Pros and Cons of Genetically Modified Foods Essay

Our ancestors first cultivated sows nearly 10 thousand familys ago. They domesticated brutes subsequently and then selectively bred both plants and animals to converge various requirements for homosexual provender. Humans ascertain(p)ed natural biological processes much(prenominal) as fermentation of harvestings and grains to issue wine and beer, and yeast for baking bread. Manipulation of sustenances is not a revolutionary story, in that locationfore. The latest agricultural uncovering uses cistrontic engineering engineering to diversify nourishments.Farmers and plant breeders control been changing sever plants to improve characteristics such as size, subway to disease and savvy. Plants which arrive hygienic, excite a higher(prenominal) yield or taste better argon selected and bred from. This is still the virtuall(a)y widely used technique for growth tonic varieties of a crop, and is limited by natural barriers which stop several(predicate) species of organisms from conduct with each other. cistrontic modification is actually varied to these traditional plant fostering techniques. divisortic modification is the insertion of deoxyribonucleic acid from iodine organism to some other, usually by molecular technologies. genetically Modified foods (GMF) atomic number 18 animals or plants that direct had genetic modification. This changes the characteristics of the organism, or the way it grows and bursts.Jim Maryanski from the U.S. Food and medicine Administration, had the pursuit to say in an interview make on the FDAs website. there ar hundreds of parvenu plant varieties introduced every course of study in the united States, and all take a shit been genetically limited through traditional plant manners techniquessuch as cross-fertilization of selected plantsto draw desired traits. (Robin)Current and coming(prenominal) GM products includea)Food that bottom of the inning bear vaccines ejectanas that unvei l hepatitis B vaccineb)More orbritious foods strain with change magnitude iron and vitaminsc)Faster emergence fish, fruit and nut treesd)Plants producing unexampled plasticsIn so legion(predicate) respects, genetic modification is perfect for at onces society. It would help agriculturalists overcome all headaches associated with growing large crops, and basically seamster the food growth industry to jackpot consumption by the general existence. The celebrated frost- loathsome tomato example is perfect in illustrating this point.With a tomato that resists frost, the season for growing them would be eternal and therefore a farmer would be commensurate to produce more tomatoes in iodin year than they were able to do in the past. Gene engineering science not wholly gives us the emf to select the exact characteristics we motivation in an organism, but it also enables us to cross species barriers. For example, we piece of tail take an plant louseicide-producing ge ne from a bacterium and insert it into a plant, making the plant resistant to insect approaching. This new-found ability to cross species barriers is what makes gene technology such a powerful tool. Producing large food for the worlds population with reveal using up all the on tap(predicate) let down is an enormous challenge. One answer is to develop crops that yield more with less inputs that atomic number 18 more resistant to diseases that break less during storage and transport that fork over more useful nutrients and that can grow in agricultural land that has been degraded. Gene technology gives us the authorization to do this.Genetically circumscribed foods have been on hand(predicate) since the 1990s. The leading ingredients of GM foods currently addressable are derived from genetically modified soybean, lemon yellow and canola. The first commercially full-grown genetically modified food crop was a tomato created by Calgene called the FlavrSavr. Calgene subm itted it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for judgement in 1992 next the FDAs de lineination that the FlavrSavr was, in fact, a tomato, did not constitute a wellness hazard, and did not deprivation to be labeled to indicate it was genetically modified, Calgene released it into the market in 1994, where it met with little public comment. Con alignred to have a poor flavor, it never sold well and was off the market by 1997. However, it had modify solids contents which made it an attractive new contour for canned tomatoes.Transgenic crops are grown commercially or in base ravels in over 40 countries and on 6 continents. In 2000, to the highest degree 109.2 cardinal farming (442,000 km) were planted with transgenic crops, the principal ones being herbicide- and insecticide-resistant soybeans, corn, cotton, and canola. Other crops grown commercially or landing field- time-tested are a fragrance potato resistant to a US strain of a virus that affects one out of the more than 89 different varieties of sweet potato grown in Africa, rice with increased iron and vitamins such as golden rice, and a variety of plants able to survive extreme weather. in the midst of 1996 and 2001, the total surface area of land cultivated with GMOs had increased by a factor of 30, from 17,000 km (4.2 one thousand million acres) to 520,000 km (128 million acres). The