Genetically Modified Food

By sreeremya

Genetically Modified Food

Basic Genetics

• Dominant & Recessive Genes• Someone might express a dominant gene but

carry a recessive gene• Recessive genes from both sides can appear in

subsequent generations• Plants (or animals or people) can be modified

by selecting for desirable traits

•Ethical and moral issuesImmoral to play God with foodVegetarians and religious groups oppose because their foods may be contaminated by foods they wouldn’t normally eat.

•Imperfect technologyTechnology is still so new and young. Not all effects could have been tested yet

•Environmental issuesEnvironmental side effects are still unknownInsects, birds and wind could distribute genetically altered seeds all over.

•Increased consumption of pesticidesBecause the pesticides are produced by the food they can not be simply washed off as if they were just sprayed on.

•Lack of government controlGovernment control is run by industry people for industry people.

Nobody is looking out for the consumer.

Technology... is a queer thing. It brings you great gifts with one hand, and it stabs you in the back with the other. ~C.P. Snow, New York Times, 15 March 1971

We understand that the technology is still very new and more testing will continue. As long as we don’t become a completely GM foods based culture we think GM foods is a good idea. We support genetically modified foods because of the benefits they will provide us in the future.

Genetically modified foods will allow us to produce more using less space. This is very important when you consider our growing population.

Also, the benefits for developing countries are too great to ignore.

The ability to generate crops that can thrive in any climate and in any soil is

incredibly valuable. This means that there would be more food in places

where getting food was a problem before. This is not a solution to world

hunger but it is the beginning to a solution.

We are at a critical stage of development in terms of modification of genes. Currently, there are four main ways to integrate new DNA into plants. These are microinjection, agrobacterium tumefaciens, biolistic and electroporation. Each of these methods has its pros and cons as well. As we continue to develop our technology and further our knowledge of genes, we have to be aware of the effect that it will have on our environment in the long run.

In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.

-Eric Hoffer

•Preservation of our gene pool – millions of species that would havebeen lost are now reserved in labs.

•Profits for everyone – benefits for industries, developing countries, developed countries, and the average person.

•Safety – safe because they are essentially the same as the originals. •Increased nutrient intake – GM foods have an enhanced amount of

nutrients.