Education; Americans are GMO Lab Rats
Genetic modification during infancy, animal testing, and vaccines all very controversial and talked about biomedical health issues. Recently the American public has heard a great deal about these topic during the presidential election (Despin). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) directly affect every American citizen daily. So why is it that the controversial topic of food modification and gene manipulation not discussed more? Twenty-six countries around as of 2016 have banned GMO’s and sixty-one countries require GM labeling. Currently the United States is not a part of this statistics despite the fact that over seventy percent of foods in grocery are genetically modified. Many bills have tried to require …show more content…
He wanted to find out what the average American citizen knew about GMOs and if that information was scientifically accurate. Hallman’s study found that two- thirds or sixty-seven percent of Americans never talked about GMOs, nor could not define them, or state what goods contained GMOs (Hallman). Hallman was able to conclude that “too few Americans know enough about the issues involved regarding GMOs to form any kind of informed opinion about them”. Ultimately, Hallman’s study proved that Americans are uneducated about genetically modified …show more content…
According to the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) a genetically modified organism (GMO) “is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal” (GMO Education). Since GMOs are the result of a transfer of genes the scientific communities refer to them as “transgenic” organisms. GMOs can also be referred to as Genetically Modified (GM) or Genetically Engineered (GE). In fact, GM foods were not introduced to the food scene until the 1990s. However, humans have been changing and modifying genes for centuries. Farmers for years have been genetically cultivating plant and seed to have the most desirable trait, in order to yield the most fruitful harvest. Genes such as pest resistance, taste, color, size, and shape are the most “desirable” and sought after. (Gifford). However, Gregory Mendel was the first to experimented with crossing genes and DNA way back in the 1850s. However, science has come a long way from “playing around with pea shoots” (Hiatt). Gregory proved that hybridization of genetic compounds was possible. The possibility of hybrid breeding sparked the start of genetic engineering and modification. Scientists are now able to manipulate any plant to yield the most “desirable” or “perfect” crop (Gifford). The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) claim that by the end
Genetic modification during infancy, animal testing, and vaccines all very controversial and talked about biomedical health issues. Recently the American public has heard a great deal about these topic during the presidential election (Despin). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) directly affect every American citizen daily. So why is it that the controversial topic of food modification and gene manipulation not discussed more? Twenty-six countries around as of 2016 have banned GMO’s and sixty-one countries require GM labeling. Currently the United States is not a part of this statistics despite the fact that over seventy percent of foods in grocery are genetically modified. Many bills have tried to require …show more content…
He wanted to find out what the average American citizen knew about GMOs and if that information was scientifically accurate. Hallman’s study found that two- thirds or sixty-seven percent of Americans never talked about GMOs, nor could not define them, or state what goods contained GMOs (Hallman). Hallman was able to conclude that “too few Americans know enough about the issues involved regarding GMOs to form any kind of informed opinion about them”. Ultimately, Hallman’s study proved that Americans are uneducated about genetically modified …show more content…
According to the Institute for Responsible Technology (IRT) a genetically modified organism (GMO) “is the result of a laboratory process where genes from the DNA of one species are extracted and artificially forced into the genes of an unrelated plant or animal” (GMO Education). Since GMOs are the result of a transfer of genes the scientific communities refer to them as “transgenic” organisms. GMOs can also be referred to as Genetically Modified (GM) or Genetically Engineered (GE). In fact, GM foods were not introduced to the food scene until the 1990s. However, humans have been changing and modifying genes for centuries. Farmers for years have been genetically cultivating plant and seed to have the most desirable trait, in order to yield the most fruitful harvest. Genes such as pest resistance, taste, color, size, and shape are the most “desirable” and sought after. (Gifford). However, Gregory Mendel was the first to experimented with crossing genes and DNA way back in the 1850s. However, science has come a long way from “playing around with pea shoots” (Hiatt). Gregory proved that hybridization of genetic compounds was possible. The possibility of hybrid breeding sparked the start of genetic engineering and modification. Scientists are now able to manipulate any plant to yield the most “desirable” or “perfect” crop (Gifford). The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) claim that by the end