Preview

Genetically Modified Organisms Argumentative Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
941 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Genetically Modified Organisms Argumentative Essay
How would you feel if I told you that the food you're eating was made in a science lab? Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are the outcome of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially manipulated into the genes of an uncorrelated plant or animal. Crops are often genetically modified to be resistant to pesticides so farmers would be able to spray them without harming the crop itself. However, there are many consequences regarding consumers’ health and environmental problems. Many people question the safety of consuming genetically modified organisms. Companies should acknowledge that their product is genetically modified by placing a label on the product because customers have a right to know. Furthermore, there are several serious health complications that may rise to the consumer. And finally, genetically modifying organisms should be limited by being placed in a controlled environment to prevent contamination with other species because it can be harmful to the environment in several ways.
To begin with, the consumption of genetically modified organisms can lead to many health
…show more content…
By this, the farmers can freely spray pesticides on the GM crops without affecting them. However, when a human consumes a genetically modified crop, the consumer is also in taking the pesticide that was sprayed on it. Consuming the pesticide can be very harmful to the human's health. Based on Oliver Tickell’s article, pesticides such as herbicide and glyphosate, are known to disrupt the endocrine system. The endocrine system in the human has functions such as; hypothalamus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, and reproductive organs. When a person is consuming GM crops and is pregnant, the consumer is also putting the unborn child at risk. Consuming GMO during pregnancy can put the fetus at risk of diseases. In Jeffrey Smith’s article, he

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms. This means they undergo a certain forced process where they are introduced to bacteria and viruses to receive different traits to resist diseases or the tolerance of pesticides. GMO crops have been in the news for a very long time and it's safe to say there are some pretty heated arguments about the topic. These foods that have been introduced to GMO have been tested with the World Health Organization and humans are safe to consume them. All living things contain DNA of the same four blocks, these blocks are are known as nucleotides. The new gene inserted only restrains the modified organism to deliver the desired trait.…

    • 385 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    A statement was issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the early 1990’s that advised consumers that there had been no danger associated with consuming foods containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) therefore no “safety” studies were necessary. The FDA furthermore made the ruling that the labeling of GMO foods was not mandatory in the year 2000. In 1992 a lawsuit against the BIOTECH community released 44,000 secret internal memos into the public domain showing that not only where GMOs dangerous, they were less nutritious than non-GMO food, they had been linked to allergies, toxins, new diseases and more importantly, that the genetic gene used in the Genetic Engineering (GE) of the chemical makeup of the organism (or in this instance crops) had been found and reproducing itself inside of us. New meaning is being brought to the phrase, “We are what we eat!”…

    • 1956 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    GMO toxins and Pregnancy

    • 2562 Words
    • 11 Pages

    Aris, A., & Leblanc, S. (2011). Maternal and fetal exposure to pesticides associated to genetically modified foods in Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada. Reproductive Toxicology, 31(4), 528-533.…

    • 2562 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Gmo Benefits

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Genetically modified organism is one of the least talked about topics in relations to current ongoing problems. For those who don’t know exactly what a genetically modified organism (GMO), a GMO is known as an organism that has been genetically modified this genetic material has been reformed to improve product quality. GMOs are used for many things although the best-known use is for genetically modified foods. According to the World Health Organization “Genetically modified (GM) foods are foods derived from organisms whose genetic material (DNA) has been modified in a way that does not occur naturally, e.g. through the introduction of a gene from a different organism.” The benefits of these modified organism are these modified crops have been developed to improve yield, through the introduction of resistance to plant diseases or of increased tolerance of herbicides. Despite the benefits of…

    • 1383 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1980, the first GMO patent was issued through a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. A mere thirty-five years later this fairly new discovery is readily available in an over-abundance to consumers for consumption. Genetically Modified Organisms have been developed because they do not follow the natural laws of crop production. They have been engineered for herbicide tolerance and rapid growth among other purposes. The Food and Drug Administration has stated that these products are safe and should be embraced, as they endure more rigorous testing than traditionally grown produce. However, with these organisms exploding onto dinner plates everywhere, they have not endured the time-tested trust of other produce. Fast food establishments have included these science experiments in an almost inescapable abundance. They can be found in even the simpler aspects of menus. High-fructose corn syrup, for example, can be found in ranch dressings and sodas. If these products are as safe (as some would have consumers believe), then there would be no reason for other nations such as China and India to ban them. Naturally, it follows that there would also be no reason to muffle the findings of so many independent studies. Even though GMOs can be…

    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Genetically modified foods are foods or plants that have been modified by researchers and scientists to improve the growth and development process. This idea was first introduced in 1982 and now has become widespread in use, especially in the US. This technology is sometimes referred to as “gene technology” or “genetic engineering” (WHO). All genetically modified foods are produced in a laboratory to “enhance its biological feature” (Godiff). This is not healthy. GM foods have the potential to pose major health risks for humans. The three major issues of concern for human health are allergenicity, gene transfer, and outcrossing. Genetically modified foods also pose risks to the environment, such as the possibility of species extinction…

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “It so hard to see your son begging for water, not asking, begging. And you can’t do anything about it because it will make his situation worse,” tears flow like a river from her eyes, she had difficulty sharing. She added, “despite those sacrifices, he still said goodbye to us.” Hearing the mother telling how her child died made my heart twitched. “It’s so hard to believe that within three days my son died because of eating a hamburger,” she said. After her son died, she went through many processes to make certain that his son will not die in vain. After months, Kevin’s bill, a proposal initiated by Kevin’s mom to label Genetically-Modified Food (GMO), was rejected. Even with lots of effort of people to make certain it pass and despite of the strong reasons stated, the Congress still vetoed it.…

