Biology 3.2- Why GM crop should be grown in New Zealand
Introduction
A Genetically modified organism (GMO) is the product of artificially changing the genome of an organism, resulting in a change in phenotype. This process is commonly found used on crops and foods that we all eat. The reason that GM is used is that it causes the organism to express a phenotype that has some sort of benefit towards the organism. This practice is widely used in Agriculture as causes the crops to develop certain traits to adapt to the environment and survive; the crops are also modified to fit human preference. For example some crops are genetically modified so the fruit they bear grow larger. From these benefits, you may think that everyone would support GM crops, but there is a large amount of people that are against it especially in New Zealand as you cannot plant GM crops. The cause of this controversy is that GM crops could be dangerous for human consumption, due many claims that people have attained diseases and sicknesses from toxins within the crops.
Biological Concepts and Implications
The basis of Genetic engineering is the removal of one or more genes in an organism and then it is inserted in the DNA of another organism. By doing this, we can express certain traits due to the newly inserted gene which us as consumers find favourable. An example is the imported GM corn in New Zealand. A common type of GM corn is MON863 corn (1), which is developed by Monsanto, is genetically modified
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.
Genetically modified crops are an incredibly important issue that everyone should be aware of since it is something we are exposed to at a daily basis. Genetically modified crops also known as GM crops or Biotech crops has been one of the most heated debates of issues within our society. The debate about the safety, concerns and disadvantages of GM crops have raged since the mid 1990 's but this is due to the lack of knowledge of the general public. Many people are unaware of what the GM crops actually are and what they offer. Genetically modified crops are plants that are used in the agriculture and have been modified to initiate a new trait to plants that does not happen naturally in the species. These plants are modified using genetic engineering techniques to enhance desired traits. GM crops are made when genes of commercial interest are transferred from one organism to another.() There are many methods used for the production of GM crops but the two primary used for plant insertion are gene guns and agrobacterium tumefaciens. There are also three types of modifications which are transgenic, cisgenic, and subgenic plants. However, there are a number of issues that surround this controversial topic such as environmental, health, and economic concerns. Even though there are some worrying facts about GM crops people don 't realize the advantages or the ways it has helped humans as well as animals. There are many reasons why GM crops are proven
Genetically Modified Organism or GMO is an organism that has been altered genetically. There are many possibilities for altering an organism such as growing conditions, quantity, or even scientific breakthroughs. Many choose a side over this heated debate, whether GMOs are safe or if they are harmful to humans. Currently about two-thirds of all items in the supermarket is GMO(Corn The Miracle Crop). GMO promise increase crop yields, lower costs, and less herbicides and pesticides. Altering the organisms genetics could negatively affect the organism resulting in an unstable product. Researchers have found that an unstable product can result in poor crop production, decrease in nutritional value, toxic and
GMOs are Genetically Modified Organisms that are organisms that have had there DNA altered by humans. GMOs are supposed to help problems that are in plants, animals, or even humans. Much of the knowledge we have on GMOs is little to none. That is why we should not using them. Humans and animals could and are dying because of GMOs.
What exactly is genetically modified organism? GMO is a living organism (bacteria, plant, animal) whose genetic composition has been altered by means of gene technology and the genetic modification usually involves insertion of a piece of DNA (bacteria or virus) and/or synthetic combination of several smaller DNA, into the genome of the organism to be modified (Khan, Muafia, Nasreen & Salariya, 2012). GMO have two specific transgenes that have been created; one, with a built in pesticide for insect resistance and the other, for herbicide tolerance. Genetic modification has been a progressive resource to reducing/eliminating challenging environmental conditions that crops face related to pests, disease and harsh climate conditions. Elevating nutritional quality and the deficiency of vitamin A
What are GMOs? GMO is the acronym for genetically modified organism. “GMOs are living beings that have had their genetic code changed in some way” (Purdue University). GMOs commonly refer to crops that are created or modified for human or animal consumption using molecular biology techniques. Molecular biology can be defined as “a branch of biology dealing with the ultimate physicochemical organization of living matter and especially with the molecular basis of inheritance and protein synthesis” (Merriam Webster). GMOs are an improvement on the plant itself. Although GMOs seem like a fresh new idea, the human race has been modifying crops for thousands of years. “Humans have been genetically modifying organisms for over 30,000 years” (Rangel,
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.
