Preview

Genetically Modified Foods

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1957 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Genetically Modified Foods
The Benefits and Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods
Elizabeth Oh Pin Hui (B1101785)
HELP University

* * * *

* Outline
Introduction
Opener: What are genetically modified foods (GMF)?
Thesis statement: Genetically modified foods have both benefits as well as dangers to human health, the environment, and economy.
Genetically modified foods have contributed to better foods in terms of food quality and human health. * higher nutritional value and better flavour * increased shelf life
Genetically modified foods or organisms advocates enhanced farming techniques in terms of being environmentally friendly. * inbuilt resistance to pests, weeds, and disease * more capable of surviving in poor soil or adverse climates
Genetically modified foods are produced more economically thus has an impact on the global economy today. * more economical to farmers in terms of production and supply
Some GM foods may potentially lead to new diseases and allergies affecting human * health. * modified to be resistant to antibiotics * may put consumers at risk for surprising allergic reactions
Some concerns are that genetically modified foods may lead to environmental hazards. * gene transfer to non-targeted species can cause ecological problems * undesirable impact on biodiversity
Genetically modified food is young untested technology that can cause major economic problems if not handled well. * patent infringement costs involving genetic modification * end of food diversity
Conclusion

The Benefits and Dangers of Genetically Modified Foods
In the near future, kids may soon have the option to not eat their vegetables! The reason being, genetically modified foods have emerged from science labs quickly making their way to the dinner table. Firstly, what are genetically modified foods (GMFs)? Genetically modified (GM) foods are simply put foods that have had their DNA



References: Betancourt, L. (2011). GM foods advantages and disadvantages. Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/422846-gm-foods-advantages-disadvantages/ Cullen, K. (2006). Biology: The people behind the science. New York, NY: Chelsea House. Giorgio, V. (2008). Genetically modified food. Retrieved from http://scienceray.com/technology/applied-science/genetically-modified-food/ National Geographic. (2012). 100 scientific discoveries that changed the world: Genetically modified organisms. Special publication, pp. 52-53. Panse, S. (2011). The Advantages and Disadvantages of Genetically Modified Food. Retrieved from http://www.brighthub.com/science/genetics/articles/23358.aspx#secn_3 Whitman, D. (2000). Genetically modified foods: harmful or helpful? Retrieved from http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php Yount, L. (2006). Modern Genetics: Engineering life. New York, NY: Chelsea House

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    The controversial issue of genetically modified foods, commonly known as GM’s, has only gained the attention of millions, since it became a prominent and highly debated global issue. Genetically modified foods are created when the genes of an organism are engineered and modified to create a new or enhanced version of that organism. The process of using different genes from different sources to genetically modify foods led to public outcry and sometimes, praise. People in support of genetically modified foods claims it will enhance the quality of the food, improve the food’s resistance to pests and other harmful elements, lower food costs, and also increase food security for the future. However, those opposed to genetically modified foods claim…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Outline On Gmo Foods

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Page Description: GMO foods are foods that are modified using genetic engineering. Due to health risks associated with intake of genetically modified food, testing and labeling them is important.…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    GMO Food Labels

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Genetically modified foods are produced and consumed everyday. GM foods are enhanced by genetic engineers in order to give a crop certain traits in order for it to survive and be harvested. Some crops can 't survive in different climates or need to bred in certain environments or seasons to survive. Some are even invaded by insects or birds that are attracted to its pollens or nutrients. These engineers are able to isolate specific genes within the crop to cross-breed another crop that could use this gene for sustainability. Essentially in the longer run, the engineers are providing benefits and cushions for farmers to harvest their crops with minimal difficulty.…

    • 595 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genetically Modified Foods (GMF) is foods that have been (DNA) modified with chemicals to change the appearance of foods. In Robin Mather’s essay, “The Threats from Genetically Modified Food she discusses if GMOs are a benefit for the environment such using labels to immensity look at what ingredients are in the foods. However, she also discusses in her article what effects (GMF) have on people and the environment. Genetically modified foods are affecting us because the chemicals they use can cause cancer, heath effects, and the environment.…

    • 489 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genetically modified foods are crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques (Whitman, 2000). “Genetic modification is the term used when referring to food which has been produced from any crop or animal, that has been genetically altered using the modern techniques of gene technology. By using the genetic information from one organism, or DNA strand, and splicing it with the DNA of another, scientists are able to modify food crops to make them grow bigger, stay fresh longer, and add important nutrients which the food may be lacking” (Unknown, 2009). The first step in the process of genetically modifying crop plants is finding new trait. “To produce a genetically modified organism, you have to identify the trait you want the plant to have, and find out what other organisms already have it” (Boyle, 2011). The traits you would want a plant to most likely have to be pest resistance, disease resistance, cold tolerance, drought resistance, and be nutrition at the same time. The second step in this process is picking the genes to implement. “In the past, studying the genetic code of individual seeds required planting the seed,…

    • 1196 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Genetically modified organisms refer to organisms whose genetic components have been changed to produce an unnatural occurrence. Genetic engineering refers to the technology employed in the alteration of the genetic elements, which also facilitates the transfer of genes between related and non-related species. This technology is applied in the production of Genetically Modified (GM) crops/foods in order to meet the desired objectives of the industry operators. The 1980 US Supreme Court pronouncement on the legal patentability of biological life in the Diamond vs. Chakrabartyn case opened the gateway to genetic engineering (Lex Orbis). There are some perceived benefits of the GM foods industry, both to the producer and consumer, especially in regard to increased food productivity and nutrition. Conversely, there have been reported cases on potential risks to human health and the environment due to GM foods/crops. The harmful effects of GM foods production and consumption cannot be overlooked, due to their impact on human health, the environment and socio-economic operation of a society.…

    • 3117 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Within the majority of food products are ingredients that have at some point been genetically modified. This means that in the DNA of the original source is at least one change that has been caused by man. Whether it be to resist colder weather, to not produce seeds, or to change protein production, genetically modified DNA has become a common occurrence. While this can be a beneficial modification to food, there are groups that protest the ‘unnatural’ alterations in crops and ingredients that people ingest. Genetically modified organisms are seen as being either unnatural and detrimental, or beneficial and healthier.…

    • 1565 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    genetical modified foods

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This is sad but true. In fact, genetically engineered food is being consumed daily with no thorough research of its potential threats on human health.…

    • 706 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    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. Currently available GM foods stem mostly from plants, but in the future foods derived from GM microorganisms or GM animals are likely to be introduced on the market. Most existing genetically modified crops have been developed to improve yield, through the introduction of resistance to plant diseases or of increased tolerance of herbicides.…

    • 1284 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This is sad but true. In fact, genetically engineered food is being consumed daily with no thorough research of its potential threats on human health.…

    • 327 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genetics Modified Foods

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages

    One of the most common factors that relates directly to our health is food. Obviously, we can’t live without it, but food is also a main cause of poison to harm our health. In the United States, most Americans consume genetically modified food as daily meals. According to the World Health Organization, genetically modified foods (GMOs) used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified in the laboratory to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. The enhancement of desired traits has traditionally been undertaken through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very precise. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can create plants with the exact desired trait very rapidly and with great accuracy. For example, plant geneticists can isolate a gene responsible for drought tolerance and insert that gene into a different plant. The new genetically-modified plant will gain drought tolerance as well. Not only can genes be transferred from one plant to another, but genes from non-plant organisms also…

    • 1013 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good 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
  • Powerful Essays

    Gm Food

    • 2198 Words
    • 9 Pages

    The last century was a time of big changes in genetic engineering. Humanity made huge steps toward creating new life. Experiments with creating human were not successful, but the whole world was watching the experiment with sheep Dooley, which became first cloned animal. It was first such a big succeeded experiment and as a result almost everyone knew the last news about the sheep. However a big achievement was made in modifying new plants and crops. In the 21st century genetically modified products already became a part of our life. Every day new genetic products appear in shops and it becomes harder to find healthy food which does not contain any added chemical components. Apples during the winter time, oranges which become ripe twice faster than their period of ripening and tomato bushes which can survive very cold weather prove that biological world had experienced a lot of changes. Experiments are being made, new plants are being produced for a quite a long period of time, however genetically modified products is one of the hotly debatable topics today.…

    • 2198 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genetically modified foods are a new kind of food which has been recognized as another food crisis such as mad cow disease in Britain (Sorensen, 1999). Since genetically modified foods are becoming more common there is a conflict around the globe to the use of them (Alarie, 2000, p.19). Moreover, there is certain evidence that has been proven the natural process of genetic modification is unsafe and can cause particular health risks (Smith, 2009, p. 18). Therefore, genetically modified has to remove from agricultural products because of the dangers to human health, environmental health, and human ethic.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays