Is Genetic Engineering the Answer to Hunger?
Is Genetic Engineering the Answer to Hunger?
Introduction The controversial statement that genetic engineered food may be the solution to hunger in the world is gaining more and more interest by the media in today’s society. On the one hand, supporters of biotechnology believe that genetic engineered food ensures and sustains food security around the world as the population increases, but on the other hand, there are many concerns involved with genetically modified food. In fact, a lot of food that we eat on a daily basis contains genetically modified ingredients and usually without our knowledge. Yet, is genetic engineered food safe? Moreover, do we really need genetic modified food? Many researchers do not consider biotechnology the solution to hunger but they believe that poverty is the cause of famine in numerous countries. As a result, biotechnology raises various questions among citizens and farmers since there is the assumption that genetic engineered food is the key to eliminating global starvation (Genetically, 2010).
Genetically engineered food Before weighing the pros and cons of genetic engineered food, it is essential to understand what is genetic engineered food? “Genetic engineering is a laboratory technique used by scientists to change the DNA of living organisms” (What is genetically, 2010). Scientists have learned that there are ways of changing the structure of DNA in living organisms and build customized DNA. Genetic engineered food is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Traditionally, the enhancement of desired traits has been carried out through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can
Introduction The controversial statement that genetic engineered food may be the solution to hunger in the world is gaining more and more interest by the media in today’s society. On the one hand, supporters of biotechnology believe that genetic engineered food ensures and sustains food security around the world as the population increases, but on the other hand, there are many concerns involved with genetically modified food. In fact, a lot of food that we eat on a daily basis contains genetically modified ingredients and usually without our knowledge. Yet, is genetic engineered food safe? Moreover, do we really need genetic modified food? Many researchers do not consider biotechnology the solution to hunger but they believe that poverty is the cause of famine in numerous countries. As a result, biotechnology raises various questions among citizens and farmers since there is the assumption that genetic engineered food is the key to eliminating global starvation (Genetically, 2010).
Genetically engineered food Before weighing the pros and cons of genetic engineered food, it is essential to understand what is genetic engineered food? “Genetic engineering is a laboratory technique used by scientists to change the DNA of living organisms” (What is genetically, 2010). Scientists have learned that there are ways of changing the structure of DNA in living organisms and build customized DNA. Genetic engineered food is most commonly used to refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using the latest molecular biology techniques. These plants have been modified to enhance desired traits such as increased resistance to herbicides or improved nutritional content. Traditionally, the enhancement of desired traits has been carried out through breeding, but conventional plant breeding methods can be very time consuming and are often not very accurate. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, can
References: Brasher, Philip. (15 October). Gates says genetic engineering key to ending hunger. Gannett News Service. Retrieved July 19, 2010, from ProQuest Newsstand. Coleman, Gerald (2005). Is genetic engineering the answer to hunger? Retrieved July 30, 2010 from http://www.americamagazine.org/content/article.cfm?article_id=4027 Cunningham, W.P Easton, T. (2008). Taking sides: Clashing views on controversial environmental issues. (Custom 13th ed.).New York: McGraw-Hill. Genetically Engineered Food (2010). Retrieved July 19, 2010 from website http://www.globalissues.org/issue/188/genetically-engineered-food Hussain, Musammal (2010) Knight, Danielle (1998). It is a myth that world hunger is due to scarcity of food. Retrieved July 17, 2010 on website http://www.psrast.org/nowohu.htm Pinstrup-Andersen, Per (2009) Pusztai, Arpad (2001). Genetically Modified Foods: Are They a Risk to Human/Animal Health? Retrieved July 30, 2010 from http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/pusztai.html The Use of 'Genetically Modified Food Plants ' to Combat Hunger in the World (2004) What is Genetic Engineering? (2010). Retrieved July 19, 2010 from website http://www.safe-food.org/-issue/ge.html Whitman B., Deborah (2000) Retrieved July 18, 2010 from website: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/overview.php