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Negative effects of gm food
GM Food,harmful or helpful
The effects of genetic engineering
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An Analysis of Bill Nye’s Episode on Genetically Modified Foods In the episode of his show “The Eyes of Nye” entitled Genetically Modified Foods, William “Bill” Nye presents scientific evidence surrounding the debate on genetically modified foods. He emphasizes that we should farm responsibly, which he believes should involve making decisions on the modification of each food on a case-wise basis. In summary, his view is that we need greater transparency in the farm-to-table process. In order to understand his conclusion, it is necessary to critically evaluate the arguments and examine the validity of each argument.
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
In the 1980’s, the first genetically modified tobacco and tomato crops were introduced and sold in China and have been, controversially, around ever since. Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, according to the World Health Organization, are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material has been modified through genetic engineering. Since the first time genetically modified foods were introduced in the 1980's, there has been a debate on whether or not these alien foods are harmful to our health. According to Jeffrey Smith, author of the book Seeds of Deception, in Another Reason for Schools to Ban Genetically Engineered Foods, he states, “Gene insertion creates unpredicted, irreversible changes” (486). Clearly, the uncertainty for
Monsanto, an American multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, frightened consumers and activists located in the Midwest when they introduced genetically engineered sweet corn into the markets there. This small incident has, overtime, exploded into a controversy on the selling of transgenic food and has caused health, environmental, and consumer activists to speak out against it. Nowadays, it isn’t just the Midwestern markets that contain genetically modified foods. The use of GM foods, or foods that have been created from genetically modified organisms, has become prevalent around the United States and what has agitated people about these foods are the unknown affects they could have on consumers. Though, not everyone think these
GMOs are considered to be the next agricultural “innovation” as some would say, but this is incorrect. They think that GMOs are a way to feed everyone on earth. Giving them the nutrients that they need to grow in conditions that most plants can’t live in, while not causing harm to physical and environmental health. They are wrong. GMOs do more harm than good.
However, nowadays, further studies and inventions created GMO (Genetically Modified Organisms), “where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal” (“Seeds of Deception”). Kara Posso, an environmental science junior, expressively identified some of the benefits of GMO by claiming that “GMO foods, if put to use, could turn out to be more sustainable by allowing us to feed a lot of people. It would also mean using fewer pesticides, which are damaging to water resources” (“Nobel Laureate Praises Benefits of GMOs - The Daily Texan”). The effects of GMO will be
The United States had about 73.1 million acres of genetically modified foods in the year 2014, and that amount is growing rapidly. (Global) Martin Luther King Jr. wanted to change the world of segregation with a speech, but at present, a small multitude of Americans are beginning to consider changing the way our food is processed. The company behind this is called Monsanto, a wide range of people that direct farmers and food companies, but also the ones who hide some truly evil secrets about the food that they create for us to consume. Due to these facts and more that are unknown to the public, I have a dream of all-natural food everywhere by using three of numerous possible strategies. While there is a possible handful of those who believe that Monsanto is a wonderful company because of their delicious and inexpensive foods, a documentary displaying the numerous facts and details describing the issue of Monsanto challenging mankind’s long term health could sway them while providing the necessary information to others.
Before one dives into the battle of good versus evil, one must first fully understand the concept of genetically modified foods. Genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered (GE) foods have been modified in order to develop favourable characteristics. Genes are transferred from various organisms to fruit and vegetable plants and are responsible for generating favourable characteristics, such as resistance to pests and insecticides (Milano and Carol, 2007: 8-11). Many people are pro GM foods due to their positive effects such as larger yields and decreased pesticide use, but not everyone is convinced. GM foods are a relatively new phenomenon and
The labelling of genetically modified foods is seen as wholesome common sense, and it should be required to have the information on the back of every product. People have been manipulating the genetic makeup of plants for numerous generations using the process of traditional cross breeding. Genetically modified crops have been traded, grown and consumed around the world, including Australia since 1996. The progress and advancement in this field has impacted the way we view the deeper issues of this technology. While genetic engineering crop property has been gradually increasing, so have concerns, in that producing and eating genetically modified foods may pose unexpected environmental and health hazards.
As Monsanto is a multinational company whose products are consumed by the food industry, it has to strictly emphasize on its moral obligations concerning the society where their products are being sold. Such moral obligation includes providing best quality of seeds to the consumers and betterment of farmer’s life (Stern, 2011). For this purpose Monsanto ensures high yielding properties of their seeds and it would prevent against insects eating their precious crops. This would ease the farmers in keeping their crops safe and reduce their hassle to sprinkle pesticides for crop safety. On the contrary these genetically modified seeds reported in causing health related issues on consuming the food grown from them.
By genetically modifying foods, scientists are able to create products with better nutritional values, flavors, and textures. As stated in “Genetically Modified Foods,” “Regular rice is not very nutritious, so scientists have genetically modified rice plants.” The modified plants produce proteins that give rice additional iron and vitamins. Essentially, there are many benefits when particular crops are altered, which strongly contradicts Hawthorne’s view of scientists. In both “The Birthmark” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter”, scientists attempt to control nature resulting in severe consequences.
There is uncertainty as to what these altered genetics will bring for both present day, and future generations (“Genetically Modified Food”
Corn has long been associated with Thanksgiving and the Native Americans. It lent itself to easy storage and preservation and was consumed in many different forms at nearly every meal. The Native Americans utilized the leftover husks and cobs to make mats, baskets, and even darts that were burned as fuel. Its usefulness as a crop was shared with early European settlers. Today its influence is obvious since the United States uses more farm land to grow corn than any other crop.
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.
The big risk involved in consuming products like the transgenic banana and tomato is that the side effects are unknown; therefore, if ever they are discovered in the future, the impact on human health will be permanent. Some traditional farming economies are destroyed by genetically modified products companies. Lastly, the big disadvantage of genetic engineering is the overwhelming ethical and moral objections. Similar to biotechnology reservations, manipulations of organisms’ genetic makeup is a play of God’s work and idea of the world that He created. Furthermore, with genetic engineering some very bizarre modifications have been made and many are worried about scientists going too far with altering the order of life because there are no restrictions to their work.