Preview

An Overview of the Gmo Debate

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
442 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
An Overview of the Gmo Debate
Walker Doven Doven

Mrs. Yurman

5/2/13

Jefferson, Valeria. "An Overview of the Genetically Modified Food Debate." 2009. Genetically Engineered Foods. Ed. Nancy Harris. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. At Issue. Rpt. from "The Ethical Dilemma of Genetically Modified Food."Journal of Environmental Health 69.1 (July-Aug.2006): 33-34. Opposing Viewpoints In Context.
This article was written by Valeria Jefferson, a corresponding author for the Journal of Environmental Health, and the president of the National Capital Area Environmental Health Association located in Clinton, Maryland. It provides an in-depth view of the potential benefits and intentions of GMFs, and the rationale behind those who oppose it. This article provides information for the reasons on both sides of the argument, giving me a better understanding of the effects GMOs could have on humanity and the planet, for better or worse.
"With an ever-increasing global population, hunger in the developing world, and the health risks of pesticides, some experts view genetically modified food as a panacea," Jefferson explains. Genetically modified foods grow faster and larger than non-GMFs, and may be more resistant to pests, heat, cold, and drought. This is accomplished by genetic engineering; genes that are transferred between (ANY) organisms. For example, a gene of a fish that lives in cold waters could be inserted into a strawberry so it can survive frost.
Jefferson explains the current predicament of world hunger, and the potential alleviation possible from GMFs. "Many eat less than the minimum quantity required for survive, resulting in a mortality rate of 36 million deaths per year[…] In addition to alleviating world hunger, the production of GMFs can easily meet agricultural demands associated with with population increase."
Those opposed to GMF argue that the potential risks simply outweigh the potential benefits-- that the damage that has caused to the environment through the use

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    GMOs, or genetically modified organisms, have been a minor but relevant issue since they became popular. They exist almost everywhere in America, but countless people continue to debate whether they should remain. Andrew Pollack’s article “Genetically Engineered Crops Are Safe, Analysis Finds,” for instance, leans toward GMOs. In contrast, Danny Hakim’s “Doubts About the Promised Bounty of Genetically Modified Crops” gravitates against them. While exploring their perspectives of GMOs, the articles most prominently include an obvious audience, strong but contrasting uses of information, and various rhetorical appeals, all of which help demonstrate their purpose.…

    • 1330 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Miss

    • 8881 Words
    • 29 Pages

    Genetically Modified Organisms and Biosafety: A Background Paper for Decision-makers and Others to Assist in Consideration of GMO Issues. Published by: IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK. Wald, M. (2013). GMO-Genetically Modified Organisms Dangerous or Necessary?. Original Internist, 20(3), 129-130 Weise, Elizabeth. (2013).…

    • 8881 Words
    • 29 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    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
  • Good Essays

    The ethical issues in this case revolve around the consumption of genetically modified (GM) foods. We have the supporters of GM food arguing that judging the actual risk should not occur until extensive scientific research has been conducted. Until then, they believe that these crops can effectively aid in feeding the world’s needy by providing higher per acre yields while having a reduced need for pesticides and herbicides. The Anti- “GMers” present another view, as they fear the supporters are expecting too much from GM food. These opponents of GM insist on further long-term studies on the effects on the environment; dangers to wildlife and plants; how it will affect the food chain in regards to control of the gene flow prior to any wide distribution.…

    • 702 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Anti-GMO Movement

    • 1519 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Genetically Modified Organisms, also known as GMOs, are “living organisms whose genetic material has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering,” (The Non-GMO Project). While genetic engineering has the capability of being beneficial to our society, The Non-GMO Project argues that it “creates unstable combinations of plant, animal, bacteria and viral genes that do not occur in nature or through traditional crossbreeding methods,” (The Non-GMO Project). GMOs are very prevalent in our contemporary food industry; The Non-GMO Project website states that “in the U.S., GMOs are in as much as 80% of conventional processed food,” (The Non-GMO Project). New traits are introduced to…

    • 1519 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    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
  • Better Essays

    In today’s day and age, it seems like technology is getting more advanced by the day. Because of this technology, many high income countries such as America now have the ability to mass produce food as well as to genetically modify it to enhance the size, flavor, and appearance. While mass production of food may sound like an easy solution to sustain the constantly increasing global population, many people do not appreciate how dependent food production is on technology, and are posing arguments against the mass production of food while searching for all natural, organic, and locally grown alternatives. In The Eater Reader, it is made very clear that feelings toward this use of technology are very mixed. Some of the authors such as Hannah Wallace and Jamey Lionette argue that foods that are not tampered with and infused with chemicals are healthier for us and worth the extra time and money, while authors such as Mary Lebeau and James McWilliams favor the heavy usage of technology, praising its convenience and positive impact on the environment. While arguments can be made on both sides of the spectrum, the usage of technology to mass produce and make genetically modified organisms (GMOs) seems the most realistic as it satisfies the desires of the majority of Americans, helps to protect the environment, and enables food producers to sustain the increasing global population.…

