But toying with genetics can be risky: when changing the genetics of a plant species, the repercussions can be unpredictable. Altering a gene in a plant in order to produce a specific outcome can sometimes create a host of other unpredicted outcomes. Genetically engineered foods are not thoroughly tested before being deeming safe for the market. In the long term, we have no idea what these franken-foods are doing to our bodies, as no serious testing has been done (Domingo 2000). Although genetically engineered crops can be beneficial to areas in which natural species are almost impossible to grow, there simply isn't enough scientific evidence to decide whether or not the risks are worth the…
Genetic Engineering Debate: Are There Lines We Shouldn’t Cross? written by Jessica Erickson, shows that just because we can genetic engineer, doesn’t mean we should leave it unsupervised. Currently genetic engineering is available for plants, animals, and humans. Genetic engineering for plants and animals is quicker and less complex then doing it on humans. The next subject Erickson wrights about is the uses of genetic engineering. Erickson believes that genetic engineering could be good if it benefits diseases, prevent, and treatments, on the other hand Erickson believes genetic engineering could be bad if it is used for “designer babies”. Erickson believes that there should be a “Do not cross line”, which means that there should be government…
Ensuring that the crops are safe for ingesting is an important portion of the demand aspect of supply and demand laws. Consumers will be more inclined to be purchase a particular item if they are believed to be properly tested and have passed the strenuous scrutiny of the FDA. In addition, in companies where biotechnology is utilized to cross breed genes where that would otherwise not occur naturally, these experiments are completed by experienced scientists. For consumers, this appears to be a double comforting factor. The Environmental Protection Agency also plays a role in the regulation and legislation of genetically modified organisms.…
Genetically modifying foods is an imprecise experiment with widespread repercussions that is harmful to practically everyone involved and should be stopped. This relatively modern technology gives scientists the ability to change and swap the DNA make-up of any species. While this may seem like a b…
Nutrition is an essential factor in a healthy lifestyle, in developing countries people suffer from malnutrition. Genetically modified food has the ability to contain many vitamins and minerals that can be essential to the human body. If individuals from third world countries eat the GM foods they are also consuming vitamins and minerals. Rice is one of the main foods that these people have in their diets, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Institute of Plant Sciences have genetically modified rice into “golden” rice which contains vitamin A. This is an…
The risk is that it could complicate many things with curing disease, but on the flip side of it, it could be very useful for those who are prone to diseases. This was a paraphrase of the writing of Danielle Simmons. Genetic engineering can present both a great boon and possible danger to the human race. Many diseases that come around when people are adults ar incurable. This is a problem but none the less can help people deal with it it they learn about it earlier. Though this may not have as much to do with Genetic Engineering but it has a very important physiological values. Another paraphrase of Danielle Simmons helping to explain the fact of adult onset…
Although scientists and other supporters paint a pretty picture of how ideal our lives would be with so many genetic choices within reach, genetic engineering undermines rather than enhances the promise of humanity because we fail to see the big picture of the responsibilities and consequences of possessing such a God-like ability.…
For hundreds of years, humans have selectively bred and crossbred animals and plants to create or eliminate specific characteristics to produce a wider range of crops, animals and livestock. Genetic technology has become very common in our world today. Therefore, the possibility of altering plants and specifically crops for food supply raises many ethical and possible health issues which need to be explored. For example, the technical aspects of genetic modification and the possible positive and negative effects of genetically modified foods. Genetic engineering might be the phenomenon of the twentieth century, however genetic technology began over 30,000 years ago (Rangel).…
This topic has brought much debate between the two opposing sides to see how safe GMOs are to consume. Pro GMO activist believe that “food is viewed as a source of nutrition to meet daily requirements at a minimum in order to survive but with an ever greater focus on the desire to thrive. In the latter instance, there is an ever-growing interest in the functionality of food. Functional foods have been defined as any modified food or food ingredient that may provide a health benefit beyond the traditional nutrients it contains” (Newell-McGloughlin, 2008). The increased functionality of GMOs could lead to a world with less diseases. While on the other side, others believe that GMOs could lead to cell mutation due to the organism own genetic modification. There are three major aspects that raise debate. “1. The use of selectable markers to identify transformed cells. 2. Transfer of extraneous DNA into the plant genome (i.e. genes other than those being…
“Most people regard genetic engineering as something that will happen tomorrow. They are wrong. Biotechnology is here today” (Mann, 1999, p. 113). Some people may laugh at the idea that genetic engineer like the type seen in Gattaca is possible, but already “genetically engineered crops cover an estimated one-quarter of all cropland in this country” (Maafo, 2001, p. 84). While genetic engineering is only being applied at crops at the moment, one has to wonder how long it will be before humans are genetically engineered and what will be the implication of such actions.…
Genetically engineered crops are still a very unknown and even in some cases unheard of subject to people globally. This technology, even being such and unknown subject, has quickly and only gaining speed overruns our diets by stating with our most consumed food crops. Genetic material from one organism is inserted in the genetic code of another and by doing this biotechnologist have created vast amounts of different genetically engineered organisms. Organisms such as tomatoes with flounder genes, fish with growth genes, pigs with human growth genes, along with thousands of other plants, animals and insects.…
Genetic engineering can be very beneficial for the upcoming generations. There are risks associated with genetic modifications to any organism. New diseases may be introduced accidentally, however with time and effort, these could be eradicated, effectively “perfecting” the human race. Genetic engineering should only be performed on an…
After various testing performed by various scientists and experts it “is clearly evident, GM technology can quadruple its maize output, more than triple sweet potato output and increase banana output by eight times” (Wambugu 84). With this much crop increases multiplied by all farms throughout the world mankind can cause world hunger to disappear and replace it with excess food so that none shall have to worry about starving or going hungry ever again. While there are some people who voice their concerns over the safety of genetically modified foods they can be assured that “rigorous testing takes place to ensure GM foods are safe” (Wambugu 82) and as a result “there is no evidence that genetically engineered foods currently on the market pose any human health concern or that they are any less safe than those foods produced through traditional breeding” (Hammerstrom 122). This means that any potential health risks are discovered and rectified before the food is even close to going on the shelves for consumers to purchase. With these potential benefits mixed with the genuine feasibility of achievement they all hold shows that taking the risks involved will be well worth…
Due to the quite random nature of genetic engineering, there is a risk that it may disrupt the functioning of other genes in an organism. This could mean that the organisms do not survive at all, or become some sort of mutated freak, which is completely different and maybe even more dangerous. Genetic engineers also intend to profit by patenting genetically engineered seeds. This means that, when a farmer plants these genetically engineered seeds, all the seeds have an identical genetic structure. As a result, if a fungus, a virus, or a pest develops which can attack this particular crop, they might all be at…
Genetic engineering should not be permitted because of the safety hazards. Something that genetic engineers might not take into consideration when beginning these experiments is that some genes that they strengthen may be direct links to ending diseases…