History and Development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) LAS 432

History and Development of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Introduction Human beings continuously try to incorporate knowledge of nature through science to help mitigate the challenges they face. Science has benefits as seen in the developments in the modern world, in-terms of food production and mechanization. In the 19th century, the industrialization took over from Agrarian revolution in the agricultural sector. Agriculture was the main economic activity that drove the development from food production. Industrialization brought about increased productivity in the agricultural sector with abandonment of the traditional practices to embracing modern technology. This came to be referred as biotechnology. Biotechnology was the incorporation modern technology in food production to reduce costs and increase output. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms with modified genetic material for desirable traits n production, drought resistant and pest resistant. From traditional practices, selective breeding practices have continuously improved the agricultural sector (Liang, & Skinner, 2004). Selective breeding is the control of breeding in plants and animals by taking the desired and high producing plants for the hybrid to have the best produce overtime. Researchers took selective breeding in the 20th century to understand the main components that caused changes difference in plants and animals. In 1859 Charles Darwin brought up the theory of origin grouping different organisms to species that made great steps to understanding breeding of species. This knowledge led to discoveries of genetics and genes that make up the different species by Gregor Mendes in 1865. The discovery of the nucleus and DNA sequence by Freidrich Miescher in 1869 was the breakthrough to understanding the significant aspect of selective breeding (Nelson, 2001). In 1910, H. Morgan showed that the chromosomes were the carriers of the DNA sequence in the genes. This prompted various researchers add to this knowledge in efforts to understand how they could improve plant production. A good example of these researchers included Barbara McClintock and Harriet Creighton in 1931, when they showed recombination of chromosomes from maize chromosomes via a microspore. James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the DNA structure in 1950, which forms life’s blueprint. This information led to the theory of genetics. This was the epitome of understanding how selective breeding and natural evolutionary processes worked as they revolved around change in genetic sequence. Genetically modified organism is the advancement of selective breeding that involves a combination of desirable DNA sequences from different species. This technique helps produce one sequence with all desirable traits. It is a sophisticated method initially advanced by Stanley Cohen in 1973 when he and Herbert Boyer invented the art of DNA cloning. This is the transplant of DNA sequence between two or more than one species to produce an organism with desirable traits. The manipulation of organism’s genetic sequence make up to enhance or create desirable characteristics from similar or different species is referred as genetic modification. Therefore, genetically modified organism’s (GMOs) are organisms from such genetic modification (National Research Council (U.S.), 2000). The terms such as biotechnology refer to selective breeding from improvements in organisms (plant and animals) of similar species without changing their DNA sequence. This involves interbreeding of indigenous breeds to the improved breeds to get new species with desired results. The only difference is that, in this traditional method, the species outcome is anonymous in terms of production capacity. Transgenic organisms, commonly referred as GMOs have well researched traits. The final products have the best traits combined to produce one desired organism. The discovery by Cohen in 1973 of transplanting of DNA sequence to another species was the breakthrough to the modern GMOs around the world. In 1983, there was the creation of the first trans-genetic tobacco plant resistant to antibiotics (DiBerardino, & Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology, 2002). In other crops such as Soybeans, cotton among many others, help improve production in the various harsh environmental conditions or protect from effects of pesticides and herbicides. This technology also has benefits of minimizing the negative deficit in food security and helps mitigate hunger. It has grown though amid stiff opposition due to the risk of negative premeditated risk as it is known could be harmful when left unregulated (Tourte, 2003). The GMOs use a technology of transplanting and creating new DNAsequence to form new organisms or enhance an organism’s desirable traits. The continued research showed that the technology was good though it would lead to reorganization in the economic factors of production as it touched on an essential factor of living- food. The fact that different species may contribute to evolution or creation of new or existing organism made skeptics turn on the technology. There were controls as the element of unprecedented harm to people would be disastrous to contain. As the rules to govern GMO production was taking shape in the late 1980s, different skeptics and activists continued their quest to have the technology banned. Most of their reasons were to prevent loss of business from reduction in prices of foods especially traditional foods that are not GMOs. In addition, those who oppose such a technology play around with any risk that the technology might pose to human and environment life. The disastrous effect of such technology was quoted as too much to handle such as brain damage as in the case of mad cow disease. Besides this, the case of having unwanted traits in new creations would lead to failure in technology and negative situation in the environment. As of 2004 there were about 8.25 million farmers of genetically modified food in about 17 countries. This is evident as the current percentage of genetically modified Soy beans account for about 60 percent of total Soy beans market in the global market. Maize accounts to 23 percent as well as Cotton at 11 percent of the total global market (Avise, 2004). Despite all the criticisms of the uptake of GMOs globally, many countries are trying them in control measures to help reduce the food deficits in their countries. In American for example, there are approximately 3.2 million farmers enganging in GMO plants and animals. This has helped reduce the net food deficits. Also, easy to note that AFRICAN and other developing countries are reconsidering some of their hard stands on GMOs to help produce sufficient to fight hunger. GMO technology is one that has come of age and effective control in handling all processes in arriving at the desirable products. It has overtime proved that it is effective in reducing food prices that will help cater and eradicate shortages in many countries especially African and other hunger stricken countries. It is a technology that needs careful undertaking to protect its gains. References
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Bottom of Form Avise, J. C. (2004). The hope, hype & reality of genetic engineering: Remarkable stories from agriculture, industry, medicine, and the environment. Oxford: Oxford University Press. DiBerardino, M. A., & Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology. (2002). Cloning: Past, present, and the exciting future. Bethesda, MD: Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB. Liang, G. H., & Skinner, D. Z. (2004). Genetically modified crops: Their development, uses, and risks. New York: Food Products Press. National Research Council (U.S.). (2000). Genetically modified pest-protected plants: Science and regulation. Washington, D.C: National Academy Press. Nelson, G. C. (2001). Genetically modified organisms in agriculture: Economics and politics. San Diego, Calif: Academic Press. Tourte, Y. (2003). Genetically modified organisms: Transgenesis in plants. Enfield, N.H: Science Publishers.