The Perils of Genetically Modified Food Essay examples

Most things are created in a specific place and certain systems are put in place as directed by nature. In the efforts to comprehend and deal with nature, humans have invented, engineered and manipulated nature in ways that often create unforeseen results. My grandmother used to say: â€Å"Do not mess with Mother Nature†, but now that, I think about it, I realize that we do mess with nature. I should perhaps say that we must mess with nature – hard-wired to constantly engineer the environment. Humans do this in order to produce something that will be better or healthier than its original design. One example of such â€Å"messing† with nature is genetically modified foods. Genetically modified foods also referred to as GMOs is a term used to†¦show more content†¦However, consumers do not wish to consume foods that have been treated with pesticides because there are potential health hazards. Growing genetically modified foods eliminates the application of chemical pesticides and reduced the cost of bringing a crop to the market. 1 Another advantage is herbicide tolerance. For some crops it is not cost-effective to remove weeds by physical means, so farmers usually spray large amounts of different herbicides to destroy weeds. This is an expensive and a time-consuming procedure that requires additional care so that the herbicide does not harm the crop plant. On the other hand, crop plants that are genetically engineered to be resistant to one powerful herbicide could stop environmental destruction by reducing the quantity of herbicides needed. A third advantage of genetically modified foods is disease resistance. There are many bacteria, fungi, and viruses that are sources of plant diseases. Many plant biologists are working to create plants with genetically engineered resistances to diseases. Finally, a fourth advantage of genetically modified foods is cold tolerance. For instance, unexpected frost could ruin sensitive seedlings. In order to prevent this, an antifreeze gene from cold-water fish has been implanted into plants such as tobacco and potato. With this gene, the plants are able to tolerate cold temperatures that would normally destroy unmodified seedlings. Although genetically modified crops have theirShow MoreRelatedWhat Does Genetically Modified Crop Mean?1102 Words   |  5 Pagesan excess of food that universe hunger statistics drastically reduce. Many people are grieving from malnutrition, and they do not devour the essential vitamins to exist a wholesome lifestyle? In September a year of 2010, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations state that â€Å"FAO calculates that a total number of 925 million people of the world undernourished in 2010.† All across the earth, reliable people are languishing due to the shortage of nourishment and food stores. By usingRead MoreExecutive Summary (Genetically Modifying Food). Imagine1308 Words   |  6 Pages Executive Summary (Genetically Modifying Food) Imagine a banana that receives immunizations for hepatitis B, a potato that provides an excellent French fries to eat, luscious strawberries or such an excess of food that universe hunger statistics drastically reduce. Many people are grieving from malnutrition, and they do not devour the essential vitamins to exist a wholesome lifestyle? In September, the year of 2010, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations state that â€Å"FAO calculatesRead MoreThe Gmo Trap : An Unexposed Secret1681 Words   |  7 Pages and economic aspects of daily living, numerous perilous concerns have risen against the proper usage and non-maleficence of these high-tech mechanics. For about a decade now, genetically modified foods have occupied the shelves of supermarkets and grocery stores across the nation. The ample amount of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have sparked many affairs regarding the impact they have on one’s health. The detonation of GMOs, according to the Institute for Responsible Technology, is â€Å"theRead MoreGenetic Engineering Essay1106 Words   |  5 Pageswhere it can be expressed. This means that the required product can be synthesised within the new organism. Very often these two organisms are totally unrelated species. The products of genetic engineering are referred to as genetically modified or transgenic organisms. Paul Berg produced the first recombinant DNA molecules in 1972. However since the 1970s genetic engineering has rapidly developed as a powerful tool for the biotechnology industry. 2 DNA (deoxyribonucleicRead MoreGenetically Modified Foods : The Tomato, Hit The Markets1900 Words   |  8 Pagescommercially presented genetically modified food, the tomato, hit the markets in the United States. These genetically modified tomatoes are known as crops created for humans or animals to consume by using the latest molecular biology techniques. The process of it is very simple. The geneticist will need to find the desired gene in an existing organism first. Then the geneticist will cut out the desired gene, relocate it to the intended plant that will be genetically modified, and paste the desiredRead MoreThe Benefits of Genetically Modified Crops1191 Words   |  5 PagesAbout 90% of planted areas of soybeans in the United States are genetically modified strains. Genetic engineering is very important to modern society because of the world’s expanding population and with the arising need of food; it provides an adequate source. Genetic engineering may have both advantages and disadvantages, but the future of mankind may be affected greatly if it is allowed to prosper as a modern science. Several main arguments that many people have about genetic engineering are theRead MoreFrankenfoods and Their Effects Essay3979 Words   |  16 Pages 1. Find a definition of â€Å"genetically modified organism.† How are genetically modified organisms different from non-genetically modified organisms? When a gene from one organism is purposely moved to improve or change another organism in a laboratory, the result is a genetically modified organism (GMO). It is also sometimes called transgenic for transfer of genes. Genetically modified organism have a better adaptation or quality than the non-genetically modified organism. For example: GMRead MoreThe Controversy Of Transgenic Crops2050 Words   |  9 Pagespermanently changing the world of agriculture. Genetically modified agriculture, or transgenic crops, are crops that have had their DNA altered via genetic engineering. Transgenic crops are often the subject of skepticism from wealthy countries such as America. In these countries the citizens are concerned transgenic crops may have a negative impact on their health and the environment. As a result transgenic crops, or any other genetically modified organism, are the subject of controversy. On oneRead MoreGenetic Engineering: Playing God Essay1796 Words   |  8 Pagesand pesticides. They modified the plants, and then marketed them as better foods. In 1991 the Food and Drug administration took the products off the market for examination. They deemed the foods to be fine for human consumption† (Levine). These new wonder plants were supposed to produce more crops, and use less space, but in real ity they only produced an average of 3-5 percent more, and they used the same amount of space as the original plants. The downside to these genetically engineered plants wasRead MoreEssay on Genetic Engineering and the Pursuit of Perfection1905 Words   |  8 Pagesâ€Å"in-valid†. Of course nobody cares for a less-than-perfect child whose genetic makeup was left to fate. With the introduction of genetic engineering into society, people like this young boy simply have no hope for competing against the likes of the genetically reimagined, â€Å"perfect† jock, people engineered to be unflawed. With this technology, comes a whole new social setting and new rules must be set down as the human race wanders into unfamiliar territory. The progression of technology is leading the