evaluate for 2002 was 145 million acres (587,000 km) and for 2003 was 167 million acres (676,000 km). Soybean crop correspond 63% of total surface in 2001, maize 19%, cotton 13% and canola 5%. In 2004, the value was about 200 million acres (809,000 km) of which 2/3 were in the United States.In item, Bt corn is widely grown, as are soybeans genetically intentional to pay glyphosate herbicides. Future applications of GMOs include bananas that produce merciful vaccines against infectious diseases such as Hepatitis B, fish that mature more quickly, fruit and nut trees that yield years earlier, and plants that produce new plastics with unique properties. The next decade impart see exponential progress in GM product development as researchers gain increasing and unprecedented entrance fee to genomic resources that are applicable to organisms beyond the orbital cavity of individual projects.Biologist Stephen Nottingham explains the risks of GMFExperimental trials with transgenic organisms are usually conducted strict rules to minimize the potential spread of genetic material change surface given these regulations, however, no field trial can be said to be 100% secure. This was illustrated when flooding struck the American Midwest in July 1993 and an entire field of experimental insect-resistant maize was swept outdoor(a) in Iowa. once released accidentally into the environment, plant material may prove vexed to recover. (Bragi)Unique ecological risks have been associated with virus-resistant transgenic crop plants expiration crops more vulnerable to virus attack and ri sking the spread of virus susceptibility to other plants.Genetically modified foods are marvellous to present direct risks to gracious health. There are two main areas of headachea)The possibility of sensitised reactions to genetically modified foods, andb)The possibility that bacteria living in the human gut may find out resistance to antibiotics from marker genes present in transgenic plants.Proponents claim that a genetically-modified potato is as safe as one modified the old-fashioned way, through generations of selective breeding biotechnology just arises the job through more quickly. Critics are concerned that coalesce together genetic material from different species might produce unexpected allergic reactions in the person who take or drinks it. For instance, if an individual consumer who is allergic to broccoli eats a banana that just happens to have a little broccoli deoxyribonucleic acid under the peel, that person might get sick. Some studies on animals indic ate that consuming genetically-modified foods may cause allergic responses, compromise immune systems and inhibit organ growth, although no proven cases of widespread reactions have been definitively documented.Opponents of biotech foods compliments other questions answered, as well. Will re-engineering a plant or animal to dress a specialized end, such as improving taste, decrease its nutritional value? Will consuming genetically-modified food products make a person more resistant to antibiotics, which are widely used to deal out bacterial infections? Does consuming milk or meat from livestock that has been injected with growth hormones (a construct of biotechnology that is different from genetic modification) subject consumers to early puberty, cancer, and other ailments?Since neither side has been able to provide definitive answers, the dialog box is still out on food safety after all, genetic technology itself is barely decades old.So one can condense the issue into a vi rtuoso question should we move forward with new technologies that might help provide higher crop yields, new and interesting types of food products, and more clamss for the companies that own the technology or play it safe and live until we better understand the health and environmental consequences of manipulating life forms that took generations to develop?Multinational Corporations make because GMF can be very profitable. GMF have interpreted hold quickly because international corporations with the resources to make large financial investments in research and development can profit directly. Multinational companies can spread out the benefit and profit to umteen branches of their businesses. legion(predicate) such corporations combine the following an agrochemical company, a reference company, a pharmaceutical company, a food bear upon company and sometimes businesses claimd with veterinary products. Developments in one part of the corporation can be used to sell pro ducts in another branch.Farmers benefit in the short term because they can grow and sell more crops with fewer problems due to weeds, pests, fungi or frost. The genetically modified seed is designed to resist these traditional enemies.Food processing companies benefit from a ready provide of raw food ingredients designed for specific processing needs. Genetically modified tomatoes and potatoes, for instance, have higher solid contents and yield more sauces and French fries. These foods take farsighteder to ripen and rot. Thus less food is spoiled and more gets processed.Supermarkets benefit for the identical reasons. The fresh produce lasts longer on the shelves and is more profitable. Consumers, to date, havent benefited. GMF have been developed for