- Introduction
This report outlines the use of Genetically Modified Foods, the positive and negative effects of the usage of Genetically Modified Foods and the results of the usage of Genetically Modified Foods.
- Objective
This report identifies the advantages and disadvantages of the usage of Genetically Modified Foods and presents the recommendations.
- Background
Genetically Modified Foods or Genetically Modified Organisms are foods that have been changed genetically through special techniques or Genetic Engineering. These changes are made so that the food becomes more resistant to things that destroy the food such as pests, weeds and weather conditions. The changes can also improve the taste, texture or appearance of the food, and increasing the nutritional values of the food. By using Genetic Engineering, foods can be created with the desired trait all the time with good accuracy.
Method of Inquiry
The information used in this report are from websites.
- Definitions of Terms
Genetic Engineering - is the changing of DNA Structure of an organism's (Society, Religion and Technology Project 1999 para 1).
Gene - A gene is blueprint of a living organism. It normally resides on a stretch of DNA that codes for a type of protein (Carlson 1966, p. 2).
Pesticide – Is a mixture of substance intended for preventing and repelling of any pests (U.S Environmental protection agency 2010 para 1).
Herbicide - herbicide is used to get rid of unwanted plant life. Unwanted plants that takes nutrients away from crops and other useful plants (Foster 2010, para 1).
Allergies - An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. (MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You n.d., para 1).
Malnutrition – Is when a person's body is not getting enough nutrients. It can result in complications of the body (Healthdirect n.d., para 1).
- Reasons against the use of Genetically Modified Foods
There are a number of negative reasons from the usage of Genetically Modified Foods.
- Playing God
By genetically modifying foods, we are “playing God” and therefore human beings seem to be eating from a modern version of the tree of knowledge of good and bad, or even the tree of life. By applying these new found techniques it raises new questions on whether or not it is ethical enough to genetically modify foods and do something that is forbidden by God. If we do Genetically Modify foods it will cause problems with people who are of the religious faith (Society, Religion and Technology Project 1999 para 16)
- Mixing Genes
There is a chance that plants will mix genes and form “Super Weeds”, this will become a problem because the “Super Weed” will become resistant to herbicides aswell (Whitman D.B 2000 para 20).
- Health risks
There are potential human health concerns, including allergens, and unknown effects. Testing of GM foods may be required to avoid the possibility of harm to consumers with food allergies (Whitman D.B 2000 para 23). Labelling of GM foods due to health risks will have to be a high priority.
- Reasons for the use of Genetically Modified Foods
There are a number of reasons supporting the use of Genetically Modified Foods.
- Healthier Crops
Crops can have enhanced taste and quality, reduced maturation time, increased nutrients, have more yields, improved resistance to diseases, pests and herbicides (Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms 2008, para 2)
- Weather Tolerance
Freak weather conditions can destroy sensitive seedlings. Creating plants that can withstand Hot and cold climates and long periods of drought or high salt content in soil and groundwater will help people to grow crops in hard to farm places (Whitman D.B 2000 para 8).
- Nutritional
In Poorer countries people need a solution for malnutrition, that answer can come from Genetically Modified Foods where more Nutrients can be packed into a simple product such as rice. (Whitman D.B 2000 para 9). More development in “Super Foods” are also underway.
- Pharmaceutical
Medicines and vaccines can be Genetically Engineered in plants; Researchers are working to come up with vaccines that are edible in some plants such as tomatoes and potatoes. (Whitman D.B 2000 para 10)
- Conclusions
In this report, it has been investigated that the uses of Genetically Modified Foods can act as a saviour to many poor countries, there seems to be more positive effects in using Genetically Modified Foods than negative ones, However these findings are still quite new and must proceed with caution so that consuming Genetically Modified Foods cannot be harmful.
- Recommendations
- Healthier Eating
GMOs are like “Super Foods” they are healthier for you with added Nutritional value, protein contents could be increased so there would be reduced intake of the food. GMOs are modified to be Pest resistant, Herbicide tolerant, Disease resistant, Weather tolerant, and can act as Pharmaceuticals.
- Home grown
Home grown or Organic foods can be more beneficial due to close monitoring of the food while growing in around the home. Organic food is better for us because of reducing the intake of harmful herbicide and pesticides that we ingest. They also tend to have higher levels of anti-oxidants, which are beneficial to human beings.
- List of References
Carlson, E 1966 The Gene: A Critical History, Saunders Publishing, Philadelphia
Foster, N 2010, What is herbicide? Retrieved October 20, 2010 from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-herbicide.htm
Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms 2008. Retrieved October 18, 2010, from http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/elsi/gmfood.shtml
Healthdirect n.d., Malnutrition. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.healthinsite.gov.au/topics/Malnutrition
MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You n.d., Allergy Also called Hypersensitivity. Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/allergy.html
Society, Religion and Technology Project 1999. Retrieved October 17, 2010, from http://www.srtp.org.uk/gmfood2.shtml
U.S Environmental protection agency 2010, What is a pesticide? Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/about/
Whitman, D.B 2000, Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? Retrieved October 18, 2010, from http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php
- Appendices
- Definitions of Terms
Genetic Engineering - is the changing of DNA Structure of an organism's (Society, Religion and Technology Project 1999 para 1).
Gene - A gene is blueprint of a living organism. It normally resides on a stretch of DNA that codes for a type of protein (Carlson 1966, p. 2).
Pesticide – Is a mixture of substance intended for preventing and repelling of any pests (U.S Environmental protection agency 2010 para 1).
Herbicide - herbicide is used to get rid of unwanted plant life. Unwanted plants that takes nutrients away from crops and other useful plants (Foster 2010, para 1).
Allergies - An allergy is a reaction of your immune system to something that does not bother most other people. (MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You n.d., para 1).
Malnutrition – Is when a person's body is not getting enough nutrients. It can result in complications of the body (Healthdirect n.d., para 1).