Benefits Of Genetically Modified Crops

Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop useful products and is a technological application that uses living organisms or systems. There is much controversy in the use of these systems because of possible health and environmental effects. One of the most widely used products of biotechnology is genetically modified (GM) crops. These are crops that have a specific combination of genetic material that is acquired through certain biotechnological processes or genetic engineering. Many crops have been subject to these genetic modifications such as: alfalfa, cotton, flax, rice, tobacco, tomatoes, and wheat. Many people are on various sides of the spectrum of being for the alteration of these crops or strongly against it.

Freedom. Equality. Security. These are just a few words to describe what it’s like to be an American. In this day and age, people of all ethnicity are fighting and losing their lives in the hope of acquiring the American Dream. But is it really a dream or a soon to be coming nightmare? It has been three decades since the discovery of genetically modified foods (foods formed by organisms that have gone through altering DNA using the procedures of genetic engineering.) In the year 1983, the original genetically modified herb was manufactured with antibiotic-resistant tobacco. A near decade after, the FDA (food and drug administration) had finally approved to put a genetically modified tomato on the market. Countless organizations are proclaiming the benefits of GMO’s, whereas, other believe it’s a plague upon mankind. These include GMO’s assist in the feeding of seven billion people and the lowering of the price of food. While other people believe that GMO’s are detrimental to human civilization in that it could cause cancer and less effective antibiotics. Analyzing the main components of Non GMO’s vs GMO’s; it’s of ease to conclude the major differences and similarities; such as, increase in food, cheaper production, and harmful effects to the human body.

The circulation of fallacies pertaining to GM crops has lead to strong opinions made on the basis of misinformation. In order to properly explain the need for compromise between the two communities, this misinformation must be addressed and GM crops must be properly explained. The process of genetic modification is

From 1800 to 2014, the population has grown from 1 billion to 7 billion people. With this massive explosion in population, and increased use of technology, it has placed strain on our planets’ limited food resources, resulting in increased mortality rates due to hunger and starvation. GMO’s, also known as genetically modified organisms, are plants or animals that have had their genes directly manipulated by humans, that claim to help solve this problem, along with providing additional benefits to society. Genetically modified plants promise to have increased crop yield, resistance to disease and pests, and maximized nutritional value, to help reduce food production issues around the world. However, Harvard University has determined that

About 90% of planted areas of soybeans in the United States are genetically modified strains. Genetic engineering is very important to modern society because of the world’s expanding population and with the arising need of food; it provides an adequate source. Genetic engineering may have both advantages and disadvantages, but the future of mankind may be affected greatly if it is allowed to prosper as a modern science. Several main arguments that many people have about genetic engineering are the effects of scientific evolution, cloning experiments and the moral line that is presented with life altering consequences. The human justification for regulating the research is utter nonsense, being the only things they have to back up their

With progress in genetic engineering of foods, scientist, researchers, and farmers have changed the way food is grown. And this has started raising questions about the methods they use and their possible risks and side effects. To understand the risks and benefits of genetically modified foods you must first understand what they are.

The revolution and improvement of agricultural crops have seen an increase in the last decade because of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). “A genetically modified organism, or GMO, is an organism that has had its DNA altered or modified in some way through genetic engineering” (Lallanilla 2013). A GMO is stronger compared to its original species or generation because it has a new gene that allows it to survive in a new environment or against a predator or pest. A GMO can come in different forms, such as modified animals or plants and crops. A genetically modified crop has many benefits over the original crop, such as bigger product yield, higher resistance to disease, prolonging the genetically modified crops shelf life, and a more

By 2050, the world’s population is expected to exceed over 9 billion people, and the existing amount of usable land is expected to decrease significantly due to climate changes and urbanization. The projected rise in population and food consumption per person, particularly in countries like China and India, make efficient land use a necessary solution for long term plans. According to USDA, a 10% change to a genetically modified herbicide tolerant crop would yield around 1.7% increase in productivity. Biotechnology companies are confident that such crops will most definitely improve the live hood of farmers around the world. What exactly are Genetically modified crops? People always wonder about the effects of genetically modified foods. GMO is food that contains foreign genes from other organisms in its genetic code and its purpose is to speed up the process of selective breeding and introduce new nutrients and vitamins to enrich foods. The process of genetic engineering began in 1994 and since then has been used primarily on cash crops with high demand such as soybean, corn and canola. Most scientists believe that GMOs are not only safe but also beneficial due to the positive effect on many world economies, the environmental benefits, the improvement in nutritional values and the fact that there is no proof of harmful effects.

