...Is genetic engineering the answer to ending global hunger? Jennifer E. Law SCI 207 Haleh Keshtkar February 27, 2012 The controversial statement that genetic engineered food may be the solution to hunger in the world is gaining more and more interest by the media in today’s society. On the one hand, supporters of biotechnology believe that genetic engineered food ensures and sustains food security around the world as the population increases, but on the other hand, there are many concerns involved with genetically modified food. In fact, a lot of food that we eat on a daily basis contains genetically modified ingredients and usually without our knowledge. Yet, is genetic engineered food safe? Moreover, do we really need genetic modified food? Many researchers do not consider biotechnology the solution to hunger but they believe that poverty is the cause of famine in numerous countries. As a result, biotechnology raises various questions among citizens and farmers since there is the assumption that genetic engineered food is the key to eliminating global starvation (Genetically, 2010). Before weighing the pros and cons of genetic engineered food, it is essential to understand what is genetic engineered food? “Genetic engineering is a laboratory technique used by scientists to change the DNA of living organisms” (What is genetically, 2010). Scientists have learned that there are ways of changing the structure of DNA in living organisms and build customized DNA. Genetic...
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...Genetically Modified Plants Melissa Turner Professor Angela Tringali Introduction to Biology August 29, 2013 Genetically modified plants, crops are secretly becoming second nature to the United States. When you hear genetically modified you automatically assume you will not eat it or even thought that you have never bought any food containing that. You will be surprised how many people have bought or have eaten something that has been genetically modified. With that being said majority of the food we eat now has been or have ingredients that have been genetically modified. Now you have to ask yourself if you know what genetically modified food was, would you still eat the things you do knowing it was modified? When you hear genetically modified, the first thing I think about is an oversized tomato or a giant pumpkin of some sort. That is the complete opposite because by definition, genetic modification is the manipulation of DNA by humans to alter the essential make up of plants and animals. Genetically modified organism is define as organisms that the genetic material have been altered that did not come naturally, another terminology for this is called...
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...Genetically modified, by definition, is a term denoting or derived from an organism whose DNA has been altered for the purpose of improvement or correction of defects. (dictionary.com) Genetically modified foods are foods that have been altered to enhance certain traits for the purpose of making them more desirable to consumers. Since the development of this process, modified foods have become more common throughout the years, and with their increase in production there has also been great controversy. History of Genetically Modified Foods In 1994, the first genetically modified food the Food and Drug Administration deemed safe enough for human consumption was a tomato called the “Flavr Savr,” produced in California. The purpose of altering the tomato was for it to be resistant to rotting and decaying as quickly as tomatoes usually do. They were not labeled as being genetically modified and they were between two and five time more expensive than ordinary tomatoes, but consumers still purchased them. However, due to competition, brought on by a tomato made conventionally and with a longer shelf life, the Flavr Savr tomatoes were not profitable. Genetically modified tomatoes were then made into a tomato puree and sold in Europe in the mid-1990s, but a couple years later controversy arose over the concept of genetically modifying food. In 1998, a doctor from Aberdeen, in Scotland, published results from a research study he conducted suggesting that genetically modified potatoes...
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...Genetically Modified Animals SCI 115 Professor Li November 29, 2014 Biological Basis: A genetically engineered animal is an animal that carries a known sequence of DNA fragments that have been joined together in a laboratory. This process involves removing genes from the DNA of one species and inserting it into the genes of an unrelated animal. “The foreign genes may come from bacteria, viruses, insects, animals or even humans.” Retrieved November 27, 2014 from, http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-education. Transgenic refers to those specific genetic engineering processes that remove genetic material from one species of animal and add it to a different species. Due to the high similarity in genetic sequences for proteins among species, transgenic organisms are able to effectively assimilate and express these trans-genes. These genetically engineered animals are also known as “transgenic” animals. This process may be called Genetic Engineering or Genetic Modification; they are one in the same. Genetic engineering enables animals to produce useful proteins and are being produced to assist with human medicine such as biopharmaceutical products. Some of these include, antibodies that can be used for the treatment of infections, cancer, organ transplant rejections, and autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Gene technology has only been possible since the 1960’s due to the greater understanding of DNA and how it functions following the discovery...
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...Genetically Modified Organisms Technology, Society, and Culture Table of Contents Technical Aspect of GMO by Chad Dookie Page 3 Moral and Ethical Aspect of GMO by Ronald Claude Page 7 Cultural and Legal Aspect of GMO by Evangelina Ramirez Page 14 Environmental Issues of GMO by Donovan Collins Page 23 References Page 32 Technical Aspect of GMO by Chad Dookie Description of GMOs and the associated science Most of the populations that do shopping in the groceries to buy food for their family are not aware of the “naturalness” of the food. Groceries sell items such as; cotton seeds, rice, soy, sugar beets, yeast, cassava, papaya, bananas, food flavoring, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, squash, oils, beef, pork, chicken, salmon, peas, alfalfa, and honey. Notice that most of the items listed either came from a plant or an animal. Those are the top 20 grocery items that have been genetically modified. What are genetically modified organisms? A genetically modified organism is any living thing that has had their DNA tampered with. This can be mutating, removing, or adding genetic material into the organism. All of the items listed in paragraph one has had their DNA tampered with. Most times when people talk about genetically modified organisms, they mostly refer to plants that are genetically modified. You may be wondering how the animals listed are considered genetically modified. This is because scientists modify the plants that are being...
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...Chelsi Modest Christina LaRose English 125-Sec. 6 31 October 2011 The Future of Food As the population continues to grow—expected to reach 9 billion by 2050—the major question is: Will we experience a food shortage? Scientists have developed what they believe is the answer to potential shortages: genetically modified crops. The genetic make-up of these crops is altered, combining genes of multiple organisms such as plants, to produce favorable outcomes such as higher yields. With genetically engineered crops ever-present in our food supply, debates have risen in the media concerning the safety and overall implication of these crops. Conducting research on the topic, I have discovered three different perspectives on the use and implications of genetically engineered crops. One perspective, found in the article “Plant Genetics, Sustainable Agriculture and Global Food Security” by Pamela Ronald, states that genetically modified crops are essential to combat the growing population and other stresses on our agriculture industry. Another perspective, offered in the article “Genetically modified abominations?” by Jakub Kwiecinski, defines these crops as “taboo” and argues that they are ultimately morally unacceptable. The last perspective, presented in the article “Genetically Modified Foods and Public Health Debate: Designing Programs to Mitigate Risks” published in Public Administration & Management, acknowledges that there are risks associated with these crops and that...
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...Abstract With the production of genetically modified foods (GMFs) becoming more prevalent today, debates about whether it is right to use technology to create new forms of plant and animal life are on the rise. Proponents of GMFs believe these crops will reduce the use of pesticides and other chemicals, and are just as safe as traditional crops. Opponents, on the other hand, feel the use of chemicals is scarcely reduced in GMFs and fear contamination of traditional farm crops. One example of this was displayed in October 2000 when a brand of genetically modified corn, approved only for animal feed, ended up in taco shells and other foods intended for human consumption. It is possible that GMFs are not bad for us at all and might be rather beneficial to building a sustainable future for all forms of life. The solution to its success lies in careful moderation, and this is where research is crucial. Genetically modified foods should not be banned, though studies on the effects of human consumption and economical impacts are necessary. Genetically Modified Foods: Advancement or Shortcoming? For nearly ninety years farmers have altered crops or animals using a method called crossbreeding. In crossbreeding, breeders select desirable traits of the parent plant or animal to produce a new species of that organism to achieve improved quantity and the quality of their crops. Though many seasons may pass before growers achieve their desired results, the harvests can produce...
