The Dangers of Genetically Modified Organisms
GMO’s or genetically modified organisms are living organisms such as fruits or vegetables whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated through genetic engineering, this often includes inserting genetic material from another organism of a different species. The use of GMO’s is becoming more and more prevalent in the United States although long-term studies of their effects have yet to be done. The production of GMO’s is dangerous, the modifying traits of a specific plant for consumption for the benefit of production and business is unnatural. Although the use of GMO’s has increased production and lowered costs for some foods, the long-term effects are dangerous to not only the consumer but also the environment. Some have even said that “the environmental and health risks outweigh the benefits” (Beckrich).
The act of injecting a trait into another organism so it can continuously produce that specific trait is unnatural. While some are arguing that the use of the modified organisms is beneficial for reasons such as stronger crops that not only produce more, but also are pest resistant. However, the dangers have failed to be mentioned such as health risks and the complete extinction of some plants. For example, some plants are being created with built in pesticide that will prevent farmers from having to spray their crops with harmful pesticide. The plant however, has the pesticide inside of it, which is then sold to
Genetic modified organisms, or GMOs, are living organisms that, through the genetic engineering process, have been altered to withstand certain chemicals and increase the nutritional value of the product. In fact, the majority of the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. Genetic modification is becoming increasingly popular on farms throughout the United States and moving into other parts of the world due to their increasing yield capabilities and pest and weed control. However, this has been, and continues to be, an extremely controversial topic of discussion in the world of agriculture and biotechnology, as well as health food critics, because of potential environmental and health risks.
Genetically modified crops are an incredibly important issue that everyone should be aware of since it is something we are exposed to at a daily basis. Genetically modified crops also known as GM crops or Biotech crops has been one of the most heated debates of issues within our society. The debate about the safety, concerns and disadvantages of GM crops have raged since the mid 1990 's but this is due to the lack of knowledge of the general public. Many people are unaware of what the GM crops actually are and what they offer. Genetically modified crops are plants that are used in the agriculture and have been modified to initiate a new trait to plants that does not happen naturally in the species. These plants are modified using genetic engineering techniques to enhance desired traits. GM crops are made when genes of commercial interest are transferred from one organism to another.() There are many methods used for the production of GM crops but the two primary used for plant insertion are gene guns and agrobacterium tumefaciens. There are also three types of modifications which are transgenic, cisgenic, and subgenic plants. However, there are a number of issues that surround this controversial topic such as environmental, health, and economic concerns. Even though there are some worrying facts about GM crops people don 't realize the advantages or the ways it has helped humans as well as animals. There are many reasons why GM crops are proven
Genetically Modified Organism or GMO is an organism that has been altered genetically. There are many possibilities for altering an organism such as growing conditions, quantity, or even scientific breakthroughs. Many choose a side over this heated debate, whether GMOs are safe or if they are harmful to humans. Currently about two-thirds of all items in the supermarket is GMO(Corn The Miracle Crop). GMO promise increase crop yields, lower costs, and less herbicides and pesticides. Altering the organisms genetics could negatively affect the organism resulting in an unstable product. Researchers have found that an unstable product can result in poor crop production, decrease in nutritional value, toxic and
However, the use of the GM seeds for food production can quickly render a harmful impact to the user. Lee & Burrell (2002) stated, “Intense concerns about the uncertain health and environmental of GM farming have been the subject of high profile debate. The effects of GM farming on existing forms of agriculture, raised by the prospect of cross-pollination by GM seed, provoke similarly polarized views” It is common that genetic engineering process often takes place by joining different genes of plants together to come up with a whole species of the plant. Unfortunately, this process can easily result in coming up with plants with genes that are harmful to the consumers. Most of the genetically modified food staffs can
"The process of genetic engineering always involves the risk of altering the genetics and cellular functioning of a food organism in unanticipated ways. These unanticipated alterations can result in GE foods being allergenic, toxic, or reduced in nutritional value". GMO ; genetically modified organisms is a process by which recombinant DNA is retracted and used to combine with another organisms DNA to either improve or restrain certain attributes in organism. The types of potential hazards posed by GMO’s vary according to the type of organism being modified and its intended application. This can be done to either live stock by enlarging the animal to an unhealthy size or even reducing the nutrition the animal receives thus killing the animal or plantation by creating herbicides or even bacteria by altering the bacteria to create a virus resistant which could potentially create put more lives at risk rather than saving them. The process of genetically modifying organisms may be efficient and less time consuming than organically grown organisms but it should not be used to enhance or limit any organisms as there are many negative risks that could potentially or fatally harm the organisms and the their environment.
Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, is a controversial topic that has come up in conversation and debate since it first appeared in grocery shelves as new tomatoes back in 1994 (Woolsey). GMOs have had an infamous reputation among the public since they first started being offered in the markets and continues with much controversy to this day. Up to 80% of processed foods in the U.S. are genetically modified (Paturel). Most people which one might come across will often debate against GMOs and why the practice should be ignored and instead how one should focus on organic foods as an alternative due to it being healthier and safer on the body. Are GMOs dangerous to the body? Do they pose a general risk to our health? Are the rumors about GMOs as true as people claim they are? Or is the fear behind GMOs overly exaggerated? On the other hand, there are arguments and debates on why the research of GMOs are important for the future as well as being quite safe. There are, of course, disadvantages to using GMO which up to now has only been proven to be quite minor in nature, but at the same time there are many benefits that comes with it as well. Most people will tell you how GMOs are bad and is not needed. But instead of taking that path, I will instead focus on why genetically modified organisms, although controversial, is needed in the world and why it is
Humans have been altering the genomes of plants and animals for many years using traditional breeding techniques. Artificial selection for specific, desired traits has resulted in a variety of different organisms, ranging from sweet corn to hairless cats. But this artificial selection, in which organisms that exhibit specific traits are chosen to breed subsequent generations, and has been limited to naturally occurring variations. GMO’s achieve what natural breeding cannot by allowing precise control on what the organism’s traits are. Genetically modified organisms have become very common and have a wide variety of applications from medicine to agriculture. Issues revolving around GMO include dangers to the eco system and there have been studies relating GMO’s to negative impacts on human health. GMO’s can optimize agricultural performance or facilitating the production of valuable pharmaceutical substances. Crop plants, farm animals, and soil
People nowadays think that Genetically Modified Organisms are bad for us. GMO foods are organisms that have had new genes added to them from different organisms. People are not very educated about Genetically Modified Organisms that is why they think they are bad for us, how do we educate people about Genetically Modified Organisms, how Genetically Modified Organisms not harmful to us.
GMO’s, also known as genetically modified organisms, are organisms that contain genes from different organisms to try to acquire desirable characteristics. Although this seems like a good idea; There has been more attention recently on the negative aspects of GMO’s. Studies have shown that the presence of GMOs in food causes health risks; GMOs also cause harm to the environment and has a negative effect on farmers.
Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is organism that has been altered to become more congenial to their surroundings. The engineering of these organisms is a process in which genes of the original organism are manipulated and inoculated with other genes, which leads to the production of traits that is naturally foreign to the organism. However, There is an immense deal of controversy involving GMOs, because of the belief of their unnaturalness and possible abnormalities, such as it capable noxious toxins and allergens. Studies though, show that genetically modified organisms increase crop yields and are beneficial to the environment in terms of increasing production and reducing harmful pesticides.
However, it is possible that GMOs cause negative effects within the environment that outweigh the positive goals. Environmental affects are important to consider in the context of human health because, as Caitlin Shetterley constantly argues in Modified: Gmos and the Threat to Our Food, Our Land, Our Future, humanity and nature are inextricably intertwined, and therefore harm done to nature is a direct harm to humans. The process of growing GMOs involves the use of heavy pesticides, which has led to the evolution of herbicide-resistant weeds that cause major crop loss (Yang). Scientists are becoming increasingly concerned that GMO crops have the ability to spread their genetic material to non-GMO organisms. Contaminating non-GMO crops can cause mutations within the organism, leaving crops vulnerable to disease (Yang). Also, studies regarding whether GMO crops and non-GMO crops can coexist are showing coexistence is nearly impossible (OECD). This inability to co-exist reduces plant diversity which negatively impacts ecological systems. The combined effects of mutating weeds and reducing plant diversity support the idea that the negative impact of GMOs outweigh the positive
A genetically modified organism is a plant, animal, or any other organism whose genetic composition has been modified by recombining extracted genes from the DNA of one species and placed into the genes of an unrelated organism. According to many scientists there is little research and investigations done to support the idea that GMO’s are safe to eat but do pose a threat to the crops. Genetically engineered foods are still new and are advancing, this may show different results in health effects of GMO’s in the future. With more research into the topic of GMO’s we will be able to see the different effects that GMO’s have and better understand if we should be consuming them or not.
Genetically modified organisms are they the future or are they the end? Genetically modified organisms allow unparalleled control over our environment, but should we give ourselves that control, now? Or should we wait until we have proven to everyone that we are deserving of this control. Until we have proper regulations and controls, we should stop producing our food products using GMO’s. Impartial testing and research must occur within research institutes that are not supported by GMO companies.
Something that is not classified as safe is in our daily lives but, Americans are so naive to know that they eat this every day. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) or otherwise know as Genetically Engineered (GE) Is something Americans eat every day with no knowledge of what foods are genetically engineered or not. According to the article by Melissa Diane Smith, Genetically modified organisms are not as reliable as one would expect and [have an increased likelihood of negative effects] If this is the case we should not use GMOs unless we have a better understanding of them (SMITH).The negative effects GMOs can have on our world are their effects to humans, plants, and animals well being, as well as the issues of Genetic patents and economical issues.
According to the World Health Organization (2014. 1), "Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) can be defined as organisms (i.e. plants, animals or microorganisms) in which the genetic material (DNA) has been altered in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination. The technology is often called 'modern biotechnology ' or 'gene technology ', sometimes also 'recombinant DNA technology ' or 'genetic engineering '. Foods produced from or using GM organisms are often referred to as GM foods.” Many organic crops farming farmers are against cultivating of GM crops because of the threat to farm land and environment however, biotechnology companies and GM crops growing famer desire to have profit and consumer look for low price. Thus, the debate over the environmental impact of genetically modified GM crops is growing. Although GM crops negatively affects on some organism in environment, they reduce the use of pesticides and increase crop yield.