GM foods - Harmful or Helpful

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In this case study, my aim is to find out whether genetically modified (GM) foods are harmful or helpful. To support my case study I will structure it with different scientific theories and evidence I will gather this information from different sources and different types of sources.

Some people think that GM foods are harmful due to the way they are artificially tampered with. Others believe that GM foods are helpful as they can prolong the life of some foods and make them taste better so they are beneficial to us.

I will attempt to explore both beliefs thoroughly and end this case study with a satisfactory conclusion.


GM stands for genetically modified; they are foods which have been artificially altered by scientists in laboratories. An example of a GM food is tomatoes they used to easily rot however they have been artificially modified to last longer, look redder and taste better.1

Genetic engineering techniques allow scientists to insert specific genes into animals and plants without the trial and error method used in selective breeding. This makes genetic engineering much quicker than the natural process of selective breeding.2 For example the geneticists can isolate the gene responsible for a beneficial trait in a plant, this gene is then placed in a different plant. This then creates a genetically modified plant which also produces the beneficial trait.3

The main reason for GM foods being produced was for crop protection. It would make plants resistant to diseases caused by insects, viruses or they would have increased tolerance to herbicides.4

        


One method used to genetically modify plants is called Biolistics. This involves shooting new genes into the potential host. Microscopic particles of gold or titanium are coated in the DNA sections which are to be introduced to the host. These are loaded into cartridges, which are then fired at the plant cells. The process relies on some of the microscopic particles entering this cell nuclei and their coating with the gene of interest combining with the plant’s chromosomes.5 

The transformed tissue is selected using marker genes. Whole plants are then redeveloped from the transformed cells containing a copy of the transgene in every cell.6

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A diagram showing the process of biolistics:


There are many arguments against and for GM foods. So I am going display both arguments and come to a conclusion on whether GM foods are harmful or not. Here I am going to research the advantages of GM foods.

GM foods pledge to meet the needs of the rapidly increasing population in many ways:

  1. GM foods provide a good level of pest resistance. Losses of crops from insects can lead to an outcome of terrible financial loss and even starvation in developing countries. Also ...

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