Arguments for and Against Genetically Modified Food Essay

Biotechnology involves any technique that uses living organisms or parts there of to book or modify products, to remedy plants or animals or to develop micro organisms for special uses (Dr Sriwatanapongse, www. afic. org) In the past light speed weve overhear been lucky enough to stumble upon one of the basic construction blocks of organisms, DNA. In novel old age scientists substantiate been able to develop ways in which they can manipulate, expurgate, and transfer DNA in forms that can benefactor meliorate our lives.One way in which DNA research has been utilise to improve our lifestyle, is by engineering science the deoxyribonucleic acid into ways which can alter diet supplies to make them bigger, taste f all told apart, resistant to pests and even make them harbour a great concentration of nutrients. Of course this is great news to the military personnel population, in terms of economic and life-saving values for third world countries, even there atomic number 18 still disadvantages. With all the good news that comes from these modify crops, concerns atomic number 18 still among people.These concerns include whether or not these alterations ordain locomote humans in a negative way, or how they testament tinge the environment. genetically engineering crops might play a significant authority in change magnitude crop yield therefore allowing the world to raven to a greater extent people while using less land. A recent study on bioengineered crops concluded that these crops argon safe and can improve production dramatically. To date, total acres of biotech crops harvested exceed to a greater extent than 1 jillion with a proven 10-year history of safe use.Over the next decade, grow adoption combined with current research on 57 crops in 63 countries will broaden the advantages of catchingally modified foods for growers, consumers and the environment. (www. monsanto. com) Those opposing the genetically alter crops state that One m ajor detriment to genetically engineered food is that there has been no adequate testing to ensure that extracting genes from useful functions will yield the same results in different applications and species (www. govhs. org).Predictions of emerging are that, consumers are able to get foods that last longer, taste better and are more nutritious than the current foods. There will also an even greater variety of foods all year round. These products will be made assertable through genetic engineering, and some of them are already available. For centuries, farmers grew plants to fetch peculiar(a) foods with unique characteristics better taste, higher(prenominal) yield or greater safeguard to drought or frosts. History shows, that five thousand years ago in Peru, potatoes were grown selectively.Plants, which produced potatoes with attractive characteristics, such(prenominal) as higher yields, were apply to produce future plants. More than two thousand years ago, channelise graf ting was used by the Greeks to Gain a more reaping in orc laboureds. Now, we have genetically engineered food that has been discovered and now offers a faster and more reliable method of establishing new traits in plants to house foods that are better tasting, more nutritious or more in amount. Although all of this may seem futuristic, such crops do already exist. not but have these crops been in laboratories for decades, but they have been in the grocery for years.Humans have only just begun to realize the benefits of these genetically altered foods. Genetically altered foods allow a wide selection of things to improve upon. Some altered abilities already exists in our fruits and vegetables, these include pest, disease and herbicide. By using genetic engineering, plants that resist disease, pests or insects can be developed. This manner that less chemicals, such as pesticides, are required. In the near future scientists hopefully will be able to improve the drought fortress of most(prenominal) crop species and could have major implications for crops grown in change areas (www.abc. net. au/news).Weather resistance Plants could and can be developed to better withstand extreme weather conditions such as drought or frosts. Genetically engineering foods make crops easier to maintain and lower the cost in maintenance. One benefit of altered foods which is often overlooked is the Improved touch characteristics of these foods, leading to veerd waste and lower food costs to the consumer. Foods are being developed to contain more vitamins, minerals, protein and less saturated fat.For example, fruits and vegetables with higher levels of antioxidant vitamins may reduce cardiovascular disease risk and help reduce the risk of certain cancers (www. americanheart. org). The world population is expected to double to more than 10 billion people by the year 2050. Food biotech can help meet the increasing demand for food. By increasing a crops aptitude to withstand environmental factors, growers will be able to farm in parts of the world soon unsuitable for crop production. Along with additional food, this could also provide economies of developing nations with much-needed jobs and greater productivity.Genetically engineered foods seem to have solved all the problems farmers and growers have had for years. Unfortunately all the positive effects of altered foods seem to masquerade party the reality behind these perfect crops. Some of the disadvantages of altered crops include the chess opening of mutations. Plant breeders have induced mutations in selected plants by treating them with chemicals or shaft of light however this is costly and unpredictable (Microorganisms, biotechnology and Disease). Genetic engineering changes the temper of the food eaten.It can cause unexpected mutations in an organism, which can score new and higher levels of toxins in foods. Genetic engineering can produce unknown allergens in foods. Some foods may be im planted with the ability to produce antibiotics. This may help the plant, but if these plants that are infected with bacterium emerge new strands of bacteria that may become resistant to the most advanced antibiotics, there will be a problem. With herbicide-resistant crops, weeds may evolve to also become herbicide resistant. The spread of diseases across precise species may also become a factor because of a leaving of ? bio-diversity in crops.When crops are altered for peculiar(prenominal) abilities, they are then peck produced. They are the only type of species grown in field of thousands. Because of this, the species will only be able to pass on to all generations the same DNA. Once started, they may not be easily controlled or contained. It makes the crops hard to calculate. Unfortunately the biggest problem raised from new modified foods is the fact that the humanity is unaware of how it works and the results behind the genetically modified food. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DN A) is the genetic code in living organisms. About twenty five years ago, scientists began to run across how DNA worked.From this ways for speeding up breeding moldes were soundless to a degree. Agricultural scientists today can identify the genes that carry specific traits they want, such as ? disease resistance or ? nutrient matter and transfer those genes to a plant, therefore creating a transgenic organism. Genetic engineering is the process of artificially modifying these ? blueprints. By cutting and splicing DNA, engineers can transfer genes specific to one type of organism into any other organism. Some organisms have been enhanced through biotechnology such as tomatoes, that go ? kookie more slowly and so remain on the vine for longer.This gives them more gloss and flavour. Also, virus resistant papyrus and squash, that make the crop more dependable. Genetically modified food seems to have already changed the world today. Many countries are already considering making more of their crops with genetically engineered properties. Scientists have gained a ample knowledge of genetic engineering and are now able to make many possibilities. Genetically engineered food has brought a lot of commercial benefits change magnitude crops quality, harvesting quantity, pest resistance, herbicide resistance, nutrient supplementation and more.Not only have the crops improved, but more crops are produced in less space. Although the benefits of biotech seem fantastic, there are still many mysteries left to understand in such a vast field of understanding. Genetic engineering might cause serious consequences to our future life as swell up next generations to come. Deeper insight into genetic engineering may be all that is needed for us to gain truly unlimited advantage from such a vast scientific field.