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...History and Development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) LAS 432 History and Development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) Introduction Human beings continuously try to incorporate knowledge of nature through science to help mitigate the challenges they face. Science has benefits as seen in the developments in the modern world, in-terms of food production and mechanization. In the 19th century, the industrialization took over from Agrarian revolution in the agricultural sector. Agriculture was the main economic activity that drove the development from food production. Industrialization brought about increased productivity in the agricultural sector with abandonment of the traditional practices to embracing modern technology. This came to be referred as biotechnology. Biotechnology was the incorporation modern technology in food production to reduce costs and increase output. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms with modified genetic material for desirable traits n production, drought resistant and pest resistant. From traditional practices, selective breeding practices have continuously improved the agricultural sector (Liang, & Skinner, 2004). Selective breeding is the control of breeding in plants and animals by taking the desired and high producing plants for the hybrid to have the best produce overtime. Researchers took selective breeding in the 20th century to understand...
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...Genetically modified foods (GM foods) are foods from genetically modified organisms, such as genetically modified crops, plants and other foods. It is widely scientifical argue that food form GM crops through genetic engineering is methods. However, opponents have objected to GM foods including food safety issues and customers’ economics concerns. This essay will discuss the extent to which GM foods influence how people and what types of GM food exist in daily food. Ever now, some developing countries still have famine and malnutrition. One of the most significant problems facing poor countries currently is the rapid climb in population. In the last two decades, the population of the world is doubled. As the population of the world is increased, which becoming a global issue, the most important problem is that the shortage of food. Most worryingly, over 800 million people still have too much poverty to eat. Meanwhile, there is a slowly increased in yield-enhancing crop (Lipton, 2001). According to Bouis (2007), the authors suggest, ‘one way that biotechnology can help to improve the nutrition and health of consumers in developing countries is by increasing the vitamin and mineral content and their bioavailability in staple foods’. Bouis suggested that the supply of food adapted to the population, and the only way to solve this problem is that biotechnology can grow the crops’ output and adaptive capacity, which it through genetic engineering to change hereditary character of...
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...A genetically modified organism is a plant, animal where the genes have been artificially changed using genetic engineering by adding in a new gene that doesn’t belong to change or improve the organism. The reason we modify organisms is essentially to combine different genes that don’t occur naturally. The discovery of GMOS has had significant impact positively and negatively on society benefits such as increased agricultural and risks such as the possibility of new diseases need to be considered but I believe positive such as creating more outweigh the negatives. Plants and animals can both be genetically modified but today I will be focusing on genetically modified plants. Genetically modifying organisms happens in 4 stages identifying a trait of interest, isolating that genetic trait, inserting that trait into the genome of a desired organism, and then growing the engineered organism. Identification of the gene of interest, researches search for a new gene of interest...
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...GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS _____________________ A Position Paper Presented to Mr. Jesse R. Songcayawon, Ph. D. History Department Adventist University of the Philippines _____________________ In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Course General Philosophy _____________________ By Krishnalyn Precious Jewel Castro Rosedelle Colot Jedd Fabroa Dean Carlo Fajilan Joan Mary Hidalgo Julius Anthony Hiphip Myrtle Magalang Mark Anthony Mayorga Ruiz, Mike I. INTRODUCTION A. BACKGROUND As the population of the world continues to increase, it will be accompanied by an increase in the demand for food. Food is one of the most vital needs of the world we live in. In the old days, ancient people kill for food to survive. Today, some people mark it as piece of extravagance and whatnots. Food feeds our hunger and in turn, gives energy for the daily activities we humans need to do in order to get through the day. Also, it forms connection within another human being for it is shared along the dinner table and have food as the topic of the night. Basically, food is the demand and supply which runs the world: be it in the developed country where food is made even luxury and be it in the developing country where food is seen as a staple for survival. Since the total acreage planted is no longer increasing, unless new production technology is adopted, such an increase in demand that is unmatched by an increase in supply in the world food market will raise food prices...
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...Genetically Modified Food: The Need to Feed Currently, the use of genetically modified food is a subject of enormous global controversy. The main disagreement being, whether or not genetically modified food should be allowed to be a main staple of our diets. Genetic engineering, or as it is also called genetic modification, is the manipulation of an organism's genetic material in a way that does not occur under natural conditions. The most common form of genetic engineering involves the insertion of new genetic material, containing desirable traits, into the genome of a host to induce expression of these traits. The resulting organisms produced by this genetic modification technique are called genetically modified organism (GMOs). Despite common belief genetically modified organisms have been around for decades. The first genetically modified organism was the simple bacterium E. coli in 1973 by Herb Boyer and Stanley Cohen. Their work set in motion a new era of genetic engineering. A year later the first animal was genetically modified. The technology continued to advance exponentially up till 1984 where genetically modified bacteria were commercialized for the production of Insulin. The first commercially grown genetically modified crop was the tomato called Flavr Savr, named for its more resistant nature to rotting. Unknown to most is that genetically modified food has been sold since 1994 and that most supermarket processed food items now test positive for...
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...Genetically Modified Foods According to the World Health Organization, Genetically Modified Organisms(GMOs) are "organisms in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in such a way that does not occur naturally."1 This technology is also referred to as "genetic engineering", "biotechnology" or "recombinant DNA technology" and consists of randomly inserting genetic fragments of DNA from one organism to another, usually from a different species. For example, an artificial combination of genes that includes a gene to produce the pesticide Cry1Ab protein (commonly known as Bt toxin), originally found in Bacillus thuringiensis, is inserted in to the DNA of corn randomly. Both the location of the transferred gene sequence in the corn DNA and the consequences of the insertion differ with each insertion. The plant cells that have taken up the inserted gene are then grown in a lab using tissue culture and/or nutrient medium that allows them to develop into plants that are used to grow GM food crops.2 Natural breeding processes have been safely utilized for the past several thousand years. In contrast, "GE crop technology abrogates natural reproductive processes, selection occurs at the single cell level, the procedure is highly mutagenic and routinely breeches genera barriers, and the technique has only been used commercially for 10 years."3 Despite these differences, safety assessment of GM foods has been based on the idea of "substantial equivalence" such that "if a...
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...are in the agricultural economy already have pesticides before they are genetically modified or put through the engineering process. Most scientists have estimated that 70% - 80% of the crops grown around the world have been genetically modified. GMOs are not just inserted in foods, but they are also put in items such as care products or items of clothing. Thesis Statement : Many people would disagree that GMOs are beneficial around the globe, but GMOs should be included in people’s foods because it causes more solutions rather than issues, such as helping other people in societies worldwide, aiding in the agricultural economy, and adding nutritional value. This...
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...GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD (GM FOOD) SHOULD BE BANNNED | SHOULD GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD (GM FOOD) SHOULD BE BANNNED | SHOULD GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD (GM FOOD) SHOULD BE BANNNED Nowadays genetically modified food is widespread all over the world. GM foods are genetically modified using biotechnology. More and more GM foods appear on our stores and supermarkets. GM foods are designed for greater resistance to viruses and pests, higher nutritional value and longer shelf life. Food crops have been genetically modified for several reasons most of which produce a financial benefit to farmers and the chemical companies that produce the GMOs. In nearly all cases, these benefits are achieved indirectly by increasing crop yields through resistance to diseases and pests or by allowing them reduced use of herbicides to control weeds and unwanted plant growth. However their safety potential risks are still being debated.GM foods ensure that these foods are safe for the human consumption but critics argue that effects have not been studied long enough. First argument for banning GM foods is that it was badly affects our health and well-being. Some studies have linked consumptions of the GM foods to liver and kidney problems. The antibiotics and hormones given to cows and chickens are found in our bodies and we don’t know yet the extent to which these cause chronic disease. Moreover genetic engineering...
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