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Genetically Modified Organism Persuasive Essay

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Between now and 2050, the global population is projected to rise from 7.2 billion to 9.6 billion. Almost all of that population growth will occur in the developing world, where about 870 million people are already suffering from hunger and malnutrition (Van Montagu). The question of how to nourish two billion more people in a changing climate will prove one of the greatest challenges in human history. To meet it, we should embrace an agricultural approach that combines the best features of traditional farming with the latest technology. The current popular attitude against all things genetically modified is totally unfounded, and will prove to be disastrous if used to stifle research and development of new ways to produce more crops in an environmentally sustainable way. The adoption of genetic engineering as a logical next step in the advancement of agricultural technology will enormously benefit society, the economy and the environment. Opposition to Genetically Modified …show more content…

Vitamin A deficiency is highly prevalent in areas like Southeast Asia where rice is the staple food. It is also the leading cause of preventable blindness in children. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 500,000 vitamin A-deficient children in these regions become blind every year, half of them dying within 12 months of losing their sight (Micronutrient deficiencies). A new variety of rice known as Golden Rice was developed to combat this problem. Scientists in Switzerland inserted two genes into rice that switched on production of beta-carotene, a source of vitamin A. A single bowl of the resulting rice can supply 60% of a child’s daily requirement of vitamin A (In A Grain Of Golden Rice). This is a simple solution to a tremendous problem, yet the rice faces opposition from organizations such as Greenpeace which are anti-GMO.

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Golden rice has been genetically modified to contain an abundance of vitamin A and is often sent to countries where citizens struggle to receive proper nutrition (Golden Rice Project). This golden rice has helped save the 1.15 millions of children that die every year from vitamin A deficiency (Golden Rice Project). The reality is that food “being developed with direct genetic manipulation doesn’t make a plant good or bad”, it simply improves the existing plant

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760 Words | 4 Pages

Heredity & Evolution, Summer ‘15 Exam 4: Final Exam 1. What is a GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) and how is it different from a GEO (Genetically Engineered Organism). How is a Genetically Engineered Organism created? A Genetically Modified Organism is an organism that is altered to produce new traits in an organism. Say you want all of the peaches you grow; you want them to look bright red similar to a Red Delicious apple.

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598 Words | 3 Pages

Even if we produce enough food, world hunger is present, because it will remain present as long as there is poverty, not being solved by reducing food scarcity, as there was never a scarcity present. Now having addressed that the production and distribution of genetically modified foods throughout the world is only innovation ruining the future of agricultural production at the cost of others for personal gain, it is safe to say that this should not be continued. This practice will only continue however until newer generations rally against the companies producing them as a force, with the sacredness of humanity and crops and seed being their

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1773 Words | 8 Pages

Sometimes farmers use too many resources inefficiently, they may use pesticides or have factories that pollute as they get the produce ready for shipping. Sustainable farming is a concept that has become known due to our need for sustainable solutions. By growing food closer to where people consume, we will decrease transportation miles and provide inner-city jobs that will help combat the problems of food cost or employment. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) are important to help achieve sustainability. Amy Hammon’s essay “A Race to Save the Orange by Alteringits DNA” makes this idea clear.

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1464 Words | 6 Pages

Some scientists advocate for the use of genetic alterations with stiff oppositions because if this procedure is done properly there could be many benefits. They see it as a resurrection of society. All the harmful effects humans have had on animals, plants and insects can be reversed because of this prestigious opportunity. In the hopes of all going well, genetically modified plants could possibly be the cure for world hunger. An example of modifying crops would be if a fruit was cross bred with a distinctively diverse organism such as a fish.

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573 Words | 3 Pages

Everyday people are eating genetically modified organisms and don’t even realize it! There are many people that have absolutely no knowledge of what GMO’s are. The United States needs to pass a federal law requiring the labeling of all genetically modified foods in the country. There are over 60 countries around the world that require the labeling of GMO’s, so why isn’t America doing the same? As consumers, we have the right to know what we’re eating and feeding our families.

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1150 Words | 5 Pages

What do a tomato, soybean and a french fry have in common? They are all some of the most commonly genetically modified foods sold on the market today. By using the genetic information from one organism, and inserting or modifying it into another organism, scientists can make food crops stay fresher, grow bigger, and have the crops create their own pesticides. Nevertheless, the technology to modify genes has surpassed its practicality. Genetically modified foods need to be removed from everyday agriculture because of the threat they pose to human health, the environment, and the impact on global economy.

