...GMOs are genetically modified organisms that are made in purpose to help or improve a plant, animal, etc. In almost all modifications of organisms, genes from other species of life are inserted into the desired organism they want to improve or change. Most chickens today have been selectively bred to produce x10 more eggs per year than a wild chicken would on its own. Due to this process, chickens lay more eggs and produce more food for the rapidly growing world we live in. Genetically modifying organisms is ethical and can lead to the benefit of not only our species future, but in plants and animals as well. Through varied modifications in many plants, we are able to improve their traits and efficiency through inserting different traits...
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... These are commonly known as GMOs. Genetically modified organisms have some positive attributes. However, GMOs also have adverse effects on animals, the environment and the health of the consumer. In order to understand why GMOs have these effects, it is important to know exactly what a GMO is and how these differ from the normal breeding farmers have done for years. The Free Dictionary defines a GMO as “An organism whose genetic characteristics have been altered using the techniques of genetic engineering.” It goes on to explain that modern science has the ability to modify the genetic makeup of plants and animals. Scientists can even transfer genes from one species to another. http://www.thefreedictionary.com/genetically+modified+organism Advocates of genetically modified organisms say that the use of the gmos could end world hunger they also say we could create plants and animals that are resistant to disease and tolerant to pesticides. They can also engineer plants to be drought resistant. They argue these changes would stop famine because the plants could naturally resist. The proponents use pathos to convince people they have the answer to world hunger. They show you pictures starving people around the world and tell you their “improved” seeds make hunger go away. Perhaps it could but the studies do not prove that yet. In fact, the only feeding study done with humans showed that GMOs survived inside the stomach of the people eating GMO food. This does not mean it is...
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...organisms are used in other ways apart from consumption.With a rapidly growing population and an increasing need of goods if there is nothing done soon people could run out of what is crucial to survive. Genetically modified organisms are used to create a rapid growth of resources. Gmo is an outlet that is used for products such as corn and others that are widely used and needed for either food or other resources like oil. Therefore, genetically modified organisms are more efficient crops, because of the lack of harm it causes to Americans, the variety of ways it could be used for, and the efficiency it has due to climate change. There are uncertainties on weather genetically...
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...GMO: Genetically Modified What? When you spot a food item that is labeled a “GMO”, do you know what that means? There are many people who don’t know what the abbreviated term means or even what it is, but simply it stands for “genetically modified organism”, in this case: genetically modified food. This means that much of the food consumed regularly has been altered in some way over the course of time. Essentially, it is not made from the earth; it is not classified natural. According to writer Yelena Sukhoterina, “In 38 countries, GM crops are banned on the government level, with the backing of the country’s scientists, doctors, and environmental agencies” (Sukhoterina). However, out of those countries, the United States is not one of them. Currently speaking, there are few select states that are fighting against the big GMO seed corporations, specifically they are fighting to have food labeled whether it is or isn’t GMO free. Today there is a massive controversy with GMOs and whether or not they are beneficial to our health. Although some are ignorant to believe that food is...
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...The debate about Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is one of the worlds most important issues. GMOs are organisms in which the genetic material has been altered for improvement of productivity and product quality. GMOs have raised concerns about whether or not they are resistant to disease, help humans suffering from famine, produce greater yields, and improve the nutrition of foods. Food is required for humans to maintain great health and to survive. It is not secret that GMO foods have spread out rapidly to the whole world. If we can not stop the proliferation of GMOs, we should at least know why they are harmful to our health and how we can prevent it because GMOs are harmful to our health. Also, crops containing GMs lead to vital destruction of the environment and have contaminated organic crops. As well as major companies, which work closely with GMOs, intend to monopolize market foods. lastly how to prevent GMO products from becoming the main source of eating by labeling and informing people of the danger. Most people have eaten GMO based foods at one point or another in their lives. Unfortunately, GMOs will not provide the same food security as most proven organic foods which have been eaten by humans through out history. Despite the danger, GMO products are still on our table. No one can truly guarantee that GMOs’ side effects will not be long-term and continuous. Proving safety is beyond the capability of current technology. Supporters of genetic engineering say that...
