GMOsandtheFoodIndustry:GMOstandsforageneticallymodifiedorganism.Throughtheuseof biotechnology,weareabletoproducegeneticallymodifiedcropsthatareresistanttodisease,have betteryields,havemorebio–availablenutrients,etcThefirstgeneticallymodifiedcropwasplanted inthe1994andtoday,approximatelytenpercentoftheworld'sagriculturalfieldsaregenetically modified(Chassy,Parrott,andRuff,2015).However,thereisglobalcontroversyoverifthereare harmfulaffectsofconsumingfoodsthathavebeengeneticallymodifiedinsomewayandhowthose foodsshouldbelabeled.IntheUnitedStates,itisnotrequiredtolabelfoodsthatcontainany GMO'sEuropehasalargeconsumerpushfortherighttoknowwhatisintheirfoodandbecauseof this,theEuropeCommissionhaspassedlabelinglawsforGMO'scontainingornotcontaining foods.Thereisapushforstandardizationoftheregulationsduetocostsoftradebetweencountries butsincetherearecountriesthatrequireexpensiveGMOtesting,thereisconcernforcostsaswell asthepossibledistractionofallergenormetabolicdisorderlabeling(Goodman,2014).Another argumentagainstGMOlabelingisthatthereisnotenoughestablishedfoodsafetybenefitsto labelingfoodsthathave...showmorecontent...
EvenVermontpassedaGMOlabelinglaw,thatifnotstoppedbythefederalgovernment,would haverequiredproductstobelabeledifcontainingGMOsbysummertime2016Severalotherstates hadGMO–labelingontheiragendaaswell,includingHawaii,Marie,Connecticut,Illinois,and Massachusetts(Flynn,2015).Now,theattentionintheUnitedStatesturnstotheSafeandAccurate FoodLabelingActof2015,whichifpassedwouldmaketheFoodandDrugAdministrationset standardsforfoodcompaniesthatwishtolabeltherefoodscontainingornotcontainingGMOs (Flynn,
ProsAndConsOfGmosAndTheFoodIndustry
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Ourancestorsfirstcultivatedplantssometenthousandyearsago.Theydomesticatedanimalslater andthenselectivelybredbothplantsandanimalstomeetvariousrequirementsforhumanfood. Humansdiscoverednaturalbiologicalprocessessuchasfermentationoffruitsandgrainstomake wineandbeer,andyeastforbakingbread.Manipulationoffoodsisnotanewstory,therefore.The latestagriculturaldiscoveryusesgeneticengineeringtechnologytomodifyfoods
Farmersandplantbreedershavebeenchangingcropplantstoimprovecharacteristicssuchassize, resistancetodiseaseandtastePlantswhichgrowwell,haveahigheryieldortastebetterare selectedandbredfrom.Thisisstillthemostwidelyusedtechniquefor...showmorecontent...
Transgeniccropsaregrowncommerciallyorinfieldtrialsinover40countriesandon6continents. In2000,about109.2millionacres(442,000km²)wereplantedwithtransgeniccrops,theprincipal onesbeingherbicide–andinsecticide–resistantsoybeans,corn,cotton,andcanola.Othercrops growncommerciallyorfield–testedareasweetpotatoresistanttoaUSstrainofavirusthataffects oneoutofthemorethan89differentvarietiesofsweetpotatogrowninAfrica,ricewithincreased ironandvitaminssuchasgoldenrice,andavarietyofplantsabletosurviveextremeweather.
