...inserting genetic information from one organism to another and modifying it into another organism, it makes the food crops stay fresher, grow bigger, and make the crops produce their own pesticides. However, the technology to modify these genes has gone beyond its practicality. If science continues to genetically modify foods they have the potential to pose various risks to our bodies, the environment, as well as, have a huge impact on the global economy. Some risks associated with genetically modified food is the lack of research, lack of regulations, and the possible long term health risks associated with eating genetically modified food. In our paper, we plan to discuss all of these issues and show that while there are some benefits to genetically modified foods, the risks associated with the genetic modifications vastly outweigh the benefits. Introduction: Genetically modified organisms are any organism that has had a gene from one organism implanted into another organism in order to improve or change the genetic makeup of that organism. It can also be referred to as transgenic, due to the process being the transfer of genes from one organism to another. Other names also referred to are biotechnology, gene splicing, genetic engineering, or recombinant DNA technology, all of which meant the same thing. Transferring genes from one organism to another, to enhance or improve that organism. Genetically modified organisms can be foods, plants and animals. Genetic Modification is...
Words: 1406 - Pages: 6
...Sivapatham, a Ph.D. in stem cells and model systems, discusses the pros and cons to genetic modification and the potential it has to cure life-threatening genetic diseases. The article addresses the basis of how genetic modification works and the process it undergoes in order to produce successful results. It demonstrates the purpose of a genome editing function called Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) and how it was discovered to be the most efficient and effective form of genetic modification. In addition, it touches on the ethical perspectives of genetic modification in humans; moreover, it talks about the potential misuse of the technology including modifying physical traits, athletic capabilities, or cosmetology....
Words: 263 - Pages: 2
...Genetically Modified Animals Animals with special characteristics and traits have been cross breed through sexual reproduction for many years, but with the increasing of technology, scientists can now create animals directly from gene modification. Genetic modification is described as the science used to change the characteristics of an organism genetic component and manipulate the deoxyribonucleic acid structures using technology. “Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is nucleic acid that carries hereditary information about traits of an organism and carries the instructions for all the characteristics that organism inherits, it consist of two chain of nucleotides twisted into a double helix” (Starr, C., Evers, C. A., Starr, L. 2013). Genetically modified animals are made from embryonic stem cells carrying two copies of gene one from the male and the other from the female. Scientists cut and join DNA from different sources then transfer it into the organism so it has the modified genes and from that procedure, a new set of genes is created. Manipulating the DNA and transforming certain gene to create a new life is called recombinant DNA (rDNA) technique. Scientists use recombinant DNA technique to modify the chemical inside the nucleus of a cell which carries genetic instructions from one organism to another and to improve specific characteristics of an animal or to introduce a new trait that is resistant to diseases and may enhance the growth of animals. In addition, the changes introduced...
Words: 1543 - Pages: 7
...improve nutritional content or make plants resistant to herbicides. In order for these traits to be enhanced scientists breed the desired traits. Genetically modified foods have had foreign genes from other plants or animals inserted into their genetic codes (Heit (2012) 2nd slide- What are genetically modified foods and organisms? For scientists to achieve the desired traits for genetically modify organisms they us selective breeding. Selective breeding is where over time selected plants, animals, and microorganisms are bred to produce the desired traits, but the genetic modification allows scientists to speed this process up by moving desired genes from one organism to another (Heit (2012). The organisms that are selected for the genetic modification are organisms that exhibit a variety of different traits and then these organisms are bred The most common genetically modified organisms are plants. 3rd slide- Genetically Modified Food and Organism Benefits Genetically modified foods and organisms were created to provide the same nutrition and the genetically modified crops technology is the only way to feed an increasingly populous world. Plants are the most genetically modified because they bring the most benefits. Modified plants increase crop yields, reduce costs for food and drug production, reduce need for pesticides, enhance nutrient composition, provides better food quality, gives resistance to pests and disease, provides greater...
Words: 685 - Pages: 3
...assume you will not eat it or even thought that you have never bought any food containing that. You will be surprised how many people have bought or have eaten something that has been genetically modified. With that being said majority of the food we eat now has been or have ingredients that have been genetically modified. Now you have to ask yourself if you know what genetically modified food was, would you still eat the things you do knowing it was modified? When you hear genetically modified, the first thing I think about is an oversized tomato or a giant pumpkin of some sort. That is the complete opposite because by definition, genetic modification is the manipulation of DNA by humans to alter the essential make up of plants and animals. Genetically modified organism is define as organisms that the genetic material have been altered that did not come naturally, another terminology for this is called modern biotechnology or gene technology. This is usually used to crop plants that is created for human and animals to consume the most recent molecular biology techniques. There are about four crops that make up for almost all of the genetically modified crops grown. The certain plants have been genetically modified to improve specific traits which include higher tolerance to...
