Morgan Marie Moore
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GMO: Genetically Modified Organisms or Generally Misunderstood Organisms? What do you think of when you think of your home? Some would say bright city lights, others would say being able to wave to their smiling neighbors as they water their grass, but when I think of home I think of six hundred acres of corn and beans with the sound of distant moo’s in the background. When I think of home I think of agriculture and all of the hardworking men and women who make it possible for me to have a nutritious meal three different times in a day. My father, Dennis Moore, is one of the many who not only feeds me but also feeds you. In today’s culture, a very controversial topic of discussion is whether or not genetically modified organisms should be supported or discouraged. What even is a genetically modified organism? Well, dictionary.com describes it as “an organism or microorganism whose genetic material has been altered by means of genetic engineering.” The main argument for the anti-GMO movement is that GMOs are unnatural. Because they are unnatural many see them as they would Frankenstein, and write them off to be harmful. However, their argument becomes invalid because there is an extreme misunderstanding of science behind our food. But first let’s look at our history in food growth. Almost none of the food that we eat today, besides seafood, is natural, even if it has been raised organically. Imagine corn in your mind for a moment.
In todays society, people are more concerned about what they put into their body. They eat healthy and maintain a stable diet, but unknown to a number of these people is their food may have been tampered with in the form of Genetically Modified Organisms or, for short, GMO's. Genetically Modified Organisms are plants or animals whose DNA has been altered to favor a certain characteristic or trait which is already in the DNA. This includes enhancing the DNA in plants to make them bigger, invincible to pests, or invincible towards weeds. Although, the reason why GMO's are a controversial topic is because of lack of knowledge. Genetically Modified Organisms are risky and potentially to dangerous to be handling because of the unknown side effects
“Sixty to seventy percent of all processed foods available on store shelves contain genetically modified ingredients”, according to George Erdosh and Marcia Amidon Lusted in “To GMO or not to GMO? Genetically engineered food has strong advocates and harsh critics.” Genetically modified organisms can be found in most conventional food processed in the United States., and gGenetic modification of crops is extremely common on classic Minnesotan farm plants, such as, corn and soybeans. They can also be found in papaya and zucchini, even animals such as cows and pig. In fact, the definition of (GMO) as reported by Alex K. Rich and Tom Warhol, authors of “Genetically Modified Foods: An Overview,””, is, “food in which, at some point during the production process molecules and proteins are chemically altered to give the food more nutrients, a better appearance, and a longer shelf life.” As a matter of fact, a majority of all the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. However, many people do not know what a genetic modification really is, or that the idea has been around for many years. GMOs are used to control pests and weeds. As the opposite of Non-GMO farming, this is accomplished by changing the genetic makeup of the plant, by using new technologies and techniques that allow for the use of specific chemicals.
GMO’s or Genetically Modified Food is one of the most controversial topics that have been studied and debated for over 40 years. Scientists on both sides of the spectrum claim that these modified foods are safe for consumption, but also some argue that these foods are toxic and very harmful to human life. GMO’s are genetically modified organisms that are created and added in a lab experiment where DNA are extracted from one gene and added to another plant or animal. This allows the genes to mix with the DNA to create a desired product. For example, bigger apples, larger oranges, taller animals, and plants that can survive the changing climate. GMOs are different from organic food and products because chemicals and DNA modification is not needed for these natural stuff.
According to Google the definition of GMO's is "living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering". This means that food is being genetically altered in a controlled lab by scientists. I know at first it sounds like a bad thing and that it is kind of scary that the food you are eating has been genetically altered. But let's say you have a cob of corn for lunch this is the corn that you are eating and it has been genetically altered. The genetically altered corn has had nutrients and other healthy ingredients added to it. This is what corn would look like if it had not been genetically altered. Not only is it unappealing to even look at much less eat but it is also not as healthy and less nutritious.
Genetic modified organisms, or GMOs, are living organisms that, through the genetic engineering process, have been altered to withstand certain chemicals and increase the nutritional value of the product. In fact, the majority of the foods found at the grocery store are genetically altered. Genetic modification is becoming increasingly popular on farms throughout the United States and moving into other parts of the world due to their increasing yield capabilities and pest and weed control. However, this has been, and continues to be, an extremely controversial topic of discussion in the world of agriculture and biotechnology, as well as health food critics, because of potential environmental and health risks.
People have been genetically modifying food for centuries. Humanity has used selective breeding to utilize desired traits in farm animals and crops for so long that they are now different species from their wild variants. However, scientists have been using a new process for giving organisms desired traits called genetic engineering, which is the process of directly transferring genes from one organism to the next. This process can be used between any two living things, no matter how different they are. Some think that this is the future that will make society flourish, while others think that it is a menace that will damage civilization. I believe that GMOs are more beneficial than harmful. GMOs can provide nutrition to those who live in impoverished
the rise in advanced technology, Genetically Modified Foods were engineered and created. Not only were they new in the sense that it provided an easier source of growing, but it also brought ,with it, a new controversy across the world. Genetically Modified Foods (GMOs) are created by moving a gene from one animal to another. An example of this would be moving the gene of an Icefish to a tomato to give the tomato a longer shelf life. GMOs were intended to help increase food production and help foods last longer however, GMOs have become very controversial because of their potential health and environmental effects. GMOs could have detrimental effects on the population and on the Earth.
What are Genetically-Modified Foods? Genetically-Modified Foods, commonly known as GMOs, are crop plants that have been created for human and animal consumption by genetic engineering techniques of biotechnology. These crop plants have been modified in a lab to create a desired trait that has been undertaken through breeding methods. Lately, there has been major controversy and disputes on if GMOs are a solution or a problem in today’s society. Now, a question for debate is, should GMOs be considered part of a sustainable food system? Sustainability can be defined as the ability of something to be maintained or to endure itself, and takes what we, as people need to live now, without jeopardizing the needs of people in the future. GMOs have been around for years and until just recently, people are becoming concerned with them and saying they pose a serious threat to the environment as well as human health risks. On the other hand, some believe that these products are healthy and beneficial for the environment and have a great nutritional quality. I believe GMOs are both health and environmental hazards and are not benefiting society. They pose a threat for the future of food and farming all over the world.
Did you know that in the United States alone, we consume 70-80% of genetically modified foods most of which are processed? A genetically modified organism (GMO) is defined as any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques, also referred to as a genetically engineered organism. A good example of a genetically engineered organism would be tomatoes, more in particular, what was invented in 1994 called Flavr Savr tomatoes and their impacts on ecosystems, economics, and human health. Since Flavr Savr was commercially grown, environmental bacteria might uptake the antibiotic gene segment affecting the ecosystem.
As you bite down into a big juicy hamburger that has tomatoes, onions, pickles, and ketchup on it you are eating food that has been genetically modified, GM, or also called GMO (Genetically modified organisms). “GMOs is the manipulation of DNA by humans to change the essential make up of plants and animals” (Mather 410). “GMOs have been introduced to improve food production” (Amofah 117). “The United Nations projects that world population will increase by 25% to 7.5 billion by 2020” (Amofah117). So, the intentions are to increase food supply to make up for the population number. The creation of GMOs is so food can withstand cold temperatures, pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides. Some of the concerns that come with having GMOs in our food supply are health, environmental health, and water pollution.
Have you ever eaten corn for dinner or even had a glass of milk? Chances are you’ve just eaten/dranken a genetically modified organism. GMOs ,or genetically modified organisms, are plants where their DNA has been modified to change their appearance, smell, taste, or in some cases to add a certain bacteria to keep pesticides off it. According to the Center for Food Safety,this genetic engineering appears as one of the greatest environmental challenges in the US. Furthermore,more than 92% of US corn is genetically modified and 94% of cotton and soybeans are. Should we even be selling these at local grocery stores?! GMO foods should stay on the shelves at supermarkets because they help improve
The human population is growing rapidly. With the growth in the human population, the demand for food is also growing at an unprecedented rate. Arguably, farms are unable to naturally provide the world’s population the food needed by natural means. This may seem like a big issue, but humans came up with an ingenious solution: genetically modified organisms, commonly known as GMO’s. Genetically modified food has been able to offset the worlds growing demand for food, and all our food problems seem to be solved. Or have they? I will use information from: Wendell Berry’s, The Pleasures of Eating, Jon Entine and JoAnna Wendel’s, 2000+ reasons Why GMO’s Are Safe to Eat, Robin Mather’s, The Threats from Genetically Modified Foods, along with references from Food Inc., to explain how genetically modified food is being used in a way that negatively affects the livestock, our health, the ecosystem, and the potential threats genetically modified crops have on our future.
So what has happened to our food industry, you may be thinking. the answer is a revolution. A food revolution. But genetically modified foods is actually very controversial .So what are GMO’s? You might ask, well GMO stands for genetically modified organisms, they have artificially manipulated in a laboratory to obtain a certain trait, for example, they can be modified to be weed resistant or to be bugs. With this power, it can benefit, and can have many drawbacks.
When someone mentions a genetically modified food, the mind of skeptics, opponents, and laymen conjure up an amalgamation of a pear, an orange, and a tomato. They hold up the fruit, and say, "Behold, the unnatural creation of these monstrosities will bring about the destruction of the world!" They call this fusion a "Frankenfood," named from Mary Shelley's famous monster Frankenstein, created in 1818, labeling the advanced display of scientific technology as a monster. Yet, in a way, genetic engineering is like Dr. Frankenstein's creation: people fear the creation because of the ignorance of modern science. Do not blame these uninformed people. Unlike the monster, genetically engineered foods and organisms have done much good in the modern world. Despite the call for "natural" foods, fears of danger, and pushes for regulation, GMOs have saved the Earth from mass starvation, boosted food growth without harming the environment, and enlarged food production for the Earth. These benefits must be taught, or else the world will suffer when genetically modified food are discontinued.
The word GMOs or genetically modified organisms is being used a lot in the media and politics. Many may wonder what exactly GMOs are? By definition GMOs are organisms whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This may include the mutation, insertion, or deletion of genes. Hearing that may make many individuals not want to eat anything that has been missed with in that manner. Around ten thousand years ago when man realized they didn’t have to chase there food around they could grow it. They then started manipulated Food and animals. Every living thing has DNA which has chromosomes and genes and we as people have been messing with them since man learned to farm food with selective breeding. Although food industries argue that genetic engineering is just an extension of traditional breeding, which humans have been doing for thousands of years. Many questions people have are, can GMOs be bad for us? How common are GMOs? What is the difference between genetically engineered plants and plants altered through natural hybridization processes? The effects of eating genetically engineered foods are still unknown. Studies that led to the market release of certain genetically modified seeds were conducted by the same companies and the data have not been released for the public to see. One of the reasons for developing plants based on GM organisms