Between1996and2001,thetotalsurfaceareaoflandcultivatedwithGMOshadincreasedbya factorof30,from17,000km²(42millionacres)to520,000km²(128millionacres)Thevaluefor 2002was145millionacres(587,000km²)andfor2003was167millionacres(676,000km²). Soybeancroprepresented63%oftotalsurfacein2001,maize19%,cotton13%andcanola5%.In 2004,thevaluewasabout200millionacres(809,000km²)ofwhich2/3wereintheUnitedStates
Inparticular,Btcorniswidelygrown,asaresoybeansgeneticallydesignedtotolerateglyphosate herbicides.FutureapplicationsofGMOsincludebananasthatproducehumanvaccinesagainst infectiousdiseasessuchasHepatitisB,fishthatmaturemorequickly,fruitandnuttreesthatyield yearsearlier,andplantsthatproducenewplasticswithuniquepropertiesThenextdecadewillsee exponential
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ProsandConsofGeneticallyModifiedFoods
TheProsAndConsOfGeneticallyModifiedFoods
IthinkGeneticallyModifiedFoodshavethepotentialtoeitherchangethefutureofhumannutrition andagricultureorcompletelydismantleit.Humans,asarace,cannotaffordtoignoretheadvantages anddisadvantagesofGMFoodsanylonger.Thegapbetweentherichandthepoorisgrowingfaster andfaster.Thereisjusttoomanythingsitcandototheworldanditisunparalleledbyanyother technologyinexistencetodayMytakeonthistopicisfromanarbitrator'spointofviewIamfine withthiseitherway.Thegooditcaneventuallydowillevenoutthebaditcanalsodo. Iamstartingwiththegoodthingsitcandotoushumans.Firstofall,genesthatgivegreater toleranceofstresstoconditionssuchasdrought,lowtemperaturesorsaltinthesoilcanbeinserted intocrops,makingthemjuggernaut.Thiscanextendtheirrangeoflifeandopenupnewareasfor foodproduction.Scientistscanalsoinsertgenesthatmakecropsandanimalsgrowfaster,sothat theycanbecultivatedandharvestedinareaswithshortergrowingseasonslikeMinnesota.This abilityhasthepotentialtoextendfarmingintonewareaswithinsufficientfarmlands,whichwill drasticallyincreasetheoutcomeoffoodand(eventually)money
Plantsandanimalscanbebioengineeredtoproducemorevitalvitaminsandmineralstohelpsolve nutritionproblemsinunfortunatepartsoftheworld.Theycanalsobealteredtoproducean increasedamountofprotein,fatsandcarbohydratesthat
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ProsAndConsOfGeneticallyModifiedFoods
GeneticallymodifiedfoodsorGMfoods,alsoknownasgeneticallyengineeredfoodsor bioengineeredfoods,arefoodsproducedfromorganismsthathavehadchangesintroducedintotheir DNAusingthemethodsofgeneticengineering.Geneticengineeringtechniquesallowforthe introductionofnewtraitsaswellasgreatercontrolovertraitsthanpreviousmethodssuchas selectivebreedingandmutationbreedingCommercialsaleofgeneticallymodifiedfoodsbeganin 1994,whenCalgenefirstmarketeditsunsuccessfulFlavrSavrdelayed–ripeningtomato.Mostfood modificationshaveprimarilyfocusedoncashcropsinhighdemandbyfarmerssuchassoybean, corn,canola,andcottonGeneticallymodifiedcropshavebeenengineeredforresistanceto pathogensandherbicidesandforbetternutrientprofiles.GMlivestockhavebeendeveloped, althoughasofNovember2013nonewereonthemarket.Thereisascientificconsensusthat currentlyavailablefoodderivedfromGMcropsposesnogreaterrisktohumanhealththan conventionalfood,butthateachGMfoodneedstobetestedonacase–by–casebasisbefore introductionNonetheless,membersofthepublicaremuchlesslikelythanscientiststoperceiveGM foodsassafe.ThelegalandregulatorystatusofGMfoodsvariesbycountry,withsomenations banningorrestrictingthem,andotherspermittingthemwithwidelydifferingdegreesofregulation. However,thereareongoingpublicconcernsrelatedtofoodsafety,regulation,
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Geneticallymodifiedorganisms,GMOsforshort,arebecomingmorepopularinfoodaroundthe world.Scientiststakegenesfromsomedifferentorganismstoadddifferentqualitiestospecific crops,likecorn.Withthat,however,comesmanyunfacedchallengeslikethecrossfertilizationof naturalandmodifiedorganisms,resistencetopesticides,andhealthcomplications,tonameafew. AsGMOsarebecomingmorewidespread,itisalsobecomingmoreevidentthattheirpresenceis hazardousandtheyshouldbephasedoutofourfoodsystem.Oneofthechallengesfacedwiththe increasednumberofGMOcrops,isthatithasbecomemoredifficulttogrownaturalcropswithin thevicinityofmodifiedfoodsSomemayarguethatabufferzoneshowmorecontent Thisensuresthateachfarmerwillbuythenextyear'sseedsandMonsantowillmakemoney.The questionis:whatmakesMonsanto'sseedssovaluablethattheyneedtheirgrowerstosigna contract?Otherthanthefactthattheirseedsaregeneticallymodified,themostplausiblesolutionis