animal studies that have shown changes in internal cell structure, abnormal tumor growth, and unexpected deaths that have occurred (Healthcare Articles and Infographics, 2013). By 2050, farmers must produce 40% more food to feed an estimated 9 billion people on the planet. Either current yields will have to increase or farmland will expand farther into forests and jungles. In some cases, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) would offer an alternative way to boost yields without sacrificing more land or using more pesticides (Maxmen, 2013).

Genetically modified crops have a positive impact on the environment because they limit habitat loss. Although using genetic modification on crops is good for the limitation of the loss of habitat for wildlife, it also benefits humans because it prevents deforestation and the depletion of oxygen. “Bt cotton, for example, has lowered production costs for cotton and led to increased amounts

There exists a debate over the use of genetically modified organisms to replace conventional food production techniques and the safety of the foods produced. In 2014, the Pew Research Center conducted a survey of the general public and reported that out of a survey of 2,000 individuals 57% of individuals believed it unsafe to consume genetically modified foods, 25% considered it safe, and 6% either did not know or did not answer (Funk and Rainie). In sharp contrast to this statistic, when asked the same question, 88% of 3,748 scientists from the American Association for the Advancement of Science considered genetically modified foods to be safe (Funk and Rainie). This difference in percentages can be considered alarming, but also understandable. Genetically modified organism or genetically engineered are relatively new terms to come to the dinner table. In a world where hunter-gatherers, farmers, and agricultural interests have been the backbone of the development of most civilizations, it is not unfounded to be concerned when biotechnology steps onto the playing field. As aforementioned, genetically engineered crops became available for farmers in 1996, just 20 years ago (Fernandez-Cornejo, et al.). According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the majority of these seeds were engineered with the purpose of providing farmers with a solution to pest management, with the advent of herbicide-tolerant seeds as well as seeds with traits allowing the plant to produce

Genetic modification of food can also boost the nutritional value of food (Whitman, Deborah, 2000). In many third world countries there is a rise in malnutrition, by boosting the nutritional value of crops this could benefit these countries in that the people living there will have access to adequate nutrition (Whitman, Deborah, 2000). It is also important to note that malnutrition can also be a problem in developed countries as well, though there may be an abundance of food, the food often may lack enough nutritional value to support optimum health (Health Worldnet, 2008). One example is rice, according to an article the Genetically Modified Food: The Benefits and Risks on Health

Genetically Modified insect resistant crops produce the toxic substances as a results it effect non-target organism and entire ecosystem. Biodiversity has significant role to balance environment as biodiversity decreases interaction between species decrease and ecosystem and food chain affect adversely. Some weeds are source of food for