Genetically Modified Foods
What is it that we are eating? GMO’s are unnatural. Is it healthy to eat something that doesn’t belong in our digestive system? GMO’s are genetically modified food. Genetically modified foods are created by taking genes from plants and animals and inserting into our food to alter the genetic engineering. In 1984, GMO’s were first introduced when a plant was modified from antibiotic resistant tobacco. In 1994, genetically modifying food was approved by the FDA and the first GMO food, Flavr-Savr tomatoes, was released into marketing. (A history of GM) They became an issue since the beginning, creating many health problems. Genetically modifying foods should not be allowed in America because it’s unhealthy, it decreases in nutritional value, antibiotic resistance, and has shown increases in food allergy and toxicity.
Genetically modifying foods have shown a decrease in nutritional value compared to natural foods by creating so that there are lack of nutrients such as vitamins and minerals. “For example, phytate is a compound common in seeds and grains that binds with minerals and makes them unavailable to humans. An inserted gene could cause a plant to produce higher levels of phytate decreasing the mineral nutritional value of the plant (GEO-PIE).” (Discovery Eye) “Another example comes from a study showing that a strain of genetically modified soybean produced lower levels of phytoestrogen compounds, believed to protect against heart disease
What are genetically modified foods? They are plants and animals whose DNA has been altered or change to suit the needs of humans. There are three types of genetically modified food (GM) first generation, second generation, and third generation crops. Each type is focused in different types of yields and crops so they can have a system that allows to keep production and value up.
Genetically modified foods have contributed to better foods in terms of food quality and human health.
Imagine going to the grocery store and seeing a seedless watermelon, but it is not the typical oval, it is square. Down the produce aisle, there are sweet, juicy strawberries; however, there is a warning label that says, “Do not consume if you have a nut allergy.” The world today is moving forward in the way that society produces our wholefoods. Genetic engineering, bioengineering, or biotechnology is the process of inserting the genetics of different plants and organisms into other plants or organisms to create new, more efficient DNA. However, is it truly beneficial to modify the world’s natural foods? The use of genetic engineering can disrupt the ecosystems that have taken billions of years to develop. Many years of research and work have gone into the subject of genetically modified foods; however, this new food trend could create or enhance food related illnesses and health problems, interfere with nature’s environs, and could even cause specific ethical problems for individuals that practice different faith. People should be aware of genetic engineering, how it works, and how it affects their lives.
Throughout my time enrolled in this course, I have learned many valuable lessons. However, the most important lesson that I have learned is how to be a better writer. By completing the various assignments in this course, particularly the substantiation assignment, I have learned how to better explain my opinions as well as support them. However,
Nearly ninety three percent of all crops grown in America are genetically modified. GMO stands for genetically modified organisms and many parts of the world are finding new ways to genetically modify different organisms from corn to octopus. However, GMOs have both a good and bad side to them. If Americans know what GMOs do to your body, how crops are genetically modified, and what chemicals are used in GMOs; Americans won’t eat- or will think twice before eating genetically modified foods.
The term - genetically modified organism - sounds like a word out of the most recent science-fiction book; however, genetically modified organisms, or “GMOs,” have been in foods for decades. GMOs carry dangerous potential. Some argue that the federal government keeps GMOs at low levels; so, most people are not aware of them. However, that argument is incredibly flawed. Over 90 percent of all soybeans, 80 percent of all corn, and 70 percent of all processed foods contain GMOs. (Hirshberg par 9, 11) Still, 5 out of 10 Americans do not know of GM foods or are not aware of how spread they are in the current food system. (Branson par 2) Worse yet, pesticide use associated with GMOs has been found in the blood of infants and pregnant women.
Do you know exactly what is in the food you eat every day? Do you read the food labels every time you eat different food? Are companies, factories, or stores stating the truth when they claim that their food is “organic” or “natural”? The answer is probably no, unless you really are interested in what you eat. But for the most part, a great majority of the population in this country have no idea what is in their food. Most of them probably don’t even know what the definition of the word “organic” or “natural” and just assume that if foods have that labeled then they automatically are better than other food who don’t claim they are. Also, consumers have little knowledge on organisms that are a major part of foods we eat on a daily basis. These organisms are called genetically modified organism or also known as GMOs. These are organisms whose DNA has been changed or altered, through a processed called genetic engineering, to change its characteristics in order to make the food, as they claim, “better.” According to the Center for Food Safety (CFS), “Currently, up to 92% of U.S. corn is genetically engineered (GE), as are 94% of soybeans and 94% of cotton. It has been estimated that upwards of 75% of processed foods on supermarket shelves contain genetically engineered ingredients.” Corn, soybeans, are substantially used in innumerable amounts of food and to know that 90% of these ingredients are genetically altered with, can be pretty overwhelming. Although the FDA doesn’t
Genetically Modified Food also known as GMO’s are foods that had specific changes in their DNA. They use genetic engineering to change the DNA anytime they want to. According to who.int “About 80% of the U.S. food is processed and has an ingredient that comes from an age crop. Some of the food characteristics can be altered either in a negative or positive way”. Consumers say that traditional foods are safe to eat. Genetically modified food connects to a lot of health concerns.