Words: 1282 - Pages: 6
...You may have heard about genetic modification of babies. Have you given it much thought? Today I will be explaining why genetic modification of your baby’s genes is a good thing to do for your child. I will do this first by telling you the pros to genetic modification. Second I will tell you the benefits of genetically modifying the genes of your baby. Finally I will tell you some of the diseases that you can prevent by genetic modification. Today I will giving some facts about designer babies. The idea of messing around with your baby’s genes before it has a formed body is pretty messed up at first thought, but if you look at it as saving your child’s life before its walking, it’s a pretty good idea. That’s what researchers are doing right now. They are working to find ways to prevent diseases and make your baby athletic or intelligent. It also reduces the chance of cancer...
Words: 849 - Pages: 4
...The Controversy of Genetically Modified Organisms Genetic engineering is an asset to mankind and scientific technology that continues to be unabated to the present. Genetic engineering is the process of putting additional DNA in an organism for a specific purpose. This is done by physically removing a gene from one organism and inserting it into another, giving it the ability to express the trait encoded by that gene (Goldbas). The first successful genetically modified organism was completed by Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer in 1973. Stanley Cohen and Herbert Boyer developed recombinant DNA technology that revealed genetically engineered DNA molecules can be cloned in foreign cells. Their experiment displayed that the gene for frog ribosomal...
Words: 1302 - Pages: 6
...Dr. Finley MBI 121 Genetic engineering has triggered many new technologies and changes in our society today since the 1970s. A broad definition of genetic engineering would be direct manipulation of an organism’s genome. This can be done by inserting new DNA to the host’s existing genetic makeup with the use of enzymes, or by inserting synthesized DNA into the host. Scientists in the past and present are trying to use this technology to create organisms that can benefit the world’s health and advancement. I believe that engineering microbes should continue in the future and the benefits outweigh the concerns. For example, the synthetic production of insulin by Genentech has helped countless people to get the insulin they need. Prior to this discovery there was a shortage of insulin since it is found in the pancreas of cows and pigs. Genetic engineering has also helped plants to have higher resistance to pests and disease, eliminating a great deal of food waste. Even though we can see many benefits from this technology, there are also problems that have risen with genetic modification. One of these concerns is the company Monsanto, and other food companies which have dominated 70% of America’s food production. While farmers and large industries reap the benefits of having high resistant plants, consumers gain nothing. The question of whether this food is healthy for people to consume is an issue and other countries around the world do not allow GMO food. Besides...
Words: 367 - Pages: 2
...Impact of Genetic Modification of Food on global food marketing Since genetically modified (GM) food has entered the global food market in early mid 1990s and corn, rice, canola oil and soybeans become among the first FDA-approved Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), large companies such as Monsanto, Nestle and PepsiCo experienced cost benefits with these new ingredients and the trend has quickly spread to other sects of the food industry. Genetically modified food can be defined as organisms in which genetic material has been altered by recombinant DNA technology. It sparks controversy among agricultural sectors. Some may advocate that such biotechnology generates a set of potential benefits to producers or consumers with cheaper production costs and food attribute enhancements while others may dispute the possible costs of unintended allergic responses, long-term health and environmental effects, ethical or moral issues. Consumers’ perceptions of these potential benefits and costs shape market responses to the new technologies and eventually determine how widely the technology is adopted. This essay will discuss the issues around genetic modification of food and the impact of them on how food is marketed globally. Table 1 below shows the PESTLE analysis to examine the external environment for GM food. Politically, GMOs regulations differ in countries, with marked differences between US and EU. Many GM plants including varieties of soya bean, cotton, maize and rice not...
Words: 2234 - Pages: 9
...Genetically-modification organisms (GMOs) or genetic modification of foods (GM foods) describes “crop plants produced for human or animal consumption using the most current molecular biology techniques” (Whitman, 2000). These plants have been modified in the laboratory by “adding, deleting, or changing segments of its DNA” (Withgott & Laposota, 2012, p. 149) to improve desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional matter. The enrichment of desired traits has traditionally been embarked on through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very precise, says Whitman (2000). In other words, the potential benefits of genetic engineering consists of a greater measure for the growth and perfection of “foodstuff” and so the adjustment of genetic material in any case not found in nature has fueled public debate surrounding the health and environmental issues of GM foods. A study stresses that, “pest resistance crop losses from insect pests can be staggering, resulting in devastating financial loss for farmers and starvation in developing countries. Farmers typically use many tons of chemical pesticides annually. Consumers do not wish to eat food that has been treated with pesticides because of potential health hazards, and run-off or agricultural wastes from excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers can poison the water supply and cause harm to the environment. Growing genetic-modification of foods...