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...GMOs, They’re Killing Me! Recently someone said that 70% of the foods sold from our grocery store shelves contain Genetically Modified Organisms. This is extremely alarming because GMOs are plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses or other plants and animals. These experimental combinations cannot occur in nature or in traditional cross breeding (“Non GMO Project”). Obesity, chronic disease, and food allergies have skyrocketed in the United States over the past two decades. Many people think it is due to poor eating and exercise habits. While a portion of this may be true, the more logical explanation is the fact that corporations have altered the food supply in a way that is harmful to the human body. GMO crops adversely affect human health. Numerous studies have been done recently and even more are currently being conducted around the globe. These studies illustrate the correlation between the introduction of GMOs into the food supply and the increase in health issues. This is such an important issue to literally every human being on the planet. Not all countries are addressing the issue in the same manner. It is crucial to know what the United States is doing as compared to other industrialized nations around the world. There were several reasons that corporations began altering the DNA of seeds. One of those reasons was that GMOs were supposed to reduce the amount of pesticides necessary to keep weeds under control. The...
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...Table of Content 1. Introduction 2 2. GMO OMG: A Fathers Quest 4 3. GM Food ? Cultivating Fear: Expert position 9 4. Conclusion 14 Bibliography 15 1. Introduction Food is a huge part of our daily routine - most people eat at least three meals a day and think about what they are going to eat the rest of the day. The saying - We are what we eat; transforms genetically modified food into an unknown threat to our health in the case of GM food. The result is that when our source of nutrition is modified - controversies arise. This becomes apparent when investigating the GM-food debate; a controversial issue that has attracted attention in both media and public opinion.[footnoteRef:1] [1: Genetically Modified, because of rapid developments within the biotechnology-industry such as the CRIPSR-Cas9 system, GMOs are making major scientific advancements. ] One way of obtaining information about GM-food is by watching documentaries. They are presumed to be unbiased and truthful, a reliable source of information on the subject. However, the content of a documentary is generally chosen in order to make the message it wants to convey most convincing. The success of a documentary in conveying the message is determined by how credible it is perceived to be. According to Spence et al. in Crafting...
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...engineering ("Non-Gmo Project", 2015). In recent news, there has been controversy over the use of GMOs. Since the Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Flavr Savr tomato for sale on grocery store shelves in 1994, more GMOs has since came on the market (GMOinside, n.d.). Does GMOs have inherent value? INHERENT VALUE Inherent value is a quality attributes to every creature that has a life that matters to it (Regan, 2004). According to DesJardins (2013), inherent value is to have value in and of oneself. Objects with inherent value are ends in themselves, not merely means to some other end (DesJardins, 2013). CONTROVERSY REGARDING GMOs There are two main problems that concern GMOs. GMOs have no boundaries and do not have labels. Once a genetically modified organism is planted they are in risk of contaminating any regular crops planted nearby (The Non-GMO Report, 2005). A survey reports that in the Midwest, where there are millions of acres of GM corn and soybean crops, up to 80% of organic farmers reported direct costs or damages resulting from genetic trespass (The Non-GMO Report, 2005). Unlike the organic food, there is not a GMO-free label on food products. In fact, products are not required by law to state whether or not they contain GMOs. In a world where 92% of the soybean crop is genetically modified and many products use soybean oil or corn syrup the chance of finding GMOs in food is very high (The Non-GMO Report, 2005). All that needs to happen is a GMO crop can...
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...feelings of distrust in many people in several parts of the world: the GMO, or, the genetically modified organism. There is hardly a product on American grocery shelves today that does not contain some form of a genetically modified (or GM) crop, and many people find this fact disturbing. The average consumer does not fully comprehend the GMO, but fears and rejects it based on a superficial knowledge of the term. The possible dangers – or the possible lack there-of – of GMOs are largely debated among consumers, organizations, corporations, and even politicians. And yet, the overlooked consensus of the scientific community is that, so far, GM ingredients in food products cause no more harm to the consumer than non-GMO products. However, there is no proof that long-term risks do not exist, and many point to the several countries that have banned or severely restricted the production and trade of GMOs. But mankind has been altering the genes of food through domestication for thousands of years using selective breeding; many say that biotechnology is simply the newest innovation in agriculture. There are, without a doubt, problems surrounding GMO production and regulation that need resolving, but the process itself is not inherently bad. As long as the practice is well-regulated, thoroughly tested, and transparent, the potential benefits of GMOs outweigh the hypothetical risks; the supplement and vaccine implications of GMOs are potentially life-saving, they reduce the need for harmful pesticides...