the convenience of the producer and processor. compensate they cost more to produce and the be get passed along to the consumer. Eventually there will be some variety show of designer novelty foods for shoppers to try.Nottingham adds that there are many other concerns including ethical questions involving animal welfare, whether DNA is actual life, and intellectual lieu rights and genetic resources from the Third World. (Bragi)The worlds poorest nations account for around 95.7% of the worlds genetic resources. Traditional farming executes involve farmers retaining seeds, from the harvest of one years crop, for planting in the following year. This practice saves money on buying seed and in itself represents a continuous survival for yield and resistance to pests and diseases. However, with genetically modified seed, royalties are payable to the companies holding the evident for the seed. Under world trade harmony rulings, farmers have to make substantial royalty payments to multinational companies if they keep seed for replanting, evening if the crop happens to be native to their particular country.Genetic engineering is a priceless new technology that can develop more plentiful and nutritious foods, with groovy potential benefits for humanity and the environment, and this new scientific discovery needs to be utilise as quickly as practicable for humanitarian reasons. As with every new scientific technology, harmful side effect of genetic engineering are inescapable and great care should be taken in its implementation, including carefully controlled long-term tests on human health and environmental impacts. any genetically engineered foods have been thoroughly tested and demonstrated to be safe in advance they are released into the marketplace. However, this scrutiny is typically conducted only on rats and other animals, by the companies involved. real little of this research has been reviewed by strong- heeded scientists and then published in scientific journals.Genetically engineered foods are usually easily equivalent to other foods, with no increased risk to human health, and no need for the lengthy and expensive human testing demanded of, for example, new food ad ditives. However, the unpredictable disruptions in normal DNA functioning caused by genetic engineering can produce unanticipated and unknown side do for human health, including unknown and unpredictable toxins and allergens, and these possibilities can only be definitively assessed through human testing.Genetic engineering is a scientific and technological process, and its evaluation and governmental regulation should be based on purely scientific and objective criteria. To have a purely scientific evaluation of genetically engineered foods, we need more science, especially human studies and environmental studies. Moreover, purely scientific assessment of genetic engineering ignores the fact that, for many people, food has cultural, ethical and religious dimensions that essential also be considered.Alan McHughen, author of Pandoras Picnic Basket The Potential and Hazards of Genetically Modified Foods, in the introduction he statesMake no mistake I am in favor of an straight and appropriately regulated introduction of some GMOs into the environment and marketplace, and I adamantly cope with others. There are good reasons to ban certain products of genetic technology, and good reasons to allow, with management, certain others some may require no extraordinary regulation at all. If your survey differs from mine after reading this book, I hope you will be able to justify, if only to yourself, why we disagree.My philosophy is to be skeptical, be critical, even cynical of claims by business interests, government agencies, and activist groups. solely also keep an open mind and then decide for yourself. (Internet 7)Theres no doubt that the GM food depict should be closely monitored and regulated, but that doesnt mean it should all be banned. I believe that genetic engineering of plants, animals, and homo has much to offer as long as we are aware of potential benefits and side effects. And thats true even for more traditional methods of farming, animal hus bandry, and medicine. wrench Sited1.Cummings, Michael R., and Williams S. Klug. Concepts of Genetics. newly Delhi Pearson Education, 2004.2.Dubey, R.C. A Textbook of Biotechnology. New Delhi S. Chand, 20063.Kumar, H.D. Modern Concepts of Biotechnology. New Delhi Vikash Publishing House, 20034.Purohit, S. rural Biotechnology. India Agrobios, 20055.Purohit, S. Biotechnology Fundamental and Applications. India Agrobios, 2004Internet Reference1.Bragi, David. Food Savior Or Frankenfood? The Debate over Genetically Modified Foods. http//www.sf entry.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2001/06/25/healthwatch.DTL2.Robbin, Adria. What Are We consume? http//serendip.brynmawr.edu/biology/b103/f00/web1/robbin.html3.Schultz, Norman. http//www.beyondintractability.org/essay/fact_finding_limits/4.Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http//www.wikipedia.org/wiki/genetic_engineering5.Wikipedia Online Encyclopedia. http//www.wikipedia.org/wiki/genetically_modified_food6.Genetic engineering science The Controversy. http//www.genetic-id.com/prosncons/index.htm7.http//www.foodmuseum.com/issues.html