thatMonsantoinsertsresistancetoRoundup,theirherbicideproduct,intheirseeds.Thisensures thatfarmerswillalsobuytheirpesticideEventhoughthisseemsconvenientforfarmers,itdoesnot gounpaidfor.Asawaytosidestepthepriceyseedsandpesticide,Mr.Bowmanboughtseedsfrom aseparatesellerforasecondcroplaterinthegrowingseason.Hearguedlaterthatsincetheseseeds werepurchasedforaseparatecrop,outsideoftheonehesignedacontractfor,thathedidnot understandwhyMonsantoclaimspatentinfringement.Hegrewhisseparatelypurchasedsoybeans, which,byluck,alreadypossessedtheRoundupresistantgeneWhenMonsantocaughtwindofwhat Mr.Bowmanhadbeendoing,theysuedhimforover$84,000.AfterMr.Bowmanappealed,the casemadeitallthewaytotheSupremeCourtwheretheJusticessidedwithMonsanto.They declaredthatMrBowmanmade"additionalpatentedsoybeanswithoutMonsanto'spermission" (Liptak).Mr.Bowmanusedtheseedsthathepurchasedtoyieldeightsuccessfulcrops.However,he didadmitthathe
ProsAndConsOfGeneticallyModifiedFoods
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TheProsAndConsOfGeneticallyModifiedFoods
Ifyouwanttosparkaheateddebateatadinnerparty,bringupthetopicofgeneticallymodified foods.Formanypeople,theconceptofgeneticallyaltered,high–techcropproductionraisesall kindsofenvironmental,health,safetyandethicalquestions.Particularlyincountrieswithlong agrariantraditions––andvocalgreenlobbies––theideaseemsagainstnature.Infact,genetically modifiedfoodsarealreadyverymuchapartofourlivesAthirdofthecornandmorethanhalfthe soybeansandcottongrownintheU.S.lastyearweretheproductofbiotechnology,accordingtothe DepartmentofAgriculture.Morethan65millionacresofgeneticallymodifiedcropswillbeplanted intheUSthisyearThegeneticgenieisoutofthebottleshowmorecontent
Likeanynewproductenteringthefoodchain,geneticallymodifiedfoodsmustbesubjectedto rigoroustesting.Inwealthycountries,thedebateaboutbiotechistemperedbythefactthatwehave aricharrayoffoodstochoosefrom––andasupplythatfarexceedsourneeds.Indeveloping countriesdesperatetofeedfast–growingandunderfedpopulations,theissueissimplerandmuch moreurgent:Dothebenefitsofbiotechoutweightherisks?Thestatisticsonpopulationgrowthand hungeraredisturbing.Lastyeartheworld'spopulationreached6billion.Andby2050,theU.N. estimates,itwillprobablynear9billion.Almostallthatgrowthwilloccurindevelopingcountries. Atthesametime,theworld'savailablecultivablelandperpersonisdeclining.Arablelandhas declinedsteadilysince1960andwilldecreasebyhalfoverthenext50years,accordingtothe InternationalServicefortheAcquisitionofAgri–BiotechApplications
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Theworldhasseenmanychangesandadvancesoverthelastcentury,butpossiblynonethatholdas manypossibilitiesasgeneticengineering.Geneticengineeringisturningupinmoreandmore places,anditisalmostcertainlyheretostayJustascomputersandplasticschangedmostaspectsof livingsincetheywereinvented,biologicalengineeringhasthepotentialtodothesameinthefuture. Thisnewtechnologyhasawiderangeofpossiblebenefits,fromhelpingfarmers,toimproving foods,tohelpingtheenvironment,tohelpingsickpeopleGeneticengineeringmayevenonedaybe usedtohelpsolveworldhunger.However,italsohasitsdangersandrisks,whichneedtobe consideredalongwithitsbenefits.Thefactthatnot...showmorecontent...
Alsodiscoveredwerevectors,whichareDNAcodesthatcaninsertthemselvesintootherseparate codes.Avirusisanexampleofavector.Scientistslearnedhowtobuildandusespecialvectorsto insertgenesoftheirchoiceintoanorganism'sDNAcode("WhatisGeneticEngineering?")
Numeroustechniques(suchasselectivebreeding)havebeenusedforyearstochangegenecodes, butthroughgeneticengineering,scientistscanmovegenesmucheasierthanbeforeandwithgreater precision("WhataretheDangers?")Scientistsbelievethatbyusingthesetechniques,theywillbe abletoimprovethequalityandcharacteristicsoffoodthatpeopleeat.Geneticallymodifiedfood ("GMfood")isfoodwithingredientsthathavebeengeneticallyalteredfortraitssuchaslargersize, pestresistanceinthefield,andfastergrowth.Forexample,scientistshaveusedthistechnologyto improveatomato'sabilitytoresistfreezing.Toachievethis,agenefromaflounderwasaddedto thetomato'sDNAcode,whichenabletheplanttoresistfrostsandextendsitsgrowingseason ("WhatisGeneticEngineering?").Anothergenewasfoundthatcouldhelpwheatgrowinfieldsthat normallywouldnotsupportit.CowswithalteredDNAcanevenproducemilkthatcontains chemicalssuchashumaninsulin,whichdiabeticsneedtosurvive("FrequentlyAskedQuestions").
