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Genetic Engineering

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Genetic Engineering
“Genetic Engineering”

Abstract

This paper is to discuss the pros and cons of genetic engineering. And whether genetic engineering can end world hunger?
Keywords: genetic, engineering, crops, pros, cons, world, hunger, technology, altered, tolerated, drought Genetic engineering the deliberate modification of the characteristics of an organism by manipulating its genetic material (Bensel, 2011). Genetically modified foods (GM foods or GMO foods) are foods derived from genetically modified organisms, (GMOs). Genetically modified organisms have had specific changes introduced into their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. These techniques are much more precise than mutagenesis (mutation breeding) where an organism is exposed to radiation or chemicals to create a non-specific but stable change. Other techniques by which humans modify food organisms include selective breeding; plant breeding, and animal breeding, and somaclonal variation. GM foods were first put on the market in the early 1990s. Genetic engineering of the human food supply is a highly contentious issue, with credentialed scientists arguing on each side. Most likely the controversy will continue. The effort by biotech companies to genetically modify food will continue to increase and resistance by consumers to genetically modified food will continue to grow. The science of indirectly manipulating an organism 's genes using the techniques like molecular cloning and transformation to alter the structure and nature of genes is called genetic engineering. Genetic engineering can bring about a great amount of transformations in the characteristics of an organism by the manipulation of DNA, which is like the code inscribed in every cell determining how it functions (2011). With anything else there are pros and cons to genetic engineering. Genetic engineering is a valuable new technology that can develop more plentiful and nutritious foods, with great potential benefits for humanity



References: UK Government Science Review First Report, Prepared by the GM Science Review panel (July 2003).http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_food Genetic Engineering. 2011. Accessed from http://www.rag.org.au/baa/pros+cons.htm. Retrieved on 25 September Genetic Engineering and World Hunger. Accessed from http://www.globalissues.org/issue/188/genetically-engineered-food. Retrieved on 25 september 2011 The Future of Food: The DNA Solution. 2011. Accessed from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=24&sid=215413e1-d69b-4cf1-b49be9f76457532%40sessionmgr12&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLGNwaWQmY3VzdGlkPXM4ODU2ODk3JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3Qt bGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=48846566. Retrieved on 26 September 2011. Gurdial Singh Nijar, Liability and Compensation in a Biosafety Protocol, Third World Network (228 Macalister Road, 10400 Penang, MALAYSIA), 1997. Are genetically altered food the answer to world hunger? Accessed from http://www.earthisland.org/journal/index.php/eij/article/are_genetically_altered_foods_the_answer_to_world_hunger/ Retrieved on 24 September 2011

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