Ben Smith Mr. Yaggi Honors English III 4 March 2015 Genetically Modified Organisms: Aid or Adversary Genetically modified organisms is a topic that has been hotly debated for many years; stemming from the central question of the future legality of GMOs, the question rages whether GMOs are the key to alleviating several of the world’s struggles or if they are too riddled with dangerous ramifications. Advocates argue GMOs offer positive health effects. Additionally, they insist GMOs offer improved crop yield; nevertheless, opponents claim GMOs cause adverse health effects like increases in allergic reactions. Similarly, opponents maintain GMOs harm the environment through increased dependence on the use of herbicides. Some experts argue …show more content…
pag) According to Peter Singer, professor at Princeton University, approximately 250,000 to 500,000 pre-school children every year fall victim to blindness. About 50 percent of them die within the following year from the deficiency (n. pag). The conclusion illustrates that β-carotene is tied for the most effective method for children to get vitamin A. A 100 g bowl of rice is approximately equal to 1/2 US cup in volume, and a serving of rice is equal to one US cup; therefore, a full serving of golden rice gives children approximately 120% of their daily nutrient requirement. As golden rice continues to be grown more commonly, vitamin A deficiency decreases in commonality because golden rice provides the necessary amounts of vitamin A. Considering vitamin A deficiency is a major cause of childhood blindness, the growth of golden rice drastically decreases the number of children going blind and dying from vitamin A deficiency. Well over one billion people live in China, and they have a significant difficulty feeding the country. Rice is a thoroughly cost-effective way of feeding a population, and golden rice is an efficient way of providing vitamin A to China and western African countries who already depend on rice as a staple. China has a significantly brighter future because their future workforce is now healthier through the consumption of golden rice. Similarly, genetically modified organisms should be kept legal because they increase crop quantity. Pamela Ronald,
When it comes to the topic of whether genetic modification are safe or unsafe for the animals, the environment and for human consumption, some of us will readily agree that they are in fact very dangerous for everyone. Where this agreement usually ends, however, is on the question of how exactly they affect everyone. Whereas some are convinced that GMOs are not safe for anyone, others maintain that they are not a hazard to anyone. I agree that GMOs are not safe because while doing my research I found concrete evidence that proves that they are unsafe for consumption. All production of GMOs should be discontinued immediately since they are a danger for our environment and for ourselves.
In 1994, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first GMO, Flavr Savr tomato, for sale on grocery store shelves. Uninformed, the people continued buying and consuming the “normal” grocery store products. However, as the number of GMOs in markets increased, the world noticed a higher number of cancers, food allergies, and antibiotic resistances. One reason for creating GM crops is due to the fact that big corporations gain huge profit. In “10 scientific studies proving GMOs can be harmful to human health”, Arjun Walia passionately asserts that genetically modified organisms are extremely detrimental to a person’s health. I agree with Arjun Walia’s claim because a plethora of studies show the negative effects of genetically modified organisms. The world should eliminate the creation of genetically modified organisms because the products ruin the environment, cause economic issues with
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
There is much controversy when discussing the topic of Genetically Modified Organisms. Whether it may concern moral or ethical factors, there always seems to be considerable arguments either defending or arguing against GMOs. Based on research, GMOs prove to be extremely present in our food supply worldwide. Chemical engineering, fertilization, as well as other methods of manufacturing come into question when formulating an opinion on GMOs. Due to the manipulation of biotechnology that effectively yields products like GMOs, the public is not only susceptible to whatever side effects that may come with chemically altered produce but also the mind boggling conscience of consuming food that isn’t necessarily “all natural” or “natural”.
In the mid- 1990s, a new large economic market became a presence around the world. This new market, known as GMOs, or Genetically Modified Organisms, was the product of a technique used by scientists in which they could modify organisms in order to gain desirable traits. Many people saw these as the best thing since sliced bread. Others, however, immediately saw them as a concern to the general public, just as anything new in the food supply would be. Since then, GMOs and GE (Genetic Engineering) have become more advanced and existent in the world, and the controversy over them has grown with it. Now GMOs have become existent not only in
Dr. David Suzuki, a well-known Canadian geneticist, had a powerful message when it came to genetically modified organisms: “Anyone that says, ‘Oh, we know that this is perfectly safe,’ I say is either unbelievably stupid or deliberately lying” (Smith). Agricultural companies have spent several years and millions of dollars displaying GMOs on a pedestal made of deceitful promises. Because of this, the general public has adopted several misconceptions as facts, believing that these altered organisms will increase crop yields and reduce the use of pesticides. World citizens must open their eyes to see past the positive claims of large corporations because genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, have an undeniable dark side.