Theseareallexamplesofhowscientistscanusegene–splicingtechnologyto
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Geneticallymodifiedorganisms,morecommonlyreferredtoasGMO's,aregreatlyupfordebateat thistime.AGMOistheresultofalaboratoryprocessinwhichgenesaretransferredbetween organismsinordertoobtaingenerallymoredesirabletraits("GeneticallyModifiedOrganisms") Theprocessbasicallytakesnaturallyunobtainabletraits,andmakesthemobtainablethrougha highlycontrolledlaboratorysetting.LargecompaniesproducetheseGMO'swithgreatprofit, especiallyduetothegreatdemandfortheirproduct,whichallowsfortheproductionofahigher yieldofcrops.Theadvancementoftechnologyhasresultedinfurtherdevelopmentoftheway geneticmodificationoccurs.("GMOFAQs")TheadvantagesanddisadvantagesofGMO'sare greatlydisputedinAmericansocietytoday.Thereareafewmajoradvantagestothegrowthof geneticallymodifiedorganisms:increasedprofit,largeryield,anddecreasedfoodprices.Since farmersspendlessmoneyoncrop–savingresources,theirprofitismuchlargerwhenGMO'sare used.Farmersalsonoticealargercropyield,duetotheincreasedimmunityaswellasoverallsize ofcrops.Thelastmajoradvantage,isthereductionofpricesatthe...showmorecontent...
Whilethecorninthepopcornisnotgeneticallymodifiedlikesomeotherformsofcornis,thereare manyadditionalcomponentswithinthesnackthatare.Theadditionalsoybeanoilandmilkareboth commonGMO'sSoybeansareavastlypopularcropintheUSwhichiscommonlymodifiedto producehigheryields,aswellasmilk,inwhichthecowsareoftenfedGMO's,leavingtraceswithin themilkitself.Thesealongwiththecountlesschemicalsthatpreservethepopcornandaddthat'oh sofake'butterytaste,provideasnackthatprobablyshouldn'tbeconsumedonthedaily("Why MicrowavePopcornIsAnAbsoluteHealth
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Forthousandsofyears,humanshavetransformedtheirsurroundingsandneighboringorganismsto suittheirneeds.Thetransformationfirsttookplacewhenhumansspreadseedsontotheearthto growtheirownfood,andcontinuedwhenhumansreachedouttoprovidefoodandsheltertoother animalsinexchangeforlabor,companionshipandsustenance.Whenearlyagricultureproved successful,thebestandstrongestanimalsandcropswerechosenforthenextgeneration.Thiswas thedawnofgeneticmodification,anditisasoldasagricultureitselfWhenspeakingabout geneticallymodifiedorgeneticallyengineeredorganisms,animportantdistinctionmustbemade. Thisnewbreedoftechnologydoesnotusetraditionalmeansofgene...showmorecontent... Theseconsequencescanpotentiallyaffecthumanpopulations,buttheenvironmentcanalsobe affectedonalocalorregionallevel.Mostpublicconcernhasbeenfocusedonhumanhealthand safetyregardingtheuseandconsumptionofthesefoods,butpotentialenvironmentalimpactsare importanttoconsideraswell.Manyvarietiesofgeneticallyengineeredcropsareintendedto decreasetheneedforchemicalpesticidesandfertilizers,butthescopeofenvironmentalimpacts doesnotstopatchemicalusageCommonconcernsaboutGMcropsincludetheeffectsofcross–pollination,so–called"geneticcontamination,"andtheescapeofGMcropsfromcultivationand theirinteractionswithnativespeciesConversely,theenvironmentalbenefitsofGMcropsrange fromreducingdependenceonchemicalpesticidestotheabilitytotreatpollutedsoilswith bioremediatingplants(Ford,2004).Manyvarietiesofgeneticallyengineeredcropshavebeen designedtodecreasetheneedforchemicals,particularlypesticidesHerbicide–tolerantvarietiesare amongthemostwidelyusedtypeofgenetically–modifiedcrop,whichenablesfarmerstousea singleherbicidetoeradicateweedsratherthanrelyonacocktailofpesticidesandherbicides. Eliminatingweedsinthisfashionalsodecreasestheneedforsoiltillage,whichcannegatively impactsoilecology.(Ford,
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TheProsAndConsOfGeneticallyModifiedFoods
Societyhavebeenalteringthegeneticpropertiesoforganismsforcenturies,overallthestandardof procreationtechniqueswiththeuseofradiationandchemicalstogeneraterandommutations,some ofthemturnouttobeuseful,forexampleGeneticModified(GM)Foods.WhatisGenetically Modified(GM)Foods?GMfoodsarefoodsthatarederivedfromorganismsthathavebeen geneticallyengineeredAlsotheyarecalledgeneticallyengineered(GE)ortransgeniccropsthatare generallymadeofageneticmarker.GMOhaveanextensivehistory.Inreality,theyhavebeen aroundforthousandsofyears.Soasitmaybetheconflictovertheirsafetyshouldnotbeabouteven iftheyaresafeforhumanstoconsumeorratherhowtheywillimpactlongtermEventhough GeneticallyModifiedFoods(GMF)wouldincreasefoodcosts,thesecanimproveyieldsforfarmers, providenutritionalbenefits,andhelptoalleviatetheincreasingglobalpopulationofthirdworld countries.
GMhasalotofsynonymous,forexampleGMO(geneticallymodifiedorganism)biotechfoods, Pharm–crops,etcPerhapsitisbecausegeneticallymodifiedfoodscomeundersomanynamesthat peoplehaveadifficulttimedeterminingwhattheyareandwhattheyarenot.PeoplethinktheGM foodisonlyfoodwithmodificationsandthatdoesnotprovideanybenefitsforusandthe environment.Well,dowereallyknowwhywemodifiedourfood?Asweseeinthearticle "GeneticallyModifiedFood""Somecropshavebeen ...Getmorecontent...
ThewaygovernmentshaveregulatedGMfoodsvaries.InsomecountriesGMfoodsarenotyet regulated.Countrieswhichhavelegislationinplacefocusprimarilyonassessmentofrisksfor consumerhealthCountrieswhichhaveprovisionsforGMfoodsusuallyalsoregulateGMOsin general,takingintoaccounthealthandenvironmentalrisks,aswellascontrol–andtrade–related issues(suchaspotentialtestingandlabellingregimes).Inviewofthedynamicsofthedebateon GMfoods,legislationislikelytocontinueto
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TheProsAndConsOfGeneticallyModifiedFoods
Geneticallymodifiedfoodsareorganismsthathavebeenalteredthroughtheprocessofgenetic engineering.Geneticengineeringisthedirectmanipulationofanyorganisminwhichscientist changethegeneticsofacellmodifyinganorganism'sDNAtoadesirabletrait.(USAToday,last accessJuly5,2017)
GeneticallymodifiedfoodsisthebiggestethicaldiscussioninoursocietytodayManypeople wouldarguethatgeneticallymodifiedfoodscouldbetheperfectsolutiontoourworldhungerissue however,geneticallymodifiedfoodsareharmful.Oursocietytodayshouldnotusegenetically modifiedfoodsbecausetheyaffectourenvironment,ourhealthasawholeandourplant transformationprocess.AsstatedinGMOpowerpoint"newgeneticallymodifiedfoodmaybetoxic andnotallofthesehorriblesubstancesareknownorcanbepredicted."Accordingtoanarticleby NaturalRevolution"NotestscanguaranteethataGMOwillnotcauseallergies.Althoughthe WorldHealthOrganizationrecommendsascreeningprotocol,theGMsoy,corn,andpapayainour foodsupplyfailthosetestbecausetheirGMproteinshavepropertiesofknownallergens" ScientisttellthegeneralpublicthateveryGMfoodcropisrequiredtogothroughlaboratorytestbut failtostatethatthesetestaredoneonrodentswhichhavenohumanlikefunctionsorourorgan system.GMfoodsaffectshumaninfertilityandalsoaffectourimmunesystem.No,oursociety shouldnotusegeneticallymodified
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ProsAndConsOfGeneticallyModifiedFoods
AreGeneticallyModifiedFoodsHarmful?GMOsaregeneticallymodifiedorganisms.Thisiswhen anorganism'sormicroorganism'sgeneticmakeuphasbeenmodifiedinalabtomeetaspecific purpose.Theorganismscanbeanythingfromanimalsandlivestocktoourcropsandfood.Genetic modificationeffectsmanyofthefoodsweeateverysingleday.Somecropsaregeneticallymodified tobeinsectresistant,growfaster,orgetbiggerThereisalotofdebateinthescientificcommunity whetherGMOsaresafetoconsumeornotandwhattheeffectsmightlooklikeiftheydidcarry certainriskswiththem.Withallthegeneticallymodifiedcropsthatarenowbeinggrownaroundthe world,wehavetostartaskingwhetherornottheyaregoodforuslongterm,asalmostshowmore content...
Theincreasedagriculturalchemicalusecontributestopollutionofwatersuppliesandsurrounding land.Theycanalsobecomemoreresistanttopesticidesandherbicides.Anytraitthatisgiventoa geneticallymodifiedcropcancreateageneflowfromthemodifiedcroptoanormalcropwhich decreasesgeneticdiversityThismeansthatthehealtheffectsoftheGMOscanspreadacrosswild cropsandpotentiallyharmplantsorotheranimalssincetheyareconsideredaninvasivespecies. Geneflowalsoeffectsorganiccompaniesthataresupposedtohavenon–GMOfood.Studies suggestthatupto25percentoforganiccorniscontaminatedwithgenesfromgeneticallymodified foods.Thiscrosspollinationfromgeneticallymodifiedcornandregularcorndecreasestheintegrity ofanynon–gmocompanyThesecontaminatedproductssometimesseaptheirwayintothedairy andmeatindustrythroughanimalfeed.Whileafarmermightchooseorganiccornfeedforhisherd, thefeedmayhavealreadybeencontaminatedthroughprocessingchannelsinafactorythathad geneticallymodifiedcorngothroughthem
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Themostwonderfulactivityahumanbeingcanexperienceisnewflavorsandfoods.Forexample, thefirsttimeapersontastesadeliciousjuicypieceofprimeriboradelightfulhamburgerwith cheeseandham,hisworldisneverthesameHowever,sincethebeginningofthetwentiethcentury, theproductionoffoodhasbeensupplementedbyscience.Thishastriggeredanangrydispute betweenthepeoplewhosupporttheadvancesofbiotechnologyandpeoplewholovenature.In ordertounderstandthecontroversy,wehavetoknowthemeaningofgeneticallymodifiedfoods Withnewtechnologicaladvances,scientistscanmodifyseedsfromaconventionalseedtoahigh techseedwithshortermaturationtimesand...showmorecontent...