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715 Words | 3 Pages

The role of genetic modification (GM science) has made a tremendous impact on agricultural (Adenle, Alhassan, & Solomon, 2014). Crops developed by GM science first became commercially available in the U.S. around the mid 1990s, and have quickly been adopted by farmers (Adenle et al., 2014; Cowan, 2011). According to Phillips (2008) GM science has “... increased crop yields, reduced costs for food or drug production, reduced need for pesticides, enhanced nutrient composition and food quality, resistance to pests and disease, greater food security, and medical benefits to the world's growing population” ( p 1.). In addition, GM science has made improvements towards developing crops that mature earlier and tolerate drought, frost, and other

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675 Words | 3 Pages

The next generation of GMOs indicates that new genetic engineering technologies are being sensationalized to address food system challenges. Dana Perls says, “Unfortunately, among other problems, most of these GMO crops led to massive increases in the use of toxic herbicides like glyphosate, a probable carcinogen” (17). Perls uses the term unfortunately to emphasis that there is a problem with most of the crops causes issues due to the toxins. The use of genetic modifications has been racing ahead without taking the time to look for negative effects. The negligence can lead to major consequences that were invisible to these amazed scientists who never took time to rule out all cons of GMOs.

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According to a research study performed by S. Linnhoff et al. (2017) Millennials are becoming more educated as access to college increases. As a result of this they are slowly starting to accept that GMO technology is safe to eat, however, there are concerns with how it will impact the

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1144 Words | 5 Pages

For thousands of years humans have influenced the genetics of animals and plants through selective breeding and cultivation of crops. Following the introduction of genetic engineering in 1972, the technology has been utilized in multiple industries - improving the standard of living for human beings throughout the world. Genetically modified tomatoes and strawberries sit in grocery shelves with longer shelf lives. Genetically modified fish glow in a family’s fish tank and genetically engineered bacteria produce human insulin for use on diabetics. There is no doubt that genetic modification has improved the lives of millions.

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916 Words | 4 Pages

Artificial selection has been around for centuries and has greatly increased the diversity within plant and animal species around the world. It is thought that almost all the food we eat has been selectively bred to create a superior strain of the plant or animal, making it larger and tastier. One of the downsides to artificial selection includes the increased vulnerability of crops to disease and environmental changes. Genetic engineering can help overcome some of the challenges with plant species, as it enables the creation of plants that are far more resistant to bacteria and pests. However, genetic engineering has been around for a fraction of the time, and is still fairly untested.

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1669 Words | 7 Pages

For years, the health and safety of genetically modified foods have been debated and researched by scientists, but the question still stands: should genetically modified foods be allowed for consumption? The process of genetic modification involves inserting a gene from bacteria or a virus into an organism where it would normally not be found. The purpose is to alter the genetic code in plants and animals to make them more productive or resistant to pests or farming techniques. Genetically modified organisms, more commonly known as GMOs, have been a controversial topic of debate for a number of reasons. The ethics behind genetically modified foods come into question due to an abundance of short and long-term effects from the process, many of which are still unknown today.

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694 Words | 3 Pages

We live in a world where technology is constantly changing and evolving for the better, and if w e continue to ignore and make assumptions about genetic engineering. We will not be able to feed our growing population. Both plants and animals can be genetically modified, many people it is not healthy and feel as though chemicals are used, however genetic engineering is no different to natural except the fact that the production of the plant or animal is being made in a lab. Genetic engineering often is used to supply mass amounts of people with ease. As genetically modified foods and animals are usually stronger and take less effort to grow, with many of the animals being engineered to grow at faster rates, especially farm salmon.

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752 Words | 4 Pages

In some African countries, rice is the primary source of food and therefore improving the quality of rice means bettering the nutritional intake of the poorer population especially children. Dr Momma and collegues at the University of Kyoto revealed that genetically modified rice contained 20% more protein than normal rice. However studies have shown that genetically modified food expose a threat to our biodiversity since the food has more resistance over the natural wild varieties and be fatal to other organism in the ecosystem. We have skipped the impact of animal health when designing genetically modified food and animals can suffer from nutrient imbalance, insulin problem, and dangerous side effects such as allergies which can even lead to death of certain species of animal like

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