When we hear the phrase genetically modified organisms, we may automatically picture scientists in white lab coats, with gloves, and testing equipment. All of them working diligently in a brightly lit room with a cold, hospital like feel. What if I told you that humans have been modifying organisms since developed agriculture came into existence? An example of this is corn. It grows naturally in North America. However, if you take a trip to any western European countryside and you will find fields upon fields of corn. Humans have modified corn to be able to grow in Europe. They modified it without scientist and without high tech equipment. Not only have humans been cultivating genetically modified organisms for years, they are also not as dangerous as society makes them out to be. In fact, there are many benefits to GMOs including vaccines that do not require refrigeration, mosquitos that do not carry malaria, and various economic benefits.

Have you ever thought of what would happen to everyone on Earth if Genetically Modified Foods were allowed? According to the World Health Organization, Genetically Modified Foods or Genetically modified Organisms are organisms where the genetic material has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally by mating and/or natural recombination(World Health Organization). Genetically Modified Foods are foods that are altered to give more portions and cause people to earn more money. They also are beneficial to the environment. Because of the extra money that is earned, the benefits it causes for the environment, and how it creates more large portions of it, Genetically Modified Foods should be allowed all over the world.

In today’s world, there are many topics of high significance for us to discuss and learn about. I believe genetically modified (GM) foods and organisms (GMOs) is one of those topics. Do you know what they are? If you do, do you know if they are good or bad for us and do they affect the environment? When it comes GM foods the public has very strong views and it is in part due to the unanswered questions, or because the answers are not the ones one hoped for. Having enough information about a subject becomes crucial for us to make certain decisions, in particular if it involves our health and environment. In this global debate, one part of the public argues GM foods have not been studied long enough for us to decide if they are harmful to our health, and in the long run if it might also affect our environment.

Genetically modified organisms are a result of the splitting of genetic material and then moving it to another organism’s chromosomes. This makes the ability to change plants much easier than the slow process of cross breeding that sometimes leads to the traits they want. GMO plants sometimes possess genes that had never existed before by taking DNA from other organisms and combining them to create the traits they want. Plants are given traits that allow them to survive in extreme conditions and are higher in production. The way this works is that they take DNA from another organism and they separate it, employing enzymes for the task. Only the genes that are wanted are removed. Then the enzymes interweave the gene into the previously removed DNA that is contained in a bacterial cell. Next the DNA is put back inside the bacterial cell. The bacterium is allowed to spread throughout the plant cell and the DNA worms itself into the nucleus of the plant, which then increases. This “plant tumor” is grown in a laboratory. The altered callus seed is planted and allowed to reach full maturity, creating a modified or entirely new strain of plant (Cunningham and Cunningham, 2015).

Genetically modified crops have certain obvious economic and health advantages. The greatest of which is that these foods are the world’s best chance at ending or greatly reducing world hunger and malnutrition through greater yields. Critics, however, believe that these crops can cause evolutionary havoc via cross pollination. A potentially more serious criticism does not concern the effects on the developed populations, which can protect itself from the adverse effects, but on low-middle income countries which cannot afford the necessary resources to combat the negative effects of genetically modified crops.

A genetically modified food is food that was made using organisms that were genetically modified as well. What the engineers do is take certain traits that they like from each crop and transfer them to another to get their desired food. There is a company called Arctic Apples which uses biotechnology to identify certain genes that, when mixed with polyphenolics, turns the apples brown. When they identify it, they remove the genes that cause it and the apples don’t go brown. This is one of many genetically modified foods available. Another usage is everything that we get from the mustard seed. From a simple mustard seed, we get many vegetables such as turnips, collard greens, broccoli, cauliflower and so much more. Genetically modified food can be very helpful in certain aspects, such as using a gene from the spinach plant to repel bugs to prevent crops from going bad instead of using dangerous pesticides. Another way that crops can be genetically modified is for crops be resistant to freezing temperatures that can sometimes destroy crops and seeds. There are many reasons that we can benefit from genetically modified food.

The DNA of organisms that is altered artificially, via a method known as gene splicing (Schmidt 2005, A.527), is referred to as Genetically Modified (GM). Presently, most existing GM foods originate from plants, however, in the future, food may be obtained from GM animals or micro-organisms (Bawa and Anilakumar 2013, p.1036). The subject of GM foods including crops, vegetables and fruit and how safe they are is the cause of many controversial debates globally, however there are several arguments that support the encouragement of genetically modified food production. Enthusiasts of GM foods maintain it will assist to end world hunger and encourage health and environmental wellbeing (Panse 2014, para.1). Further, the contention by GM enthusiasts is that crop yields are increased by the use of GM technology, the need for chemicals traditionally used in agriculture diminishes and is likely to result in the production of high-sustenance foods capable of growing in exhausted soils and drought-ridden locations (Schmidt 2005, a.527). Potential uses in the future include aiming modifications to improve nutrient content, decreasing allergen capabilities, and refining the productivity of food manufacture. As global water supplies diminish, many countries will no longer have the capabilities of producing stable crops, thus there is considerable significance placed on the advancement of biotechnology used to yield water efficient and drought-resistant food sources (MIT 2015, para.1).