Preview

GMO, Friend of Foe?

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2076 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
GMO, Friend of Foe?
Daniel Albright
Mrs. Cowles
Honors British Literature
14 April 2014
Genetically Modified Food: Opposing Viewpoints The population of America consumes about 313,272,200 tons of food per year. With such a large demand, it is expected that food needs will continue to rise as human population increases. Our food supply needs to be reliable, abundant, and safe. One way to keep the food supply safe and reliable is to make sure that it is free from harmful viruses and pesticides. The creation of GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, is one attempt to increase efficiency in food production. Scientists do not know how this will truly affect humans in the long run, which is why many decide not to consume the unknown. This method of production is controversial, so only credible research and studies will determine if these chemicals and hormones are safe to consume in the long run. This topic includes many opposing viewpoints regarding the safety of consuming GMO food, the toxicity of GMO foods and labeling, and the impact of GMO food production on the environment. There are many opposing viewpoints regarding the safety of GMO foods. Some say that these products are only increasing the rate of grocery manufacturing. Others say that GMOs are highly toxic and should not be produced. Another belief is the fact that there is no research that thoroughly states the problem of GMOs. Scientists can only find out the short term effects of GMOs. Although GMO foods have been around for decades, scientists will only be able to know the long term effects in years to come. There are many facts to back up both sides of the safety argument, but many people who oppose GMO production are slowly giving up. Many pro-GMO safety facts are proven, including that GMO’s actually allow farmers to grow crops with less pesticides, due to the fact that they can enhance the gene of a plant to make its own pesticides. The way they accomplish this is by inserting more of the same gene a plant
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Enact Law of Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (Gmo)/Genetically Engineered (Ge) Foods in the United States
    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Enact Law of Mandatory Labeling of Genetically Modified Organisms (Gmo)/Genetically Engineered (Ge) Foods in the United States

    Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO)/Genetically Engineered (GE) foods are the result of laboratory processes which artificially insert genes into the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of food crops or animals. There are many arguments both in favor of and against mandatory labeling of GMO/GE foods. Whether or not to require labeling of GMOs or GE foods also involves the debate over the risks and benefits of food crops produced using biotechnology. However, the overarching argument is consumers have a right to know what is in their food, especially concerning products that can cause allergic reactions. According to the Campaign for Healthier Eating in America, Genetically Modified (GM) foods are linked to toxic and allergic reactions, sick, sterile, and dead livestock, and damage to virtually every organ studied in lab animals (http://www.responsibletechnology.org). Because there is no scientific evidence that GMO/GE foods do or do not cause health issues in humans (because there have been no long-term studies), consumers may or may not be being harmed by GMOs. However, the safety of GMOs has been questioned by other countries. In fact, they are banned by food manufacturers in Europe and other countries, but, present in the majority of meats, produce, diary and processed foods in the United States (US). Many consumers in the US have no knowledge that they are consuming GMOs. If they did, it is now known if, similar to Europe, many would prefer to not consume GMO/GE foods. However, without proper labeling, the big issue of concern is, they do not know how to avoid them if they wanted to.…

    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    High Cost of High-Tech Foods
    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages

    High Cost of High-Tech Foods

    Some of the current arguments for the people for GM foods are that people shouldn't be worried until their research finds danger and we should continue to feed the hungry world. With this technology, we can multiply acre yields and at the same time reduce the need for herbicides and pesticides. The people against GM food argue that we are moving to fast by not researching the effects long enough. The science based arguments contradict both parties. Governments citing GM company studies say GM crops and non-GM crops are so similar the do not pose a threat to consumers. Interest groups disagree because they claim the studies are flawed.…

    • 491 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The False Promise Of Gm Foods By Joe Pedretti
    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The False Promise Of Gm Foods By Joe Pedretti

    The producers of the GM foods, like Monsanto Company, think people should popularize the GM foods, because they are the solution of global hunger. However, some scientists claim that GM foods are dangerous and we should be careful about them. In my view, GM foods have the unpredictable hazard to environment and human health. We should listen…

    • 776 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    What Are The Pros And Cons For Humans And The Environment
    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages

