Bio Essay Rough Draft
Carl Kogstrom
Neuberg
IB MYP Biology
9 May 2014
Effects of Genetically Modified Food
Genetically modified food contributes a major portion to the world’s food supply. Genetically modified food (GMF) is food that is produced from plants or animals that have had artificial changes to their genetic material. GMFs have been tested and experimented on since 1992 and sold commercially since 1994. The DNA of crops has been altered to make them grow faster as well as resist many different pesticides. This DNA alteration has been applied to animals as well to give them desirable breeding traits. Genetically modified foods have affected society and the environment in many different ways.
Scientists insert specific genes into crops and animals using a complex process of isolating particular strands of DNA. According to ag.arizona.edu, “…first identify a gene of interest” (Shalau). This means that the first step in genetic modification is identifying the gene that affects the trait in question. Then scientists separate the particular strand of DNA. The article states, “The genes are removed from the long DNA strands by restriction enzymes that can located the beginning and end of the gene” (Shalau). Here scientists are taking out the specific genes to be replaced by the desired gene. The gene that will replace the old gene is first put into a bacteria cell that will rapidly reproduced and copy the new gene many times. This is done so that companies can sell large quantities of these bacteria cells with the desired gene so they can be inserted into crops. These genes such as Bacillus thuringiensis, a caterpillar deterring toxin that can be created by a plant, are still subject to improvement, but they have been optimized to reduce the mortality for the caterpillars.
Society stands divided on the subject of GMFs. On the positive side, they impact society in the respect that genetic modifications improve nutrients in our food and make it tastier. Skeptics of GMFs believe that
Neuberg
IB MYP Biology
9 May 2014
Effects of Genetically Modified Food
Genetically modified food contributes a major portion to the world’s food supply. Genetically modified food (GMF) is food that is produced from plants or animals that have had artificial changes to their genetic material. GMFs have been tested and experimented on since 1992 and sold commercially since 1994. The DNA of crops has been altered to make them grow faster as well as resist many different pesticides. This DNA alteration has been applied to animals as well to give them desirable breeding traits. Genetically modified foods have affected society and the environment in many different ways.
Scientists insert specific genes into crops and animals using a complex process of isolating particular strands of DNA. According to ag.arizona.edu, “…first identify a gene of interest” (Shalau). This means that the first step in genetic modification is identifying the gene that affects the trait in question. Then scientists separate the particular strand of DNA. The article states, “The genes are removed from the long DNA strands by restriction enzymes that can located the beginning and end of the gene” (Shalau). Here scientists are taking out the specific genes to be replaced by the desired gene. The gene that will replace the old gene is first put into a bacteria cell that will rapidly reproduced and copy the new gene many times. This is done so that companies can sell large quantities of these bacteria cells with the desired gene so they can be inserted into crops. These genes such as Bacillus thuringiensis, a caterpillar deterring toxin that can be created by a plant, are still subject to improvement, but they have been optimized to reduce the mortality for the caterpillars.
Society stands divided on the subject of GMFs. On the positive side, they impact society in the respect that genetic modifications improve nutrients in our food and make it tastier. Skeptics of GMFs believe that
Cited: Maghari, Behrokh Mohajer, and Ali M. Ardekani. "Abstract." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 30 Dec. 2005. Web. 08 May 2014. "Pocket K No. 4: GM Crops and the Environment." GM Crops and the Environment. N.p., Aug. 2013. Web. 08 May 2014. Schalau, Jeff. "Backyard Gardener - Genetically Modified Crops: How Do They Do It?, January 10, 2001." Backyard Gardener - Genetically Modified Crops: How Do They Do It?, January 10, 2001. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 May 2014.