Genetically Modified Foods

A vigorously debated topic in our time is the issue of sustainability. This climate change, overpopulation, pollution, and ignorance about the damage being done to the environment. The climate that all living things have come to rely upon is changing because of global warming. Even though this is a hot topic today, it has been discussed since the 1980’s. Sustainability was introduced and defined at the 1987 World Commission on Environment and Development (UNECE Website). The commission’s report defined sustainability as “the development which meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (cite the website). The needs they are talked about included social, cultural and

In the 1980’s, the first genetically modified tobacco and tomato crops were introduced and sold in China and have been, controversially, around ever since. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, according to the World Health Organization, are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material has been modified through genetic engineering. Since the first time genetically modified foods were introduced in the 1980's, there has been a debate on whether or not these alien foods are harmful to our health. According to Jeffrey Smith, author of the book Seeds of Deception, in Another Reason for Schools to Ban Genetically Engineered Foods, he states, “Gene insertion creates unpredicted, irreversible changes” (486). Clearly, the uncertainty for

The big risk involved in consuming products like the transgenic banana and tomato is that the side effects are unknown; therefore, if ever they are discovered in the future, the impact on human health will be permanent. Some traditional farming economies are destroyed by genetically modified products companies. Lastly, the big disadvantage of genetic engineering is the overwhelming ethical and moral objections. Similar to biotechnology reservations, manipulations of organisms’ genetic makeup is a play of God’s work and idea of the world that He created. Furthermore, with genetic engineering some very bizarre modifications have been made and many are worried about scientists going too far with altering the order of life because there are no restrictions to their work. Above all, genetic engineering processes are a game of chance. Like the tomato where the desired gene is either “shot” into the cell using a gene gun or using invasive bacteria, there is too much uncertainty and uncontrollable mutations can occur. Most of the costs attached are extremely

Desiree Nielsen, Registered Dietitian and Author of the book, “Un-Junk Your Diet” educates her clients on how to select healthy foods for their families and of course, themselves. However, genetically modified organism is the secret ingredient that aggravates her care goals. Nielsen claims that there evidence to suggest they might cause harm to humans and livestock over time. She thinks that the appropriate safety test for genetically modified food consist of running long-term trials contrasting a population who did not consume GMOs to one that did. Nielsen give her clients food/nutrient advice based on functional role in the human body and the risk versus benefit of consuming them. She strongly feels that GMO provides no functional role in

Genetic modification is a biological technique that effects alterations in the genetic machinery of all kinds of living organisms. GMO is 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” (WHO, 2016). Genetically modified foods can be traced through history. The first genetically modified plants – antibiotic resistant tobacco and petunias – were produced by three independent research groups in 1983 (Zhang, et al., 2016). For this reason, the genetically modified foods are agricultural products that are dominant worldwide because of their productivity.

The role of genetic modification (GM science) has made a tremendous impact on agricultural (Adenle, Alhassan, & Solomon, 2014). Crops developed by GM science first became commercially available in the U.S. around the mid 1990s, and have quickly been adopted by farmers (Adenle et al., 2014; Cowan, 2011). According to Phillips (2008) GM science has “... increased crop yields, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and medical benefits to the world's growing population” ( p 1.).

Genetically modified organisms, also known as “GMOs” have not been around in the consumer world for longer than one-hundred years, yet they are already a topic of discussion as well as concern for numerous people. The use of GMOs in our food, primarily animals, poses ethical questions about the abuse of these animals’ in addition to the unnatural ways that the they are genetically formed into being; i.e. chicken injected with hormones to modify their growth to the extent that they are unable to move. GMOs have also been used to create increased fortified rice to grow in underdeveloped and famined countries to help nourish those in the country. Both pose the ethical awareness of the use of GMOs furthermore increasing the difficulty in the discussion of imposing laws against the use of them. The practice of genetically modifying organisms should not be used when animals are in the mix, it is not okay to modify an animal to increase production or customer satisfaction at the animals expense.

The subject we will discuss in this paper is the use of genetic modified organisms to make better foods and medicines. We chose this subject because we think it is interesting and it is also a current subject.

We all ask ourselves when it comes to what we are eating and what we are putting into our bodies I know I ask myself if, the food I am eating is good for me, how it will affect me afterwards, and what is actually in the food we are eating. Genetically modified Organisms aren't what everyone thinks they are, they are one of the best things for the global food industry and production. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO), GMO’s should play a major role in the global food industry because GMO’s continue to create advancements in ending global starvation due to creating resistance of pests, other diseases in crops and GMOs lower the risk of crop failure. The world is changing around us and what comes with this change is advancements in the food

A topic that can and has raised numerous arguments, whether it be agreeing or disagreeing with the argument, is the controversial one of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). The history of GMOs is notably long and the conflict that is created regarding their safety should not be about whether they are safe for human consumption, but rather the way in which they will influence long-term, justifiable agricultural efforts.

These selectively bred organisms not only simplified the farming process but also ensured a great number of a healthy and resistant quantity. Before the use of GMOs, meaning selective breading, farmers faced many difficulties when it came to unexpected results, low quality crops, more expenses and more effort. According to The Lugar Center, a center established to propose solutions to global problems, genetic engineering has led to the development of new traits much more effectively and quickly. Furthermore since tradition selective breeding can take multiple growing seasons to develop in order to test new varieties, the new selective breeding technique is much more efficient. Genetic engineering is much more precise than conventional hybridization and so is less likely to produce unexpected results. Nowadays the market demands only excellent quality plants even though most of these goods will not be seen while being consumed (vegetables in soup). This trend forced farmers to apply genetic engineering on all crops. Since GMOs are now protected against threats to strong yields, they are now more resistant especially when it comes to having longer life and so on. According to Cornell University in the article “what is Agricultural Biotechnology?” An example for the effectiveness of GMOs are the Papayas that were hit with papaya ring spot virus which devastated the crops by 40 percentage reduction in only five years. Due to the genetic engineering, scientists developed two varieties of papayas that were completely resistant to the virus, and now these new papayas are growing in Hawaii. Klumper states that genetic modification technology has increased crop yields by 22 percent and farmer profits by 68 percent. GMOs have been widely used especially by the poorest

There has not been much research or testing done on these types of GMOs so there could be dangerous, health related risks involved in the consumption of them that are unknown to the general population. There has been some speculation the genetically modified foods are related to an increase in food allergies but there is no confirmed link. Labeling of genetically modified foods is also not a requirement for manufacturers so people may not even know they are buying modified foods even if they do not want to eat them because of possible health risks. Pollen from genetically engineered crops can also be carried by wind to other areas where they then contaminate other seeds. This can eventually lead to the loss of biodiversity of crops in various areas. As crops like the Bt corn are also engineered to kill insects, insect populations could also be affected by genetically modified foods which would damage an area’s

Organisms has become a great concern of the society. The social concern on the GMO fall into

GM foods can be engineered to be far more nutritious and better tasting than regular foods. If we can take a vitamin producing gene from one fruit and put in another, we can make a very nutritious superfruit(staff). If we add a “sweet taste” from one fruit and add it to the superfruit we just made, we can make a very nutritious and delicious fruit. We can also get more children to eat their vegetables this

The extensive cultivation of genetically modified food however raises many issues for society and the world as a whole. Some of the issues includes biodiversity issues and the welfare of animals.