GM Foods
Genetically modified food (GM food) refers to crops plants created for human and animal consumption using the latest biotechnology. This genetic engineering is very accurate and exact traits can be injected into plants opposed to the traditional methods of crossbreeding, which was very time consuming and not always accurate. Scientists, to add the desired traits such as drought resistance, resistance to herbicides or higher yields with less fertiliser modify the plants in a laboratory. Specific genes are scientifically taken from certain organisms and placed into the other. The genes themselves can be transferred from species to species in a variety of ways. They can either be injected using needles made from bucky tubes, introduced through a virus or bacterium or they can be shot into the organism with a gold bullet. The genes can be transferred from plant species to plant species and also from non-plant species. A good example of this is the use of B.t. genes in corn. The B.t. bacterium is naturally occurring and is lethal to insect larvae so when it is transferred to corn it enables the corn to produce its own pesticides against insects. Genetically modified foods have not yet taken off, as there are still many arguments for an
Creating plants that can tolerate long periods of drought or a high salt content in soil would allow farmers to grow crops in unproductive places such as areas like deserts containing soil with a high salt, sand, or clay content. Perhaps one of the biggest possible breakthroughs that could happen in GM foods is the altering of crops nutrients get to rid of nutrient deficiencies. As pollen spreads there is no way of stoping infiltration of GM crops into neighbouring properties. Farmers use tonnes of chemical pesticides annually to prevent devastating crop losses from insect pests. There is also growing fear that introducing foreign genes in to plants may have an unexpected, negative impact on human health. Genetic engineering will be the wave for the future as the technology has so many potential benefits. Many people are also worried that patenting these new plant varieties will raise the price of seeds so high that farmers in third world countries will not be able to afford them. I think we should proceed with the use of GM foods after some more extensive testing has been carried out to ensure that no unintended harm is done to human health or the environment as a result of our eagerness to introduce this amazing new technology. Also many people believe that insects might build up a resistance to the plants that have been modified to produce their own pesticides, reducing the overall effectiveness of pesticides. Many people are not convinced that there has been enough testing to ensure that GM foods are safe. If GM foods did cause allergic reactions, then the labelling of GM foods will acquire new importance. Once again, widening the gap between the wealthy and the poor. It is evident from above that GM foods could do many great things not only in the agriculture sector but also throughout the world. Most concerns about GM foods fall into environmental hazards, human health risks, and economic concerns. In turn it would help prevent some of the malnutrition problems in the third world.
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Acceptance Essays