    • 1589 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Gmos Research Paper

    • 1221 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “We are what we eat.” Everyone has heard this famous quote or a variation of it, but what do we actually eat? Over the past years a new type of food called Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) has flooded the food market. This new type of food is designed to better resist the climate and to contain more vitamins and minerals for the consumer, yet the debate is still ongoing: are GMOs harmful or helpful? The following text will present both sides of the argument: the GMOs activists and the anti-GMOs activists’ views. Then I will explain why I support the GMOs activists.…

    • 1221 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    A topic of controversy in the past couple of years has been genetically modified organisms or GMOs for short. Many people disagree on whether or not GMOs benefit or threatens society and whether or not they are actually harmful to the human body. In this essay, I will delve into the both sides of the argument as well as what exactly GMOs are.…

    • 345 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Genetically modified organisms have been a controversial subject since their discovery throughout the world. While arguments are made that some of these organisms can benefit people, most of these unnatural organisms contaminate the environment. Many say that not enough research has been done to know what these organisms are capable of doing to the environment and the health of the population. Genetically modified food should be researched thoroughly to assure the public that these crops are either safe or harmful to the environment or to themselves.…

    • 569 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As discussed in the article “GMOs Under Scrutiny” by Rachel Ehrenberg, there are numerous controversial methods being used in today’s world, one of them being growing genetically modified crops. Originating in the 1990s, GMOs came into practice for many different purposes and they have had several different effects. The whole idea of genetically modifying crops was to, one, make growing crops easier by giving them a built-in pesticide or the ability to stay fresh longer, two, to make growing certain minor ingredients, that are otherwise too difficult to obtain, cheaply and quickly, and, three, to help boost the nutritional value of certain foods to attempt to combat malnutrition. The effects that GMOs have had are: they have given many farmers larger yields of their crops than they’ve had before, they’ve contributed to less pesticide use, but more herbicide use, and, most of all they’ve caused much controversy among people.…

    • 557 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    GMOs in Our Daily Lives

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In the article, “What are GMO’s?” Debbie Slutzky conveys a message that states the genetic engineering done foods are very harmful to our health. Also known as genetic engineering, genetically modifying organisms consists of taking the genes from one organism and injecting those genes into another unrelated organism. For example, Slutzky stated, “Genes from fish which has an anti-freezing property may be spliced into a tomato to prevent frost damage.” This genetic science has been used in many different plants for food in the past forty years. Three-fourths of all processed foods are considered GMO’s. There are some dangers to eating these common table foods, or genetically modified foods. Many experience allergic reactions, immunity weakens, trouble getting pregnant, faster aging and changes in major organ systems. On a daily basis, we eat genetically modified foods. Have you ever ate something and soon after, experienced a horrible and disgusting feeling? Have you ever wondered why some foods stay fresh for abnormal amounts of time? Do we fully know the effects of these foods? Why do these foods produce in such large amounts? Why are certain vegetables like corn getting cheaper and cheaper each season? Is it because of the availability of this “steroid” crop? Is this engineering going against the natural laws of Earth? Although there are very limited benefits to G.M.O.’s, I believe that the bad outweigh the good. Genetically modified foods attribute to human sickness, “power surge” our crops, and they disrupt the natural order in which foods grow.…

    • 877 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The current debate surrounding genetically modified organisms, often called GMO’s, is an absolute disaster. A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a plant, animal or microorganism whose genetic code has been altered, subtracted, or added (either from the same species or a different species) in order to give it characteristics that it does not have normally. A GMO is an organism whose genetic makeup is changed by humans. Some individuals trumpet genetically modified (GM) genes, and others, like myself, are wary of the unwanted side effects of this new technology. In this essay I will discuss my personal views on food based GMO’s and how they affect us.…

    • 1613 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    How many times have you eaten something without reading the ingredients label? In 1982, Genetically Modified Organisms were approved for human use1 and eventually mass produced to the public as FLAVR SAVR Tomato in the late 1990s.2 Many may think that GMOs will end world hunger, but it is killing us rather than saving us. If food companies continue to advertise GMOs as the savior of America’s hunger problems, the country is in for a surprise. Any food product being sold to the general public should be removed and banned because GMOs contribute to the rise of illness, contaminate the plants in our organic farms, and humans were not made to play god.…

    • 713 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Anti Gmos

    • 2412 Words
    • 10 Pages

    In the field of molecular biology, genetic engineering is the manipulation of DNA for practical purposes. GMO’s or “Genetically Modified Organisms” are plants and animals that have been created through gene splicing techniques, or Genetic Engineering. Genetically modified plants and animals offer a technologically advanced way to potentially reduce the use of pesticides and herbicides, increase the nutritional context of foods, and even offer the possibility of feeding the worlds starving masses through the cultivation of larger, healthier crops, that are resistant to disease, drought, and natural predators. However, many in the scientific community are wary about possible side effects that may result from tampering with nature so drastically. They argue Genetically Modified Foods should be strictly controlled because they pose a serious risk to human health, and could have a negative impact on other species, as well as the planet. Although scholars have argued that Genetically Modified Foods and Organisms are safe, a careful examination suggests that GMO’s and GMF’s pose a much more serious threat to public health, the economy, the agricultural stability of the world, and ultimately the environment.…

    • 2412 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays