...21, 2013 Trent McDowell Genetically Modified Foods According to The World Health Organization, “genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally through the introduction of a gene from a different organism” (WHO, 2013). These foods are made possible by infusing genes of a different specimen with their DNA. This kind of adjustment is used in both animals and plants, but it is more commonly seen in the latter. There are a host of reasons why such foods have been developed. Some foods are adjusted genetically to prevent allergies that may occur after being eaten, while others are adjusted to improve their life on the shelf (Kartha, 2012). There is still a lot that is unknown about the effects foods that are genetically modified will have on bodies of humans in the long run. Many believe that consuming genetically adjusted foods can cause the growth of illnesses that antibiotics cannot help (Kartha, 2012). In addition to causing diseases, people who eat genetically altered foods have high risks of getting cancer (Kartha, 2012). These altered foods are new inventions so to speak and not a lot is understood about the long-term effects on the human species. Due to the unknown effects, many decide to steer clear of genetically modified foods. Some argue that genetically modified foods are very beneficial. They feel that the modified foods will aid in the feeding of an ever...
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...Overview Printable Version (PDF) Tell a Friend Genetically-modified foods (GM foods) have made a big splash in the news lately. European environmental organizations and public interest groups have been actively protesting against GM foods for months, and recent controversial studies about the effects of genetically-modified corn pollen on monarch butterfly caterpillars1, 2 have brought the issue of genetic engineering to the forefront of the public consciousness in the U.S. In response to the upswelling of public concern, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held three open meetings in Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Oakland, California to solicit public opinions and begin the process of establishing a new regulatory procedure for government approval of GM foods3. I attended the FDA meeting held in November 1999 in Washington, D.C., and here I will attempt to summarize the issues involved and explain the U.S. government's present role in regulating GM food. What are genetically-modified foods? The term GM foods or GMOs (genetically-modified organisms) is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can...
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...was time efficient as it enabled farmers to treat a field once rather than twice as was previously necessary. The next landmark innovation came in the form of herbicide resistant crops, specifically, Roundup Ready crops. These were crops that genetically engineered to be resistant to Roundup which allowed farmers to spray fields with herbicide. They no longer had to discern between what a weed was and what was a crop, they could spray everything indiscriminately. This simple weed management system went on to revolutionise the entire farming industry. Introduction: Charles Darwin first set out the theory of evolution in the 19th century. He proposed that plants and animals were in competition for the same resources and that only the fittest and strongest survive and pass on their genes to the next generation. Farmers have been giving their crops a helping hand in that fight since 10,000 B.C. by weeding, using salt to deter pests and keeping seeds from high yielding crops to sow the following year (Kingsbury, 2009). Over time, as farmers came to understand more about breeding techniques, they began to choose superior plant materials for propagation and animals for breeding. Initially they did this accidently, with the aim of improving food crops and livestock but over thousands of years farmers began deliberately selecting for advantageous traits in crops. Desirable traits that they selected for included crop varieties that had an increased resistance to diseases and pests, yielded...
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...Healthy Eating, M.D. David Brownstein claims that, “Genetically modified (GM) foods may look and feel the same as conventional foods, but they are drastically (and possibly harmfully) different”. After Taking the INT 94BZ freshman seminar, I have developed my own personal bias toward GM foods much like M.D. David Brownstein; however, I believe that GM foods are for the most part beneficial to our society. Certainly GM foods have there down sides too, I believe that GM foods are a necessary industry in our current world. Not only do GM foods often benefit large masses of people, they can create more jobs and help the world economy. Also through modifying certain genes in foods we can help stop disease, food allergies, and increase productivity. All a scientist has do to is modify the genes of a food that cause it to either be unsuccessful or undesirable to the general population (be it, genes that make a food more susceptible to pests, harsh weather conditions, etc.) After genetic modification, foods can grow in climates that would otherwise be unsuitable if it weren’t for the new genetic modifications and can also last longer on shelves in stores, greatly increasing revenue. While GMOs offer many benefits to our current world societies there are some dangers to altering our food supply. Because genetically altered foods aren’t natural, our bodies can’t always accept the modifications. Unless all aspects of a genetically modified food are tested and assessed scientifically, the dangers...
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...Introduction 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...
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...Genetically Modified Organisms Andre Thomas Soc/215 10-14-15 Dr. Melisha Plummer Genetically Modified Organisms Much has been written about genetically modified organisms. 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...
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...Benefits of Genetically Modified Crops Genetically modified crops (GMOs) have been around for a long time. The first time the world was introduced to this world changing form of crop was in 1986. This is when a GMO for of tobacco was tested in Belgium. Not far after, in 1987, the first GMOs were introduced to the United States. The two GMOs that were introduced were tobacco as well as tomatoes. In 1992 the FDA declared the altered crops "not inherently dangerous", so they don’t need special regulations (1). The list of benefits that follow suit with GMO not only help the farmer but also the consumer. GMO crops are known to produce bigger yields. This allows the farmer to get more efficient use out of his land. Iowa State University observed 377 fields that grew Bt corn (GM) and non-GM corn. The fields with GM seeds yielded 160.4 bushels corn per field, while crops grown from fields of non-GM seeds yielded 147.7 bushels of corn per field (2). Genetically modified crops are also known to have better texture flavor, and nutritional value compared to non-GMO crops. For example, in Asia, many people suffer from the lack of many key vitamins. One of those is vitamin A. The majority people cant afford to eat properly, so scientists created a GMO version of rice to help supply the people with this vitamin they were missing. They took a gene from a carrot and implemented it into the common white rice, thus creating golden rice. It is a cheap way for the people of Asia to get vitamin...
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...Biotechnology Genetic Modification (GM) is to introduce desirable traits in an organism. Genetic modification of food has been practiced for centuries through conventional selective cross breeding. With great advancements in technology, genetic engineering is now used to improve food quality. Genetic engineering has everything to do with the transfer and disposal of genetic material and enabling specific genes to be transferred between related and non-related organisms or the transfer of genes between non-related species is only possible with genetic engineering. Using old conventional methods of genetic modification, the desired traits are molded from natural occurring variations in genetic composition of organisms, where genetic engineering makes it possible to alter genetic material in ways that would not occur naturally. In other words, the advantages of genetic engineering include a greater scope for the development and improvement of food products. Therefore, the alteration of genetic material in anyway not found in nature has ignited public debate over the health and environmental issues of GM foods. “Pest resistance Crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off of agricultural wastes from excessive...
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...In the article “The link between patenting life forms, genetic engineering and food security” (Review of African Political Economy, 1998) the author, Wangari Mathai, concludes that transnational corporations should be restrained to patent seeds using genetic engineering biotechnology. She supports her argument with the following claims. Firstly she reasons that corporations gain private monopoly rights on the raw biological materials by confiscating human resources without prior consent. Subsequently, the development of alternatives to the patented material is deliberately blocked. Secondly, Mathai highlights patenting a reason for food insecurity among farmers due to un-reusability of patented seeds. The seeds developed by genetically engineered technology does not germinate after harvesting, thereby, forcing the poverty ridden farmers to purchase seeds every season from the corporation. I agree with Mathai to some extent; however I feel that some of her reasoning requires further elaboration to make her argument more convincing. In my opinion, the author has failed to highlight on the fact that there might be a possible loss of cultural value and traditional community knowledge with limited or no compensation. Patent monopolies on plant varieties threaten developing countries in three ways. First, by increasing prices so far that most citizens have zero access to these new developments; second, by blocking local production whenever the patent owner so chooses and lastly...
