Genetic Engineering: What Are Genes?

What are genes? A gene is a piece of DNA that codes for RNA molecules. What is genetic engineering? Genetic engineering is the process where humans alternate the genome of organisms using biotechnological processes. It allows scientists to transfer genes from one organism to the next.

FIGURE 1.1: A scientist manipulating an organisms DNA

Genetics have been an impact on agriculture for thousands of years by the means of artificial selection. Farmers control the way their plants reproduce so that each new generation has many parents’ genes as possible. This is another form selective breeding which genetic engineering. There has been an increase in crop yields in cereal crops. They have become resistant to disease. The nutrition value of the crops

It is, however, expensive to produce GM foods as they have modern biotechnology needing highly skilled worker and expensive equipment to do this procedure, the wild life unintentionally threatened, the GM crops destroy animal habitats as new traits could be grown in huge amounts. GM crops become vulnerable to climate change, pests and diseases when produced as monoculture. If animals (especially humans) eat these interbred crops with animals, they can cause diseases such as cancer. Economically GMOs is that they invest money, power and control of a country’s food supply in a few large corporates. The issue is that large companies have resources to afford the expenses e.g.: legal representation and the system in bringing GMOs into the

ETHICAL ISSUES

The use of GMOs causes effects on the environment, untargeted species and human health. The practice of genetically modified organisms is still new. The long-term effects of this technology are still to come so we must continue with caution as we develop it.

The plant has the ability to make pesticides and resist some herbicides. These characteristics are helpful in the production of food, allowing farmers to use fewer chemicals and to grow fewer crops with the ideal conditions to also prevent eutrophication.

Pesticides can have unintentional effects on targeted species even though pesticides protect crops against unwanted insects. GMOs could harm human health as well. Researches used a particular gene from a Brazilian nut to increase Methionine in soya beans. The insertion of this gene has caused allergic reactions when the soya beans have been eaten by people who are allergic to nuts. GMOs also have the possibilities of introducing nutrients into foods, antibiotics and vaccines. This technology can provide disease resistance to those countries that don’t have means to practice this technology.

FIGURE 1.5: The introduction of biotech crops to farmers of