Thekeyisintheproduction.ThegrowthofGMcropsisfasterthantheconventionalseeds.Forthat reason,farmerscanproducemoreandmore.Theseseedsareresistanttocoldandhotweatherand havemorechancestoresistdrynessthantheothersAlso,thesecropsareherbicideresistant;that meansthatfarmerscanspraywithherbicideanddefeattheweedswithoutalteringthecrop.Forthat reason,alotofmoneyissavedbythereduceduseofpesticides,andthecostofproductionis benefitedAlmost825millionsfarmersallovertheworldplantedgeneticallymodifiedseedsin 2004,comparedto7millionin2003,saidtheinternationalServicefortheAcquisitionofAgri–biotechApplications(ISAAA)("Biotech"1)
Inadditiontothestrongproduction,asJohnB.Alfred,aprofessorinthedepartmentoffoodscience andtechnologyatOhioStateUniversity,said,"Thesefoodsareassafeandnutritiousastheir conventionalcounterparts"(Alfred1)TheseGMplantsaremodifiedtoproduceproteinsthatplants wouldnotproducebynaturalmeans.Theygrowupwithbuilt–inVitaminAthatpreventsblindness inpeoplewhohaveVitaminAdeficiency.ScientistshavealsocreatedGMpotatoeswhichabsorb lessoilwhenfried.Thatmeanslessfatinthepotato,convertingpopularfrenchfriesfromjunkfood tonutritiousandhealthyfood.Scientistshavealsodevelopedanapplewithabuilt–invaccinewhich preventschildhoodpneumonia("GMFood"1)Theseareonly
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"Whenyoulightacandle,youalsocastashadow."–UrsulaK.LeGuin.Nomatterwhatgoodsome peoplebelievetheyaredoing,everythingseemstocomewithaconsequence,andthequestionis whetherornotthegoodoverpowersthebadManyexpertsarguethatGeneticallyModifiedfoods areactuallybeneficialto,notonlypeople,butanimals,plants,andtheworldoverall.Someexperts evenstatethat,notonlyaretheybeneficial,butthattheyalsoprotecttheenvironmentandaidfood productivityMostfarmersactuallyrecommendGMO'sbecausetheyareeasiertogrow,maintain, andtendtobemoreprofitable;however,countlessotherexpertshavecometorealizethatGMO foodsareuntested,unsafe,andunhealthy.Studiesindicatethat...showmorecontent...
Afarmergrowsthesesoybeanswhichthenonlyrequireoneapplicationofweedkillerinsteadof multipleapplications,reducingproductioncostandlimitingthedangersofagriculturalwaste.In initiation,Agribusinesses,whopromotetheirGMOfoods,haveassertedfallaciesabouttheir GMO's,statingthattheywillsavetheworldfromhungerbygeneratingmorefood,createmore productivecrops,andreducethecostoffarming;thoseofwhichhaveallbeeninvalidatedby expertsForexample,AndrewKimbrell,theexecutivedirectoroftheInternationalCentrefor TechnologyAssessment,arguesthatfoodproductionisnottheproblem,andinfact"Theworld producesmorethanenoughfoodtofeeditscurrentpopulation",thattheproblemisindistribution Theworldactuallyproducessomuchfoodthat"enoughisavailabletoprovide4.3poundsoffood toeveryperson,everyday"(Kimbrell1998).Agribusinesseslietothepeopleclaimingthattheir GMO'saresavingpeople,andendinghungerintheworldtotryandconvinceyoutobuytheir product,whenineffectfoodproductionisnottheproblem.Secondarily,GMO'saresaidtobemore productive,andcreategreateryields;howeverStatedbyKimbrell,"therearecurrentlytwoprincipal typesofbiotechseedsinproduction:HerbicideResistant,and'Pest'resistantseeds.Andin"ATwo yearstudybytheUniversityofNebraska"revealed
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Positivesofbeingabletogeneticallymodifyfoodsarebeingabletomakeyourcropsproduce naturalpesticides,beingabletotreatpeoplewithvaccinesthroughthedigestionofproduceand givingareasoflandthatcannotsupportgrowththeabilitytogrowplantsHowevertherearesome downsidestogeneticallymodifyingourplantsduetocreatingplant'swithaninsecticidegeneto eliminatethemainunwantedbugsthismakeswayforotherbugstorise,thesameconceptarises withweedsBeneficialbugslikebutterfliesandbeesmaynotberesistanttothepest–proofingof crops,eradicatingpollinatinginsectsisTheGreenRevolutionVirusClimatechangeandpopulation growthwillmakelifeincreasinglyunreliableforfarmersacross