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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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...choosing is Genetically Modified Organisms or GMO for short. I am actually going to take it a step further and do Genetically Modified Organisms in food. This topic seems to be getting a lot of attention in the news lately. GMO Foods are those that have been genetically altered to be pesticide and disease resistant and altered to be able to be produced quicker and in more abundance for faster sales. Many people believe that Genetically Modified Organisms in food are a good idea. We can produce mass amounts of foods that are of good quality and can stay fresh longer. Some other benefits with GMO foods are higher nutritional values in the foods that we are consuming. Another benefit is that farmers can reduce the amounts of pesiticides and herbicides that they use on their crops which is a plus for the environment. Future benefits are already in the works. They are currentally working on making carrots that have a higher antioxidant count. Banannas that have ediable vaccines in them are also in the works. Another big project being worked on is modifying strawberries with the genes from cold water sea fish to help the strawberries withstand the winter frosts. I am against using GMO in foods. There have not been enough studies on the future effects on human or animal consumption. When you alter any species genes there are bound to be some ill effects somewhere down the line. Until we know what those affects are I feel that we should not be putting them into our body. Food distributors...
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...Your health is one of the most important aspects in your life. What if the food you buy from stores threatened that? Genetically Modified Organisms, also known as GMOs, might be putting your health in jeopardy. As early as 1953, scientists have been trying to find ways to genetically change the DNA of food. Making the food more durable and longer lasting is apparently much more important than creating a healthy and safe environment for the people. Our very own government is allowing GMOs to be created and distributed among the people. The real question here is, what is a GMO? Genetically engineered food is produced from crops whose genetic makeup has been changed unnaturally to create a specific trait among the produce. This is possible by a method called gene splicing, in witch a gene that creates a specific trait in an organism is identified, then taken out from the rest of the genetic material of the produce. Scottish doctor Árpád Pusztai conducted a study on the effects of genetically modified foods in 1998. During a ten day period, he fed genetically engineered potatoes to one group of rats, natural potatoes to another group, and finally a third group was fed potatoes that were laced with insecticide. After the ten days he discovered that the rats who ate the genetically engineered potatoes were very sick. They had precancerous cells in their digestive organs, noticeably smaller brains, livers and testicles, and damage to their immune system. The other two groups were declared...
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...rhetorical mode. Provide 2 tips for writing in each rhetorical mode. Narration Narration is used for storytelling such as telling a friend about an incident that occurred in your day. The best organizational method will be to use chronological order. This will help the reader to understand how each event led to the next. Use strong details related to the 5 senses in your story to help the reader get immersed into the story’s world. Decide before writing if you want the story to be factual or fictional. This will help to allow you to decide how creative you can be with the story. Illustration Illustration uses evidence to clearly support the thesis (controlling idea) of the paper. An example would be to right a paper about why Genetically Modified Organisms are dangerous. The thesis belongs at the beginning, followed by the support in the middle, and finally finishes with the conclusion. It is advisable to use order of importance to organize the supporting paragraphs into lest to most order or most to least order. Try not to insult your audience by over explaining a simple thing that they should be expected to understand anyway. Make use the phrases of illustration such as: in this case, one example, another example, specifically, and to illustrate. Description This type uses the 5 senses to describe a person, place, or object and completely immerse the reader...
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...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 engineered food is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption...
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...The term GM foods or GMO is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. Nowadays most people are habituated to eat genetically modified foods. But many of us do not know whether these foods are safe or dangerous for our health. We should try to know something about these types of foods. Nearly a million children die every year because they are weakened by vitamin A deficiencies, and an additional 350,000 go blind. Golden rice, will be a godsend for the half of humanity that depends on rice for its major staple. Merely eating this rice could prevent blindness and death.This case can be illustrated in India where million of children suffering from poverty have been saved with the introduction of golden rice in India. However,GM food is dangerous and detrimental to our health. Monsanto, the main instigator of the corporate GM food movement would have you believe otherwise. They only want us to believe that GM food is the answer to feed the burgeoning world population. But these facts revealed to be false. Here are just a few startling facts about the dangers of GM food.For instance,when animals were fed GM corn and soy for 30-90 days they suffered liver and kidney disruption. Furthermore, Rodents fed GM soy became sterile. Within two generations their rate of infant mortality grew up to 500%. By the third generation they were completely sterile. For many years in an Indian village buffalo...
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