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...Rubrics section of the course. Food, the one thing all human beings can agree upon its necessity for our survival. Ever walked into a grocery store and gotten a headache from the bombardment of food certifications. USDA Organic, Certified Humane Raised & Handled, Natural, Fair Trade Certified, Non-GMO Project Verified, and Food Alliance are just a few of the dizzying array of food certifications circling around. The simple truth only two of the multitudes of certifications around should warrant your attention. Some will contend that Fair Trade has its merits, really? The Fair Trade association developed from the need to offer protection and security for coffee farmers. Fair Trade exists to provide premiums to farmers to ensure the farmers gets a standardized price and were not exploited for labor. Sounds fair right? Fair Trade lacks any governmental branch, its criteria is created from within its own walls. Where does the money really go? To the laborers? Better farming conditions? Or in someone’s bank account? There is unfortunately no way to trace the funds making Fair Trade hard to trust and impossible to verify. This leaves only USDA organic and Non-GMO Project Verified as the real top two contenders each with their own subtle flaws. Unlike every other certification USDA Organic is regulated by U.S. Department of Agriculture (Hence the name USDA) and verified by a third party. In order for food to bare the USDA Organic label a strict set of qualifications...
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...GMOs should not be labeled George Washington was quoted as saying “I know of no pursuit and which more real and important services can be rendered to any country than by improving its agriculture, its breed of useful animals, and other branches of a husbandman’s cares.” While being said by one of the founding fathers of the United States, not all people agree on agricultural practices, or which president was the best. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are under attack by the uneducated, closed minded, and environmentalists. GM products should not have restrictions on labeling that would hurt United States farmers and cost the consumers billions and possibly trillions of dollars. While the cost is high and payout is low the fight still continues to rage on leaving the majority...
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...conversations, and the very thing that can prohibit or allow a person to live a full life. Imagine if all of the stigmas put on America’s ideas of what health foods are were completely false. Vegetables, fruits and whole grains for example are staple items classified as “healthy” in today’s society. Personally, there have many times when choosing a sala over a greasy hamburger has given a feeling of accomplishment that a healthier choice was made. The fact is that unbeknownst to most of the population that salad contains genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and in hindsight, may not have been the healthy choice. The US government should have to require all food producers to correctly label all products that contain GMOs to inform the public what they are truly choosing to eat. There has been an unquestioned sense of security that the government and food and drug administration (FDA) are looking out for our best interests, until now. The wool has been over the eyes of many consumers and slowly the truths are being uncovered as to what GMOs are doing to the health of many unaware Americans. Genetically modified organisms, in the most elementary form, are foods that have had specific changes in their DNA to alter the growth patterns and resistance to pathogens. The combination of two (or more) totally unrelated species is against natural scientific theory. The outcome of this biotechnology has no long term diagnosis of potential risks to the health of humans. A good majority...
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...Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are foods that have been injected with genes to achieve a desired trait. Traits include size, color, shelf life, and even taste. Although they may cost less that foods that are not genetically modified, there are numerous problems with them. GMOs are unhealthy, increase the use of herbicides, and are proven to be harmful by reliable science research. Initially, GMOs are unhealthy. How could something created in a laboratory be healthy for you? It is not. While being tested on animals, there were signs of organ damage, gastrointestinal disorders, immune disorders, and even infertility. Wild animals will eat these crops when they seem them outside and are putting their lives in danger unintentionally. On the other hand, health problems increased after they were introduced in 1996. In less than 10 years, food allergies, autism, reproductive disorders, and a whole list of chronic illnesses were on the rise....
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...taken to including GMO in their plantations. This immediately set off an imbalance. The farmers have to compete with industrial agriculture. This can be seen “in India, where 270,000 farmers, many trapped in debt for buying seeds and chemicals, committed suicide between 1995 and 2012” (Bello). Since companies, like Monsanto for example, force farmers to buy seeds annually many of the local farmers feel pressure of harvesting as much as they can. They see how GM seeds advertise their bigger yields, drought resistance, pest resistance, and energy efficiency and follow...
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...You Need to Know,” I would like to begin by stating that the topic of organic foods versus GMOs is still very controversial. It is a widely known, ongoing debate, but most do not even know all of the information about the two sides. To recap the general information, I will start with some facts. Organic foods are grown without the use of synthetic pesticides, bioengineered genes, petroleum-based fertilizers, or sewage sludge-based fertilizers while GMOs are engineered to make food crops resistant to herbicides and/or to produce an insecticide. For example, most of the sweet corn produced in the U.S. is genetically engineered to be resistant to the herbicide...
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