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GeneticallyEngineeredFoods
Theworldhasseenmanychangesandadvancesoverthelastcentury,butpossiblynonethatholdas manypossibilitiesasgeneticengineering.Geneticengineeringisturningupinmoreandmore places,anditisalmostcertainlyheretostay.Justascomputersandplasticschangedmostaspectsof livingsincetheywereinvented,biologicalengineeringhasthepotentialtodothesameinthefuture. Thisnewtechnologyhasawiderangeofpossiblebenefits,fromhelpingfarmers,toimproving foods,tohelpingtheenvironment,tohelpingsickpeople.Geneticengineeringmayevenonedaybe usedtohelpsolveworldhunger.However,italsohasitsdangersandrisks,whichneedtobe consideredalongwithitsbenefitsThefactthatnotshowmorecontent
Proponentsofthistechnologyclaimthatbiotechcropscould,ordo,reducepesticideusage,increase yieldsperacre,raisethenutritionalvalueoffood,andrequirelesswatertogrow.Inarecentspeech, theUSSecretaryofAgriculture,DanGlickman,spokeofhowthefieldofmedicineisbeing transformedbybiotech.Humaninsulin,cancermedications,antibiotics,andvaccinesareall productsofgeneticengineeringAnewgeneticallyengineered(GE)drughasthepotentialtosave hemophiliacsfrombleedingtodeath.ScientistsarealsoresearchingGEbananasthatcouldoneday beusedtogivevaccinestochildreninthird–worldcountries(Glickman).Proponentsofgenetic engineeringalsobelievethatthistechnologywillhelptheenvironment.Inthearticle"Monsanto: PlayingGod,"byKirkpatrickSale,someofthesebenefitsarediscussed.Monsanto,oneofthe largestcorporationsinvolvedingeneticengineeringandresearch,hasdevelopedcropsthatcanbe sprayedwiththepowerfulherbicideRoundup(alsomanufacturedbyMonsanto)withoutbeing affectedbyit.Thismeansthatafarmercansprayafieldofcropswithachemicalthatislethalto virtuallyallweedsandplantsand,asaresult,nothavetoworryaboutcultivatingorplowingThisis beneficialsinceplowingfieldscausesmuchlossoftopsoilthroughwindandwatererosion(25 billiontonsoftopsoilarelosteachyear).Monsantoclaimsthatbyusingits"Roundup
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ProsandConsofgeneticallymodifiedfood,orGMOs
Geneticallymodifiedfoodsareatypesoffoodsthathavebeengeneticallychanged,toaddorgetrid ofanunwantedtraitinafood.Forexample,seedlessoranges.Thisisatypeoforangethatis geneticallymodified(hadtitsgeneschanged)specificallysoitwouldgrowwithoutseedsMany foodsaregeneticallymodifiedtoday.Oranges,corn,tomatoes,potatoes,squash,andmanyothers havehadtheirgeneschanged.Infact,theaveragepersonwilleatatleastonegeneticallymodified foodeverydaywithoutrealizingitAccordingtoasurveybyUSDA26%ofpeopleaskedbelieved thattheyhadnevereatenageneticallymodifiedfood.
Today,over85%ofthecorngrownintheU.Sisshowmorecontent
Inlesswealthycountries,kidsstandinlineforhourstogetshotsthattreatinfectiousdiseasesthat havethepotentialtokillButwhatifthekidscouldeatdinnerandbesafefromthosediseasesfor yearsaftertheyateameal?Anti–cholerapotatoesaregeneticallymodifiedpotatoesthatcontainthe fluidsthatpreventcholera.Sometimeinthefuture,thereisapossibilitythatshotsandtreatments willbeathingthepast.Allyouwillhavetodoiseatapotato,andfortherestofyourlife,youwont havetoworryaboutgettingcholera.Therearesomedrawbacksinthisthough.Forexample,when theplantsspreadpollen,thepollenwillcarrythegenethegenethatmakesthefoodmedicatedIfthe pollenspreads,thegenewillspreadcausingthenaturalpotatoestobecomemedicated.Thiscould causepeoplewhodidn'twantthemedicinetotakeitwithoutrealizingit.