    • 715 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The controversy over genetically modified (GM) food, also known as genetically modified organisms (GMOs), is viewed in diverse…

    • 1372 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    were brought up, there is no need for farmers to use as much as insecticides…

    • 730 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In recent years, giant transnational companies are carrying out a dangerous global experiment by introducing large numbers of genetically engineered foods into our diet. It has since been a subject of immense debate as to whether genetic engineering is harmful or helpful. Genetically Modified (GM) food is produced when the genetic makeup of a crop is altered to produce a crop with a desirable trait. It is produced via the gene technology whereby the gene of interest is spliced into the genome of a completely unrelated species. The DNA then becomes part of the specie’s genetic makeup.…

    • 931 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The term ‘genetically modified food’, also known as ‘genetically modified organisms’, is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. The reason these plants are being modified today is to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides (pesticides used to kill unwanted plants) or improved nutritional content. In order to create these genetically modified foods, scientists must introduce specific changes to their DNA by using extremely precise genetic engineering techniques. While there are some benefits that genetically modified foods may offer, there are also some risks and negative affects that these foods can cause as well.…

    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    GMO Essay

    • 633 Words
    • 2 Pages

    There are many benefits GMO’s. One of the pros of genetically modified crops is a better taste, increased nutrients, resistance to disease and pests, and faster output of crops. Also farmers can grow more food on less land with genetically modified crops. Genetically modified animals have certain genes inserted into their genomes so that they can produce ‘better’ milk, eggs, and meat. In theory, genetically modified crops and animals are also more environmentally friendly because they conserve water, soil, and energy. Farmers can also produce more nutritious food. Rice, for example, feeds 50 percent of the world’s population, so genetically modifying rice to have more vitamin A would reduce vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. However no one knows what happens to these plants and animals that have been genetically modified or what happens when we eat these foods. So we turn to the reasons why that genetic modification may not be a good thing. Here are some of the controversies associated with genetically modified foods. One of these controversies are the potential health risks, including allergies, antibiotic resistance, and unknown effects. Other negatives that stem from GMO’s is that scientists are tampering with nature by mixing genes and no one knows what this is doing to the animals or the environment.…

    • 633 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    GMOs: The Future of Food

    • 3983 Words
    • 16 Pages

    Genetically modified organisms have you ever heard of such a thing? Well, they exist in the world around you, and many of you do not even know that you are consuming this organism without your knowledge. What are genetically modified organisms? The term genetically modified organism according to an internet site called Proquest states that plants are created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular techniques. This is where we will go deeper into the thoughts of scientists and influential consumers regarding genetically modified organisms. Based on their research and development I have put together a paper that states both sides of the arguments and have no particular side to genetically modified organisms. The debate on genetically modified organisms intensified during the years 1996 to 1998 and it continues today in a series of other arguments. Genetically modified organisms is a debate that is not simply a matter of “taste” or politics it is about fracturing the battle lines over scientific values and interpretation of data (Bailey 5). The controversy of genetically modified organisms include arguments over whether they are safe to consume, adequately tested by scientists, have problems with contamination, help the environment, have the same genetic processes as natural foods, help farmers, and solve world hunger, but though these arguments seem small they can go either way, good or bad, and these arguments have sparked an uproar throughout the science community and even the hearts and minds of consumers like you, that are influenced by genetically modified organisms through economic factors and the labeling processes of genetically modified organisms.…

    • 3983 Words
    • 16 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Say No To GMO

    • 1147 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Have you ever payed attention to the fruit sitting in your basket at home? How about an apple that you eat half of and then set it down because you’re full? Do they rot quickly or stay looking ripe and shiny for a decent amount of time? If you’re picturing your fruits ripe and shiny at all times, it has probably been tampered with. Science calls this Genetic Engineering. Genetically modified organisms , also known as GMOS, are organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering, or GE (Wikipedia). In simple terms, scientists change the structure of an organism (often DNA ) to add “benefits.” The foods that were once natural, are no longer considered natural. As genetic engineering evolves, more and more products are being affected by this process. Chemicals are getting put into our systems and sometimes we don 't even know it what it’s doing or how it got there. Frankly, most people don 't even know WHAT they’re putting into their bodies. So why is it that health food stores are so adamant on promoting foods that clearly state “NO GMOS” directly on the label? Do they know something we don’t? It’s time GMOS get recognized for the harm they’re doing to humans and the planet that we live on. GMOS are not safe for our bodies, not safe for our environment , and will affect the economy in the long run.…

    • 1147 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Genetically Modified Foods

    • 1641 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Genetically modified food (GM food) is crop, plants or just food are created by using the latest molecular biology techniques in laboratories to have the desired traits such as resistance to pesticides and many more. For a period of 10 years, between 1995 and 2005, the amount of land cultivated with Genetically Modified Organisms had increased from 4.2 million acres to 222 million acres. In 2003, the countries that grew 99% of the world’s genetically modified food were the following countries-In the United States of America. South Africa, the only country in Africa which accommodates the production of genetically modified food has the least in the world with only 1% of their food modified. These food may appear to be poisonous to the human health because there is no proof or what so ever that they are safe either to the environment or to human health. If genetically modified food is really dangerous to human health than the United States of America will have a big problem for the next coming years.…

    • 1641 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays