Are Gm Foods a Good Idea
Is GM food a good idea?
In this case study I shall be considering whether GM foods are a good idea and will also be weighing up the pros and cons of the matter. I shall explain and comment on such questions as: what does GM stand for? What is GM food? How is GM food made? Why do we need it? Is there an alternative? And explain the scientific ideas behind it. My evidence shall be supplemented by diagrams and data to support various views. Finally I shall provide my own opinion.
GM stands for genetically modified food. In the past, plants have been improved by breeding them with other, better plants - a natural process called selective breading. There have been angry debates between scientists and campaigners about whether GM foods are safe or not. Campaigners against GM foods say: GM foods can damage your health - research showed that rats eating them did not grow properly. New diseases could also be created by accident. Different species are being mixed up - to give a tomato a more reddish colour, it may be given colour by a very red fish, which seems to be against nature. Because GM foods are new, there has not been any long-term testing to see if they are dangerous to humans. People often use the example of the genetically modified tomato. Tomatoes are used in a lot of foods, but they rot quickly and don't always taste nice. So GM tomatoes have been created which last longer, look redder and taste better. Scientists argue GM technology is the future of food. They say plants can be bred to fight off weeds and pests, so crops are never spoiled. We can then produce more food, like rice, and feed the world's starving people. Food could also be cheaper because there would be more of it. GM crops have been grown on a few farms in Britain, as an experiment and the government has now said that GM maize can be grown in the UK. But people have become so worried about GM foods that most of the big supermarkets have banned them. Most items should say on the label
In this case study I shall be considering whether GM foods are a good idea and will also be weighing up the pros and cons of the matter. I shall explain and comment on such questions as: what does GM stand for? What is GM food? How is GM food made? Why do we need it? Is there an alternative? And explain the scientific ideas behind it. My evidence shall be supplemented by diagrams and data to support various views. Finally I shall provide my own opinion.
GM stands for genetically modified food. In the past, plants have been improved by breeding them with other, better plants - a natural process called selective breading. There have been angry debates between scientists and campaigners about whether GM foods are safe or not. Campaigners against GM foods say: GM foods can damage your health - research showed that rats eating them did not grow properly. New diseases could also be created by accident. Different species are being mixed up - to give a tomato a more reddish colour, it may be given colour by a very red fish, which seems to be against nature. Because GM foods are new, there has not been any long-term testing to see if they are dangerous to humans. People often use the example of the genetically modified tomato. Tomatoes are used in a lot of foods, but they rot quickly and don't always taste nice. So GM tomatoes have been created which last longer, look redder and taste better. Scientists argue GM technology is the future of food. They say plants can be bred to fight off weeds and pests, so crops are never spoiled. We can then produce more food, like rice, and feed the world's starving people. Food could also be cheaper because there would be more of it. GM crops have been grown on a few farms in Britain, as an experiment and the government has now said that GM maize can be grown in the UK. But people have become so worried about GM foods that most of the big supermarkets have banned them. Most items should say on the label