Genetically Modified Organism’s (GMO) have been gaining public spotlight as scrutiny over their safety has recently been popularized. A GMO is defined as “an organism whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering,” (Dictionary.com, 2015). The debate for both sides of the argument have been detrimental to the other and have yet to be copiously presented without a bias. While any organism can be genetically modified, the unrest between consumers and producers is centered around GMO crops because of the potential impact they could have on human health (Bushak, 2015).
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
Although crops have been genetically modified by humans utilizing traditional breeding techniques, such as selective breeding and cross-breeding, since 10,000 years ago and the 1700’s respectively, genetic modification of organisms through genetic engineering has elicited concern amongst society (How long have genetically modified foods been used?, 2014). Despite the potential benefits genetically modified crops and livestock may have on the environment and human population presently, many are concerned by risk of unforeseen harmful effects GMOs have on human health and environment in the long-term. This brings up the issue of whether it is ethical to continue engineering GMOs to benefit society and the environment the way it has been, regardless of the disadvantages it may evoke in the
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are highly embedded into our food systems. The use of GMOs is a subject that is often highly debated. GMOs have been viewed as a way to produce food more efficiently, and to aid in the feeding of our ever growing population. However, there are numerous countries that have placed a ban on the use of these products. Comparing production increases in the U.S. to those countries that have banned the use of GMOs will help to give insight into why these products may be a good solution to feeding our ever growing population. At the same time seeing the negative side effects of the history of GMOs may cause you to change your mind on the use of GMOs.
Genetically modified organisms are an extremely controversial topic, which has many positive and negative effects. As the population of the world increases, more and more food must be produced to sustain all of life on earth. GMOs have incredible potential to eliminate the issue of hunger worldwide and could possibly provide enough food to sustain the entire globe. Genetically modified Organisms can be plants or animals which contain their own special properties modified by humans, but often have to do with increasing the yield of a food. There are many people who fear that GMOs are harmful and have some unwanted side effects. The pros and cons of using GMOs are vast in their own way. By using them the correct way, we could safely provide
Though GMOs have been affecting people worldwide for a short amount of time, people must realize that they have been affecting animals for years. To show possible consequences a substance may have animals are used in experiments. For instance, the biologist David Schubert of the Salk Institute states, “When GM soy was fed to female rats, most of their babies died within three weeks,” and “[w]hen male rats were fed GM soy their testicles changed color from the normal pink to dark blue” (2). If animals exhibit side effects, GMOs can be harmful to humans. Many members of society do not realize the consequences of consuming GMOs.
Scientist that are against the GMOs have debated these topics in many perspectives, but the three most important arguments are the dangerous amounts of herbicides used on crops, environmental harm in our ecosystem and the linkage between GMOs and toxins in our bodies. With these debates scientist against GMOs have hoped to raise the awareness of
With a growing population there is fear that the world won’t have enough food to keep up. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) have been introduced as safe for human consumption to our market since 1996 without sufficient safety testing. Evidence points to no necessity for GMO food (not to mention harmful affects) and therefore it should be banned from the United States just like it has been in multiple other countries. Some things this paper will cover is how GMOs are made, who makes them, what affects they have on the environment, and what a safe alternative is.
Much of the public concern surrounding the safety of GMOs stems from the process of actually creating them. This is admittedly not a natural process, which is a surefire way to raise critic’s eyebrows in doubting their safety. However, there is no evidence that supports these myths. The Committee on Genetically Engineered Crops, The National Academy of Science, and the Board on Agriculture and Natural Recourses all agree after extensive testing and observation that there is no additional harm in the consumption of GMO food. The research conducted in animal studies, as well as chemical analysis of the crops, show no indication that GMOs are negatively affecting human health. The next allegation hurled at GMOs is that they may have