In the last thirty years, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have been used for in the production of medicine and food and are widely used in scientific research and the production of other products (Junod, 2009). A GMO is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques, including mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes (Nelson, 2010).
Genetically modified organisms also known as (GMOs) were introduced with good intentions, by Monsanto in the early 1990s. GMOs were created to help farmers increase crop productivity, by resisting pests and to reduce the weed in crops. Genetic modification alters the characteristics of the plant. This was done by extracting the DNA from the plant, then injecting new genes from other plants bacteria or animals. For example, when Monsanto genetically modifies strawberries so they stay can stay fresh for a longer period of time, and
A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a chemical organism processed in a laboratory where genes from the DNA of the crops are extracted and then artificially forced into an unrelated product that, when put into the crops the farmers raise, can chemically change the makeup of the crop. The chemical makeup can be from the change in the skin color of the crop to the actual organic chemistry compound. Genetic engineering is the process of splicing the genes in the crop and taking out a certain chemical on the compound to substitute the original compound. The practice of genetic engineering has been around since 1935 when the Russian scientist Andrei Nikolaevitch Belozersky isolated pure DNA, and is being used by many farmers and large international corporations (Shireen). For example, a tomato farmer changes the genes of the tomato to prevent a beetle from eating it. However, genetically modified organisms are becoming detrimental to our bodies and health and there are ways the government can help Americans eat healthier by labeling products with genetically modified organisms.
“Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This can be referred to as “modern biotechnology” (Genetically Modified Organisms Production, Regulation, and Marketing 66). It allows scientists to take specific genes from one organism, and place them into another organism. For example, scientists could take a gene from a plant that is more drought resistant, and place it into another plant that is more susceptible to droughts. This method is used to make GM foods or genetically modified foods. There are numerous benefits to genetically modified foods.
GMO’s are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated or changed in a laboratory. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism, most GMO’s are common in foods today. The process of creating a genetically modified organism is fairly new, but it is now commonly used, and becoming more frequent in America's everyday meals. When scientist create a GMO, they are creating a hybrid or a modified version of an organism that would not naturally occur in nature. The reasoning behind this is to create a new organism that can withstand diseases, have drought tolerance, or bring more benefits to the consumer. One major question most people have is; “Are GMO’s safe?” The answer to that is NO. Most developed nations consider
GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism, which is the process of extracting genes from one species into another unrelated species. The process of transferring DNA from two distinct species is through genetic engineering. This displays the new traits of the first donor, which will be part of the genetic make up of the recipient organism. GMO is different from cross breeding or hybridization. Scientists developed GM plants by introducing genes that kill insects and protect crops against viruses. Many of these GM plants require less water so that they are able to grow in areas where water is scarce. The benefit of GMOs help crops grows and ripens faster so that farmers are able to grow more crops throughout the year. On the other hand, GMOs may be harmful to humans if they are not washed and cleaned properly before eating. GMOs include high risk of allergens, toxins, and other unknown side effects that are harmful.
According to the World Health Organization (2014. 1), "Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. The technology is often called 'modern biotechnology ' or 'gene technology ', sometimes also 'recombinant DNA technology ' or 'genetic engineering '. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods.” Many organic crops farming farmers are against cultivating of GM crops because of the threat to farm land and environment however, biotechnology companies and GM crops growing famer desire to have profit and consumer look for low price. Thus, the debate over the environmental impact of genetically modified GM crops is growing. Although GM crops negatively affects on some organism in environment, they reduce the use of pesticides and increase crop yield.