GMOfoodsarenotthemosthealthyorhonestfoods,buttheyarethemosthelpful.Manyfruitsand vegetablesareengineeredtoberesistanttobugsanddiseasesthatcouldcausefamine.Thishelps farmersalloverthecountrybygivingthemabetterharvest.Also,non–sanitarysoilhasbecomea largeprobleminsomeplacesaroundtheworld.Thesoilmadeitharderforcropstogrowincertain environmentsTosolvethisproblem,scientistscouldtakeagenefromaplantthatcanliveinthese conditions,andplantitintoanothercrop'sgenome.Thiswouldmakethecropthat
ProsandConsofGeneticallyModifiedFoodEssays
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April2012
GeneticallyModifiedFood: WorldWidePanaceaor"Frankenfood"toFear?
NeverbeforeinhistoryhasmankindsomasterfullycommandeditsfoodchainThousandsofyears ago,muchofourspeciesmadetheleapfromahunter–gathererlevelofsubsistencetoan agriculturalsociety.Withagriculture,slowlybutsurelymanymodificationsweremadetoplantsand animalsusedanddomesticatedbyusforthepurposeoffeedingourselvesNewspecializedvarieties withspecificdesirabletraitsslowlyemerged;withtheadventofknowledgeofhybridization,this processwasgreatlyexpedited.Bytoday,muchhaschangedinthewayweshapethefoodsweput intoourbodies.Withmodernfoodsciencehascomethedawnofgeneticshowmorecontent ResearchersatHarvardUniversity,forexample,haverecently"addedafewgenesto[E.coli's] solitarycircularchromosome,coaxingtheorganismtoproducelycopene"("BacteriaintoBiotech Factories").Inbacteria,thisprocessallowsforusefulandvitalproductslikeinsulintobeproduced muchmoreeasily,andatlowercosts.Likewise,geneticengineeringofplantscanbeusedto increasetheconcentrationofbeneficialbotanicalcompoundsusedinmedicineandhealth supplements.Althoughcertainlynotwithoutrisk,GMOtechnologyhasbeenaroundforalmosttwo decadesnow,andhashadmuchfewernegativeimplicationsonhumanbeingsthan,forinstance, newlydevelopedcancertreatments.Yettrialanderrorforcancertreatmentdoesnotgetthenegative publicitythatthegeneticmodificationofplantsdoes,despitethefactthatbothaimatimproving healthforpeoplewhoareotherwiseverysick(beitcancerorstarvation)
IntheUnitedStates,whereoppositionto"frankenfood"hassteadilygrownoverthepastdecade, manyscientistsfearpublicsuspicionregardinggeneticallyengineeredfoods(withinthecountryand abroad)couldderailfurtherresearchanddevelopmentofthem.Skepticalpublicsentimentmay hindertheadvancementofsuchcropsthatcouldpotentiallyimprovenutritionandoverallhealthin regions–suchasfamishedSub–SaharanAfrica–thatcoulddesperatelyuseit.Inadditiontosolving the
GeneticallyModifiedFoodEssay
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PigHeartKeptAliveinPrimatefor965days!22peopleeverydaydiewaitingforanorgan transplant,theeffectiveandcontrolleduseofgeneticmodificationcanhelprectifythisissuealong withmanyothersintheworld,suchashelpingreduceworldhungerandremedybirthdefectsbefore ababyisevenborn.ThereareseveralprosandconstoGM(geneticmodification)althoughthe generalconsensusisthattheseaugmentationsofcurrentorganismsarebeneficialformanydifferent peopleincreatingabetterworldOneofthemostprominentandimportantadvancementsingenetic modificationsaffectsanimals,pig'sorganscanbegeneticallyengineeredforuseinhumanorgan transplants,toprovideanearlyboundlesssupplyoforgantransplants.Genetic...showmore content
GMO's(GeneticallyModifiedOrganisms)havealsobeencreatedtoberesistanttoinsectsallowing themtofendoffinsectsandtheirharmfulconsumptionofthecropsOtherpotentialusesforGMis toeradicateandpreventbirthdefects,increaseanimalsizeformoremeat,forconsumption,anti–fungifruits,alteredcoloursforflowersandusingGMfortheuseofprovidingorgantransplantsfor humansOntheotherhand,inspiteofamultitudeofbenefits,therehasbeendebatewithinthe scientificcommunityaboutthepotentialconsofGeneticModification.Someareworriedaboutthe possiblelong–termeffectsofGM,asthereisnolong–termresearchintothetopicOnemajor concernraisedisthepossiblelinkbetweenGeneticallyModifiedOrganismsandincreasedratesof allergicreactions,"AccordingtotheCentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention(CDC),food allergiesinchildrenunder18yearsofagehaveincreased;from34percentbetween1997and1999 to5.1percentbetween2009and2011."(Colbert&Sullivan,2016).Inspiteoftheseresultsthereis nodirectlinkbetweenGM'sandthispeakinfoodallergiesasprovedbyastudydoneby
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