...Genetically Modified Crops Tara Singleton Professor Sherif Sci 115 August 19 2015 Genetically Modified Crops In recent years genetically modified (GM) plants have grabbed a significant amount of attention in both positive and negative ways. This topic is discussed in the media and seen labeled on products in grocery stores, yet the general public remains uninformed of what genetically modified plants are. The Technology Genetic engineering is known to be the most favorable technology advances in biotechnology today. The results from genetic engineering are normally named genetically modified organisms or as seen on labels GMOs. There are many techniques scientist use to create these plants and in recent years produce crops. The two most common methods are by using the “gene gun” and a bacteria called Agrobacterium tumefaciens (Key, Ma, & Drake, 2008). The “gene gun” is genetic engineering method that shoots microscopic elements coated with DNA into the plant cells. Distinct plant cells are targeted and are renewed into a whole different genetically modified plant. The other way, use of the bacteria Agrobacterium tumefaciens, is the process of naturally transferring DNA to plants (Key et al., 2008). In principal, a strand of one plants DNA can be extracted from its cell and inserted into another plant's genome. On the topic of crop development, it is done with the same species of plant. Biotechnology speeds up the process of identifying the particular gene for...
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...Genetically Modified Plants Melissa Turner Professor Angela Tringali Introduction to Biology August 29, 2013 Genetically modified plants, crops are secretly becoming second nature to the United States. When you hear genetically modified you automatically 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...
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...Introduction Genetically modified, by definition, is a term denoting or derived from an organism whose DNA has been altered for the purpose of improvement or correction of defects. (dictionary.com) Genetically modified foods are foods that have been altered to enhance certain traits for the purpose of making them more desirable to consumers. Since the development of this process, modified foods have become more common throughout the years, and with their increase in production there has also been great controversy. History of Genetically Modified Foods In 1994, the first genetically modified food the Food and Drug Administration deemed safe enough for human consumption was a tomato called the “Flavr Savr,” produced in California. The purpose of altering the tomato was for it to be resistant to rotting and decaying as quickly as tomatoes usually do. They were not labeled as being genetically modified and they were between two and five time more expensive than ordinary tomatoes, but consumers still purchased them. However, due to competition, brought on by a tomato made conventionally and with a longer shelf life, the Flavr Savr tomatoes were not profitable. Genetically modified tomatoes were then made into a tomato puree and sold in Europe in the mid-1990s, but a couple years later controversy arose over the concept of genetically modifying food. In 1998, a doctor from Aberdeen, in Scotland, published results from a research study he conducted suggesting that genetically modified...
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...Lauren Caruso 4/24/14 Intro to Speech Final Speech Can genetically engineering crops be helpful or harmful to human life? Over the years we have seen a steady rise in the production of genetically modified foods. This has caused a swelling of opinions from people on the GMOs. There are advantages and concerns about this process of enhancing food. Controversy about the thought of modifying food has spread worldwide. People are wary about the idea because they want to know exactly what is in the food that they are eating and because we are swaying away from naturally growing crops. However growing these modified crops could possibly put an end to some of the world’s challenges, such as food security for families. A GMO or genetically modified organism is a crop that is made for consumption by humans and animals. These crops are made in a laboratory by using the latest molecular biology techniques. The reason for making genetically modified plants and organisms is to enhance desired traits. This way is much easier and quicker than the alternative, breeding, which is not always accurate. Some traits that scientists want these plants to have are better resistance to herbicides, increase in nutritional value, and being able to stay ripe longer. Some of the most common modified plants are corn, soybeans, canola, rice, and cotton seed oil. Since the approval to sell genetically modified foods they have become significantly more available. The approval of GMOs has affected us...
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...Genetically Modified Disease and Pest Resistant Crops Ethan Peart Ajax High School Genetically Modified Disease and Pest Resistant Crops Crops are attacked by pests and disease all around the world, farmers expect to lose a certain percentage of their crops every year. This problem has led to the scientific pursuit of crops that are naturally resistant to pests and disease, farmers work to make their crops resistant to plant disease and pests through genetic modification. Canadians stand to benefit from genetically modified disease and pest resistant crops as an alternative to harmful pesticides that can be consumed by unsuspecting people. Genetically modified plants are able to fend off pests while...
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...Abstract With the production of genetically modified foods (GMFs) becoming more prevalent today, debates about whether it is right to use technology to create new forms of plant and animal life are on the rise. Proponents of GMFs believe these crops will reduce the use of pesticides and other chemicals, and are just as safe as traditional crops. Opponents, on the other hand, feel the use of chemicals is scarcely reduced in GMFs and fear contamination of traditional farm crops. One example of this was displayed in October 2000 when a brand of genetically modified corn, approved only for animal feed, ended up in taco shells and other foods intended for human consumption. It is possible that GMFs are not bad for us at all and might be rather beneficial to building a sustainable future for all forms of life. The solution to its success lies in careful moderation, and this is where research is crucial. Genetically modified foods should not be banned, though studies on the 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...
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...Biology 160 Term Paper Genetically Modified Organisms INTRODUCTION There is a lot of controversy surrounding genetically-modified organisms and whether they ultimately do more harm than good. Genetically-modified organisms are most commonly used to refer to “crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques” (Whitman). The goal of modifying these organisms is to enhance or introduce a desired trait, such as increased resistance to herbicides or improving the nutritional content of the particular organism. This is generally done in a lab using a “Gene Gun” or an Agrobacterium method as described in detail in the next section. However, as convenient and simple as this idea sounds, there are many concerns that will more than likely change the course of future modifications in organisms. First, I'll be describing the methods used to date to modify the genetic composition of an organism. Then, I'll be highlighting the benefits and the potential consequences of genetically-modifying organisms. SCIENCE BEHIND GMO'S Upon researching, I discovered an interesting fact about genetically modified organism's: it has apparently occurred in nature for millions of years through a species called Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which turns out is the cause of crown gall diseases in many ornamental and fruit plants (Keefer). Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a species of soil-dwelling bacteria that has the ability to infect plant cells with a piece of its...
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...Siyi GU INTG 101 gusd1502 17 November 2015 GM food As technology developing, genetic engineering is used in some part of human’s life. Genetically modified food is one of the successful products of genetic engineering. Genetically modified food is called GM food. It is a kind of organism whose genes are modified by adding DNAs from other plants that do not occur naturally in order to resist the diseases and increase the output of the agricultural production. Planting GM food has several advantages. It can resist the natural risksEva Schubert2015-11-17T15:06:00What do you mean? Be ore specific. which are pests, diseases and natural environment changes, increase the agricultural yield, and reduce the pollution of the environment. There are some advantages of GM food on increasing the resistance of the natural risk. Firstly, it decreases the risk of the effect of insects. Most plants are the food of the insects, especially the crops which are important in people’s life. Crops do not have an effective means to protect them from insects, so farmers use pesticide to kill the insects that eat the crops. The seeds of GM food have their own resistance of insects, because scientist use the genes from other plants which release the smells that the insects hate or produce a natural bacterium called “Bacillus thuringiensis (BT)”Eva Schubert2015-11-07T08:41:00Put BT in brackets here. Then you can use BT alone for the rest of the essay. (Gatehouse, 2008). BT occurs in soil to...
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...potential shortages: genetically modified crops. The genetic make-up of these crops is altered, combining genes of multiple organisms such as plants, to produce favorable outcomes such as higher yields. With genetically engineered crops ever-present in our food supply, debates have risen in the media concerning the safety and overall implication of these crops. Conducting research on the topic, I have discovered three different perspectives on the use and implications of genetically engineered crops. One perspective, found in the article “Plant Genetics, Sustainable Agriculture and Global Food Security” by Pamela Ronald, states that genetically modified crops are essential to combat the growing population and other stresses on our agriculture industry. Another perspective, offered in the article “Genetically modified abominations?” by Jakub Kwiecinski, defines these crops as “taboo” and argues that they are ultimately morally unacceptable. The last perspective, presented in the article “Genetically Modified Foods and Public Health Debate: Designing Programs to Mitigate Risks” published in Public Administration & Management, acknowledges that there are risks associated with these crops and that more testing and regulation is needed to increase public acceptance. After review, I arrived at the conclusion that genetically modified crops are needed and that more stringent regulation and public awareness is necessary to increase acceptance. In the article “Plant Genetics, Sustainable...
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...What are genetically modified foods and organisms? “Genetically modified food or genetically modified organisms is commonly used to refer to crops and plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques” (Whitman (2000). The modified plants and organisms have been modified in laboratories to enhance the desired traits. Some enhanced traits might be to 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...
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...affected today by hunger and malnutrition(Food Future 2000). The FAO claims that 650 million of these people will still be in the same situation by 2010. The world produces enough food, often it is the distribution process that causes problems. However this food may be produced in a non sustainable way. Pesticides, use of non farming land and the demand for cash crops over self sufficiency are not necessarily in the environments best interest. Factors such as poverty, wealth and inequality place burdens on the environment and possible sustainability. Genetically modified foods could be a key factor in advancing the goal of sustainable development. Biotechnology is the use of biological science to alter living organisms for the benefit of mankind. Every organism carries a set of instructions telling it how to grow and reproduce in its genes. Genetic engineering is deliberately changing a plants make up giving the organism new features by removing or copying selected genes with the aim of improving the plant and introducing more beneficial traits. Often the genetic material inserted is alien to the receiving plant. It can result in cross...
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...SHOULD GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD (GM FOOD) SHOULD BE BANNNED | SHOULD GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD (GM FOOD) SHOULD BE BANNNED | SHOULD GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOOD (GM FOOD) SHOULD BE BANNNED Nowadays genetically modified food is widespread all over the world. GM foods are genetically modified using biotechnology. More and more GM foods appear on our stores and supermarkets. GM foods are designed for greater resistance to viruses and pests, higher nutritional value and longer shelf life. Food crops have been genetically modified for several reasons most of which produce a financial benefit to farmers and the chemical companies that produce the GMOs. In nearly all cases, these benefits are achieved indirectly by increasing crop yields through resistance to diseases and pests or by allowing them reduced use of herbicides to control weeds and unwanted plant growth. However their safety potential risks are still being debated.GM foods ensure that these foods are safe for the human consumption but critics argue that effects have not been studied long enough. First argument for banning GM foods is that it was badly affects our health and well-being. Some studies have linked consumptions of the GM foods to liver and kidney problems. The antibiotics and hormones given to cows and chickens are found in our bodies and we don’t know yet the extent to which these cause chronic disease. Moreover genetic...
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... |1 | |Group members |2 | |Index |3 | |Introduction |4 | |Definition |4 | |Methods |5 | |Reason for genetically modifying | 6 | |Advantages of GM food |6 | |Disadvantages of GM food |9 | |Environmental Hazards |9 | |Human Health Hazards |9 | |Economic Concerns |10 ...
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... Genetically Modified Food The field of biotechnology and genetic engineering has been gradually improved, and the bioengineer could make a huge difference in our life by modifying the crops that we need. Genetically modified food could solve many problems to humans such as, cultivating new crops with new characteristics that could help humans. Also genetic engineering could help some countries to cultivate new crops they couldn’t cultivate it before for many reasons such as weather, soil type, and cultivating seasons. However, recently genetically modified food could make a big influence to human’s life, and it helped them to cultivate new crops, they wouldn’t be able to cultivate it without it. About 200 years ago Thomas Malthus predicted that according to that big increase in the humans’ population which is currently up to six billions, “the number of mouths that need to feed is increased. The numbers of cultivated crops is stable since Thomas Malthus has made his prediction; this has been the result of amazing technological advances in agricultural sciences with advent of biotechnology and genetic engineering, which have served to increase the average yield of various farm products’’ (Nayak et.al 112). Most of the countries started to cultivate genetically modified crops to feed their needs, and they could increase their crops number quickly. Global cultivation of genetically modified food in 1996 was three million hectares...
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...Genetically Modified Organisms Technology, Society, and Culture Table of Contents Technical Aspect of GMO by Chad Dookie Page 3 Moral and Ethical Aspect of GMO by Ronald Claude Page 7 Cultural and Legal Aspect of GMO by Evangelina Ramirez Page 14 Environmental Issues of GMO by Donovan Collins Page 23 References Page 32 Technical Aspect of GMO by Chad Dookie Description of GMOs and the associated science Most of the populations that do shopping in the groceries to buy food for their family are not aware of the “naturalness” of the food. Groceries sell items such as; cotton seeds, rice, soy, sugar beets, yeast, cassava, papaya, bananas, food flavoring, potatoes, corn, tomatoes, squash, oils, beef, pork, chicken, salmon, peas, alfalfa, and honey. Notice that most of the items listed either came from a plant or an animal. Those are the top 20 grocery items that have been genetically modified. What are genetically modified organisms? A genetically modified organism is any living thing that has had their DNA tampered with. This can be mutating, removing, or adding genetic material into the organism. All of the items listed in paragraph one has had their DNA tampered with. Most times when people talk about genetically modified organisms, they mostly refer to plants that are genetically modified. You may be wondering how the animals listed are considered genetically modified. This is because scientists modify the plants that are being...
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