    What Are The Pros And Cons For Humans And The Environment

    Genetically Modified Organisms, or GMOs, are organisms that have been created through the gene-splicing techniques of biotechnology Although GMOs have been around for many years, it wasn’t until just recently that people have become more concerned with them. However, many companies that produce genetically modified organisms, like Monsanto, try to make believe that the products they produce are healthy and beneficial for the environment; while that may be true first glance, lots of anti gmo activists believe that these companies scam people into believing false information. In this essay, we will uncover the pros and cons of these genetically modified organisms and ultimately, come to the conclusion that GMOs may have downfalls for humans and the environment, but are economically beneficial.…

    • 545 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of GMO Foods
    • 1902 Words
    • 8 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of GMO Foods

    Many people look at GMOs with a sort of view as if to ask: Why should I eat new GMO crops, when I could eat a crop that has been around for millennia? What they don’t understand, is that there is really no such thing as a crop that scientists just altered. People have been modifying plants since the creation of agriculture twelve thousand years ago. While it may have been done differently back then, the current method of genetically modifying plants is just a more deliberate way of doing what humankind has always done. The only difference now is that people have a scientific understanding of what they are doing and have improved agricultural techniques; advancements in agriculture have moved from the farm to the lab. The reason that I think so many people are opposed to GMOs, is because they don’t understand what they are, and because they think that scientists are doing something radical in making GMOs; they fear the unknown.”(Chrisopher…

    • 1902 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Why Is Gmo's Wrong
    • 339 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Why Is Gmo's Wrong

    The arguments presented in favor of GM foods in countering extrinsic objection states that it is not possible to assess without conducting any research or data analysis that the risks outweigh the benefits in proving GMO’s wrong. GMO’s are a potential to improve the efficiency of food production and agricultural sustainability,…

    • 339 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Pros And Cons Of Gmo Foods
    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Pros And Cons Of Gmo Foods

    There is a corporation called Monsanto that owns patents of many GMO seeds in the US. They claim that there foods are harmless and point to studies- many of which the company itself has conducted- demonstrating the safety of the products produced (Monsanto.com, 2015). These studies however have been widely critiqued for obvious bias, and I agree with those assessments. The Monsanto studies only prove that data can be manipulated, not that the products are safe. So, without high quality, objective information, the debate quickly turns into a he said/ she said…

    • 544 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Controversies Of Gmos
    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Controversies Of Gmos

    A 2003 poll showed that 92 percent of Americans favor labeling genetically Engineered (GE) food. Why would this food need labeled? Because it was created by transporting a gene from one organism to another, therefore making it a new organism. This action is done in animals and plants alike. Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) are organisms whose genomes have been altered to favor certain characteristics (Diaz). For many years there has been breeding done in plants so as to have the desired characteristics, such as juicier tomatoes. The United States government does not see GMOs differently from breeding. GMOs, though, are formed by scientific procedures like cloning and Recombinant DNA technology. A primary reason…

    • 1194 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Genetically Modified Organisms Argumentative Essay
    • 941 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Genetically Modified Organisms Argumentative Essay

    How would you feel if I told you that the food you're eating was made in a science lab? Genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, are the outcome of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially manipulated into the genes of an uncorrelated plant or animal. Crops are often genetically modified to be resistant to pesticides so farmers would be able to spray them without harming the crop itself. However, there are many consequences regarding consumers’ health and environmental problems. Many people question the safety of consuming genetically modified organisms. Companies should acknowledge that their product is genetically modified by placing a label on the product because customers have a right to know. Furthermore, there are several serious health complications that may rise to the consumer. And finally, genetically modifying organisms should be limited by being placed in a controlled environment to prevent contamination with other species because it can be harmful to the environment in several ways.…

    • 941 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Argumentative Essay On Gmos
    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Argumentative Essay On Gmos

    Genetically Modified Organisms have become a scientific phenomenon in curing world hunger. Unfortunately, over one billion people fall victim to one of the world’s leading causes of death, malnourishment. Many critics believe that GMOs do not provide enough nutrients and “good stuff”, therefore they believe that many people consuming GMOs are in danger. Others say that GMOs can fix world hunger because they can produce hundreds of GM foods at a time. My side is to believe that GMO shouldn’t be used to solve the problem of world hunger.…

    • 758 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    gmo paper
    • 1365 Words
    • 4 Pages

    gmo paper

    Many people are against Genetically modified foods because of the unknown long term effects and environmental effects. There were concerns about how GMO’s can affect other animals. “ GMOs may be toxic to non-target organisms, bees and butterflies being the most talked-about examples currently. Bees are hugely important in the pollination of many food crops.” (Emily Glass) If this true, this can be the biggest reason why GMO’s should be banned. Another reason how it could affect the environment is by making it a monoculture in our ecosystem. “When GM crops are planted, generally in a monocrop fashion, many heritage seeds are no longer used. The nature of GMOs means fewer weed flowers and, therefore, less nectar for pollinators. “ (Emily Glass.) Having a monoculture can result in quicker spread of diseases and can cause an economic disaster. They’re many possible consequences of genetically modifying foods but most of the possible consequences are predictions or theories.…

    • 1365 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Effects of Gmos
    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Effects of Gmos

    The two articles I have chosen are both peer-reviewed and have two different opinions about GMO’s. The first article, titled “GMO’s and Global Justice” by Kristian Toft, is against the use of GMO’s, explaining how they are bad for us as human beings and for our environment. Her biggest concern is that we do not know the extent of what these genetically modified foods are doing to our bodies because of the lack of long-term affect testing. When trans-fats were first introduced, corporations battled to get them onto our grocery shelves. It is only decades later that this once novel food has been proven to be extremely unhealthful. This could be a glance into the future of GMO’s. It is similarly a concern that GMO’s in food are causing an increase in allergic reactions. The process of genetically modifying a plant or animal adds new proteins that weren’t indigenous to the original plant or animal, causing an allergic reaction increase when ingested in the human body. Also, some GMO foods have had antibiotic features added to them so they are resistant to certain diseases and viruses. When humans eat them, these antibiotics features persist in our bodies and make actual antibiotic medications less effective. Toft goes on to say that GMO’s are banned in more than 60 countries around the world including, the European Union,…

    • 880 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why Is Gmo Bad
    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Why Is Gmo Bad

    During a time in the world where unemployment is at record highs and the cost a food has become staggering, farmers and businessmen alike have sought out new forms and methods of growing food. One of these methods has been using genetically modified crops. Most people do not even know what GMO’s are, where they come from, and how eating these foods are affecting their bodies.…

    • 1051 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Powerful Essays

    Genetically Modified Foods Argumentative Essay
    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Genetically Modified Foods Argumentative Essay

    The controversial issue of genetically modified foods, commonly known as GM’s, has only gained the attention of millions, since it became a prominent and highly debated global issue. Genetically modified foods are created when the genes of an organism are engineered and modified to create a new or enhanced version of that organism. The process of using different genes from different sources to genetically modify foods led to public outcry and sometimes, praise. People in support of genetically modified foods claims it will enhance the quality of the food, improve the food’s resistance to pests and other harmful elements, lower food costs, and also increase food security for the future. However, those opposed to genetically modified foods claim…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Why GMO's Should be Banned in Canada
    • 1324 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Why GMO's Should be Banned in Canada

    One of the main reasons that GMOs are so dangerous to us is that most of us aren’t fully educated on the subject. The growth and development of this technology has been so rapid and the concept is still so new to us, that we aren’t fully aware of what its long term side-effects and consequences may be. The resulting GM foods have undergone little or no long-term safety testing. The authorities are so blinded by the millions of profits that they have neglected all the risks associated with it. Nowadays, almost everything we buy at local grocery stores are somehow related to GMOs. I.e. fruits and vegetables such as banana, apples, papaya, (for longer shelf life and “presumably” greater potential yield**) etc; they’re found in soy products and corn (presumably better protection again pests); and the most devious of them all, they’re sometimes even found in dairy products as they’re often hidden in animal feed –…

    • 1324 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics