The Ethical Use Of Genetically Modified Organisms

For decades, scientists have been discovering new methods of producing food for the population. One of these methods is genetically engineering food. Though genetically modified food is consumed by the majority of the American population, one must wonder, what are the ethics of it? How will it affect the consumer and the environment? Based on prior knowledge of this topic, I know that scientists change the genetic makeup of certain foods. I also know that different genes are inserted into different organisms.

hey need to figure out how to make sure that there is no commingling with and the possibility of contamination of the human or animal food supply, because I for one will not have nothing to do with genetically modified food, as is my right. They also have to figure out how to stop the possibility of crossbreeding with wild plants and food crops and the possibility of creating hybrids, or posing a threat to insects (492). There are so many ways that contamination and commingling can happen with insects, birds and the harvesting and processing of the food.

American farmers work hard every day to cultivate food for consumption by the people. In order to produce enough food farmers employ many tactics within the cultivation of these products. Genetically modified organisms, known more commonly to the public as simply GMOs, is any organism who’s DNA has been changed from the original. Farmers oftentimes grow crops which are considered to be genetically modified to produce greater quantities of crops more efficiently than a non-GMO plant would. Genetically modified organisms are a way for the small percentage of American farmers to be able to feed as many people as possible, but some mislead individuals claim GMO's can negatively affect the public's health.

“Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is any organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques. This can be referred to as “modern biotechnology” (Genetically Modified Organisms Production, Regulation, and Marketing 66). It allows scientists to take specific genes from one organism, and place them into another organism. For example, scientists could take a gene from a plant that is more drought resistant, and place it into another plant that is more susceptible to droughts. This method is used to make GM foods or genetically modified foods. There are numerous benefits to genetically modified foods.

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.

Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are organisms of living things whose DeoxyriboNucleic Acid (DNA) has been changed by humans using the techniques of genetic technology. The tool for creating a GMO is called the recombinant DNA technique. Which is combining strands of DNA that come from different sources to create a new DNA molecule that has a dissimilar combination of genes which occurs naturally. The newly created DNA is then inserted into a living organism such as plants, animals or an egg or sperm that will result in a genetically modified organism. Genetically modified (GM) crop plants, such as

Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) is organism that has been altered to become more congenial to their surroundings. The engineering of these organisms is a process in which genes of the original organism are manipulated and inoculated with other genes, which leads to the production of traits that is naturally foreign to the organism. However, There is an immense deal of controversy involving GMOs, because of the belief of their unnaturalness and possible abnormalities, such as it capable noxious toxins and allergens. Studies though, show that genetically modified organisms increase crop yields and are beneficial to the environment in terms of increasing production and reducing harmful pesticides.

GMOs are organisms in which scientists have transformed by inserting certain genes of one organism into another attempting to improve that organism. Lately, this practice has become more and more prominent regarding agriculture because it has been claimed that they allow crops to be grown more efficiently and to create more produce. GMOs can be used to create organisms that are stronger in ways that help them survive in worse conditions along with assistance in fighting off harmful factors such as insects. Scientists and researchers have a disagreement over whether or not the chemicals used to produce GMOs are harmful to humans and the environment. It is also being debated on whether GMOs actually create a more efficient and effect way of producing food, whether or not they require a larger amount of pesticides and the detrimental effects of pesticides, and if they have a less adequate nutritional value.

Most concerns with respect to GMOs have been due to their effects on human health and the environment. Some of the possible health concerns to humans include organ failure and birth defects. Based on tests carried out on rats, it has been shown that organs such as kidneys, liver and the heart may fail due to GMO consumption. Research has also shown that pregnant women are also at the risk of experiencing birth defects due to GMO consumption. On the environment, GMOs have resulted into weed resistance whereby they cannot be destroyed by the normal pesticides. In United States for instance, it has been reported that nine species of weeds have evolved to become resistant. GMOs have also been reported to persist in waterways. Researchers have been able to show that while pollen or leaves find their way to streams, these chemicals persist in waterways (Cavdar & Aydin, 2015).

They are found in chocolate, cheese, chips, bread and salad dressing to name but a few.” These seem to be as many advantages as there are disadvantages according to scientists, researcher and farmers (“Bionet”, n.d.). For example, the sweet corn crop has been modified to repel insects. This is a huge win for growers. They do not have to invest the money for pesticides, and they can make the claim that they are producing pesticide-free food. Another example is the first crop that was genetically modified and consumed by the masses in 1994 – the tomato. The genetically modified tomatoes last longer, maintain better color, stayed on the vine longer and also produced fewer chemicals slowing down the decomposition. Other dangers that GMO foods present is the effect on the environment. GM food, especially BT and HT crops are filled with chemicals and toxins that are intended for destroying unwanted weeds and insect. However, when such plants pollinate, they send spores through the air that also carry the DNA structure designed to kill weeds and insects. The targets of these BT and HT plants are out of control, and harmless insects are dying because of BT and HT

GMOs are plants and animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from bacteria, viruses, and other plants and animals in order to take on specific characteristics. This of course does not occur naturally within nature. They are engineered to withstand herbicide and produce insecticide (Lee). Although crops which are able to withstand herbicide worked very well in the first couple of years, over reliance caused the herbicide resistant crops to pass on their genes to the weeds, and as a result, emerged “super weeds” which forced farmers to increase spraying crops (Clark). Between 1996 and 2008 farmers sprayed an extra 386

Genetically modified food creates risks for the environment. It can cause cross-contamination between the GMO and organic produce damaging the organic crops. According to a 2009 report by the Organic center, the extensive use of pesticides intensely increased--about 318 million pounds--in the first thirteen years after GMO crops were introduced. (Text 2, lines 31-32) This occurred because people who grow GMOs immeasurably, spray herbicides on them causing pesticide-resistant weeds to prosper. However, according to the Food and Drug Organization, the foods are safe to consume. Agreeing, the World Health Organization states that there are no severe health effects that occurred in the international market. (Text 3, lines

A GMO is a genetically modified organism. GMOs are living organisms that have been changed and modified in laboratories through genetic engineering. Over the years, scientists, researchers, breeders, and farmers have been working to change and modify plants to better fit human needs. 10,000 years ago, humans began crop domestication using selective breeding and in the 1700s, scientists and farmers began cross-breeding plants within a species. Though the 1940s and 1950s, researchers looked for other ways to introduce genetic variation into the gene pool of plants. In the 1980s researchers created a more controllable way to create plants with more desirable traits resulting in the first GMOs being introduced to the market place in the 1990s.

“Genetically modified organisms”, or more commonly known as GMOs, are “organisms that have been created through application of transgenic, gene-splicing techniques that are part of biotechnology.” (www.justlabelit.org/). GMOs entered the market about twenty years ago, and people are still in the dark about if the food we feed our families contain GMOs. “In 1992 the FDA’s policy statement defined “material” as the ability to be sensed by taste, smell, or other senses.” (www.justlabelit.org/) According to the FDA genetically modified foods are “substantially equivalent” to conventionally produced foods. So, because the FDA deemed them the same, no labeling was required. Twenty years later, the policy remains unchanged. Agriculture

Genetically modified organisms are living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a lab through genetic engineering, also known as GE. This is a relatively new science, which creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacterial and viral genes that do not occur in nature, or through traditional crossbreeding methods. Most all commercial GMOs are engineered to withstand a direct application of herbicide and/or to produce an insecticide. Moreover, a growing body of evidence connects GMOs with health problems, environmental damage and violation of farmers’ and consumers’ rights.