Trisha Myers
Professor ---------
English 1302
December 2, 2014
The Genetically Modified Boogeyman
There is an acronym tossed around today that is so infamous and so widespread, it is able to stir up deep-seeded 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 and herbicides, and they are one of the most promising contenders in the challenge of feeding an ever-growing human population. It is time for the masses to