Biotechnology
What is biotechnology? Biotechnology is a broad term that is applied to all living organisms. It is used for everything from microorganisms used to ferment beer to the most sophisticated forms of gene therapy. Biotechnology is the use of microorganisms or biological substances to perform industrial or manufacturing processes. (*1) The United States government defines it as being "any technique that uses living organisms or parts of living organisms to (1) make or modify products, (2) improve plants or animals, or (3) develop microorganisms for specific uses. Biotechnology is very useful for these purposes, but, also, in some cases, harmful, or not yet proven safe. The demand for food worldwide has increased the need for better and cheaper crops. Biotechnology has offered the needed technology to produce more nutritious and better tasting foods, and plants that are naturally protected from insects and diseases. Biotech. has also made possible selective breeding and hybridization of crops. These processes allow scientists to produce plants with specific beneficial traits and plants without undesirable traits as well. There are also benefits in the environment, where pesticides are used more rarely now. Biotechnology makes plant b
BGH is currently being used by approximately 10% of the U. The trait for herbicide resistance will spread to wild plant life and make weeds that are resistant to weed killer as well. "Why are the rules for approving genetically modified foods less harsh than those for new medicines produced using the exact same technology?" If genetically modified food is going into our bodies just as medications do, it should be subject to the same testing. He, along with several others, thinks that herbicide resistant crops will lead to more chemicals being used on crops, not less. They put new genes into rice so that it would produce beta- karotene and iron. Golden rice is an "amazing scientific achievement that shows us the possibilities that biotechnology places within our reach". It should have been caught by the company that makes the seeds or by the regulatory authorities that let the seeds be sold on the market. The "Flavr Savr" was the first genetically engineered, "ready - to -eat" food product available to the USA. These scientists have me convinced after reading their statements that the governments need to put a halt to this and have further testing and refining done before any more food products are genetically engineered. This genetically -- altered product was determined by the FDA to be as safe as other commercial tomatoes. He says we should not meddle with the building block of life. Having these antibiotic genes in foods could cause two problems.
Common topics in this essay:
England Prince,
,
Hormone BGH,
Beta Karotene,
Flavr Sa,
USA Especially,
Flavr Savr,
Peter Beyer,
genetically modified,
Potrycus Swiss,
genetically engineered,
genetically modified food,
antibiotic genes,
modified food,
living organisms,
golden rice,
resist herbicides,
food biotechnology,
plant metal,
genes transferred,
|