Words: 321 - Pages: 2
... Date: September 14, 2014 Topic: Genetically Modified Organism Genetically modified organism is an organism whose genetic material has been altered during genetic engineering techniques. Organisms that undergo in the processes of genetic engineering enables to change its characteristics from its original characteristics. Insects, plants, fish, mammals, bacteria and yeast are the organisms that can be genetically modified. Genetic modification is used to manipulate, remove, add or change the genes of an organism to achieve the desired characteristics. If there is organism that needs to be improve, we can use other organism even if they are in different specie, and get its genes to be implant to the first organism that can finally achieve the desired traits. In result we made a new organism. We can apply the idea of genetic modification in the plantation of fruits and vegetables. For example, there are plants that can’t resist extremely cold temperature in a long period of time like tomatoes, that can result in decaying of tomatoes that cannot be sell anymore. This is what scientist where able to change the genetic modification. They figure out a way to take DNA from one organism and put it inside the completely different organism to create a desired specific outcome. We can get genes from an arctic fish that can stand in a very low temperature and put it...
Words: 626 - Pages: 3
...effects of human consumption and economical impacts are necessary. Genetically Modified Foods: Advancement or Shortcoming? For nearly ninety years farmers have altered crops or animals using a method called crossbreeding. In crossbreeding, breeders select desirable traits of the parent plant or animal to produce a new species of that organism to achieve improved quantity and the quality of their crops. Though many seasons may pass before growers achieve their desired results, the harvests can produce juicier oranges, plumper tomatoes, and seedless grapes. For animal modifications, the process can take much longer. Enter the process of Genetic Modification (GM). Rather than waiting several seasons or even generations to achieve the desired output of a crop, the outcome can be reached at a much quicker rate through GM. According to the Institute for Responsible Technology, genetic...
Words: 1541 - Pages: 7
...Eugenics: Health Benefits 1 Running Head: EUGENICS: HEALTH BENEFITS AND THE FUTURE Eugenics: Health Benefits and the Future Abstract The study of eugenics is propelling the world quickly into the future. Eugenics is the study of genetically engineering enhanced humans. This genetic engineering is done through modification of certain traits on an embryonic level, to create a heritable trait. Once modified, these traits will be passed on to the offspring of this individual, as well as demonstrated in that particular individual. The traits that can be modified are as simple as hair color, eye color, skin color, ability to grow muscle mass, body build, etc. They can be as complex as prevention of cancer and other gene-based diseases. Gene modification to create enhanced humans is an evolutionary necessity. In the day and age where the aspects of oneself can be modified with enough money or enough time, it is only natural that society would progress to the point where they would want to modify their offspring. The prospect of eugenics (literally, "well born") is not new, it spans back to the 1800's, when Sir Francis Galton created the word to define the basis for inheritance of intellect. He theorized that through the process of uncontrolled breeding, the unintelligent were outweighing the intelligent. Galton was not too far off according to movies such as Idiocracy, where the world becomes exclusively populated by morons...
Words: 2771 - Pages: 12
...Human Genetic Modification In discussions of human genetic modification (HGM), or human genetic engineering, one controversial issue has been the different points of view of this method. On one hand, scientists and medical professionals argue that HGM is the door to the future; a future where everything will be genetically possible; it will be a big step for science and a leap forward that will help eliminate many diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and HIV. On the other hand, sociologists argue that HGM will be socially bias. Moreover, others maintain that genetic modification is intended only to create the perfect human. My personal view is that I have mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, I agree that HGM will have a huge impact in this world, and it will eliminate many epidemics we now have. On the other hand, I still insist that HGM could have some risk factors that still need to be observed and studied; also...
Words: 1378 - Pages: 6
...more complex? It’s 2013 and a big debated issue is argued on genetically modification of food and organisms. The Human Genome Project (HGP) helps people understand and identify what exactly genetically modified food and organisms are (GMO). Publications and webpages on this site were created by the U.S. Department of Energy Genome Program's Biological and Environmental Research Information System and all other materials were provided by “third parties” and not created by the U.S. Department of Energy. The Human Genome Project started in 1990, coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy and National Institutes of Health, and completed their research in 2003. This thirteen-year study was designed for people to understand what genetically modified organisms are. “The project originally was planned to last 15 years, but rapid technological advances accelerated the completion date to 2003” (Human). When one first enters the site, they can see there are many tabs at the top of the page and side margins directing one to other specific research done by HGP. Along the top of the page, the site provides tabs that explain information on a more in-depth description of genes and what exactly is going on in the microbiology essence, for those who wouldn’t quite understand what GMO’s are. Also, at the top of the webpage, there is a tab for benefits the GMO site and program offers. The site tells about all the benefits that go along with their research and the biology they’re using in their...
Words: 1258 - Pages: 6