Genetically Modified Products haven’t received a great reputation because many times they are perceived as chemical foods with a large amount of antibiotics and hormones. Although some of it is untrue, in certain populations including Europe, they are not seen as real food. The European culture prides themselves on fresh and natural ingredients used in their cooking. Many also feel that genetically modified foods are void of any nutritional value and are seen as a disregard for the human organism. European culture stems from thousands of generations of growing and preparing foods by hand, without the use of industrial techniques. Science isn’t always seen as a good thing for a society. People in Europe aren’t as obedient as in other countries and aren’t as reliable on the government to tell them what to do. They ask questions and although companies may show proof that a certain food, even slightly genetically modified doesn’t affect then, they may still oppose to its use. They ultimately don’t want to ruin natural crops/products for future generations. The subject of concern in the notice presented to the U.S FDA is the genetically modified (recombinant) yeast that was used to produce ISP (ice-structuring protein) for commercial use. The ISP is produced by a fermentation process and the protein is secreted into the media it is cultured in. It is harvested through a microfiltration technique. The process uses multiple micro filters that separate the protein from the debris of
Genetically engineered crops or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are plants in agriculture and the DNA that has been modified using genetic engineering techniques. The goal of this type of bioengineering is to add new traits to a plant which doesn’t occur naturally in the species. Farmers have adopted the technology.
The history of biotechnology and genetically modified (GM) foods has a history of opposing sides. The two opposing sides argue on the ethical standpoint of the act of genetically modifying plants and animals. They also argue on the health problems that the foods may cause for people that eat it. Going towards the future, people question whether GM foods have a positive or negative effect on humans. GM foods cause many assorted viewpoints consisting of positive and negative effects based off of its recent history.
Have you ever wondered what is in your fruit or vegetables? Have you ever compared fruit or vegetables that are organic versus non-organic? Have you noticed that non-organic fruit appears to be a lot bigger than organic fruit? It is because of genetically modified food. Genetically modified food, also known as GMO, are foods that have had the DNA changed by scientific experiments that are not natural. Before GMO, herbicides and pesticides had to be used lightly because it would harm the plants, so scientists wanted to modify plants to protect them so they would be more resistant to herbicides and pesticides. People believe that it helps with diseases and the nutritional value of the particular food, but it is actually doing the opposite. It may be good for crops and farmers, but is it good for your health to eat genetically modified food from these plants? The answer is no, it is not.
Genetically Modified Foods are a large part of today 's market place: corn,soybean,cotton, etc.. And plenty more crops are genetically modified. These genetic modifications change from inserting genes that allows the use of certain herbicides to inserting animals genes to impart desirable traits. Many large companies and farmers believe that genetically modified foods result in the use of fewer chemicals and cheaper foods, and more stability for the farmers. Some people may not like genetically modified foods and treat it like it 's a bad thing, but really don 't know anything about it or how it works. In my opinion I am not against it. I actually learned a lot by doing this research paper, like that it is healthy for us and it doesn 't harm us in any way.
Before we can discuss the pros and cons of genetically modified foods, we first need to define the concept. “Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism” (World Health Organization). As early as 1874, Luther Burbank experimented with plants by transferring pollen from one plant to the fruit of another creating a hybrid. Altogether these experiments of Burbank created over 800 varieties of new plants. In fact, Burbank’s experiments on potatoes helped overcome Ireland’s potato blight (Lamb). In the
This planet sustains various life forms and over time these organisms have evolved to better survive in the environments in which they live. Humans are constantly trying to improve the world and the organisms in it. In order to achieve this goal, there is a powerful tool scientists are using called DNA Technology. It is this technology that allows humans to modify, create, and/or destroy life as we know it. In this paper, I will review genetically engineered staple foods and genetically engineered animals and will discuss which is more beneficial for humans.