GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Genetically modified foods refer to plants which are produced for both animal and human consumption through the use of modern molecular biology techniques. The plants have been changed in the laboratory to enhance the preferred features like better nutritional content or raise resistance to herbicides (Arvanitoyannis and Krystallis, 2005). The modification of the desired features has traditionally been carried out through breeding, but some of the breeding methods like conventional plant breeding consume a lot of time. Genetic engineering can modify plants which have exactly the desired features very fast and accurately.
Genetic engineering is accepted and a necessary practice in biotechnology. However, its use in …show more content…
In the United States this figure reaches 60%. (Sanderson, 2007) Genetic engineering appeared in 1972 as a new direction in molecular biology. The commercial use of genetically modified plants began in 1996. Since that time, the acreage of transgenic crops in the United States has increased 25 times in the period from 1996-2000 (“Worldwatch Institute” 2016).
Many scientists see genetic engineering as a means of solving global food problems, especially in developing countries. Using the new biotechnologies, it is also possible to obtain cheap pharmaceutical drugs. The growth of genetic diversity may increase the stability of the new species with various pets, diseases, changes in habitat and climate. In many countries, there are so-called “banks of plants” that try to preserve every blade of grass, and seeds since it is possible that they will play an even greater role in solving the food problem in the future (Carter, Moschini, & Sheldon, …show more content…
Genetically modified foods contain new proteins that can cause allergic reactions in people, genetically modified plants and animals may interbreed with natural populations, creating environmental problems, such as too rapid population growth, species extinction, the imbalance between the species in nature and so on. GMOs have not been adequately tested. Some tests of GMOs took place for ninety days, which would not be sufficient to prove future security for people within years or even generations. Studies on rats have shown that GMOs can be dangerous. For instance, animals that were fed genetically modified soy and corn often developed problems with the liver and kidneys. Although the results of the tests cannot be directly transferred to humans, it can be concluded that GMOs can have a surprising impact on animals. Since genetically modified foods are modified by using viruses and bacteria, they could possibly cause new diseases to human health. GMOs can lower the level of biodiversity by removing the pest that is harmful to crops, we could also be removing a food source to another species. Genetically Modified plants can increase the environmental risk. The GMOs seeds are dispersed in various fields. Cross-pollination leads to the formation of super weeds which are herbicide resistant, thus threatening other plants including the wild
Genetically modified foods refer to plants which are produced for both animal and human consumption through the use of modern molecular biology techniques. The plants have been changed in the laboratory to enhance the preferred features like better nutritional content or raise resistance to herbicides (Arvanitoyannis and Krystallis, 2005). The modification of the desired features has traditionally been carried out through breeding, but some of the breeding methods like conventional plant breeding consume a lot of time. Genetic engineering can modify plants which have exactly the desired features very fast and accurately.
Genetic engineering is accepted and a necessary practice in biotechnology. However, its use in …show more content…
In the United States this figure reaches 60%. (Sanderson, 2007) Genetic engineering appeared in 1972 as a new direction in molecular biology. The commercial use of genetically modified plants began in 1996. Since that time, the acreage of transgenic crops in the United States has increased 25 times in the period from 1996-2000 (“Worldwatch Institute” 2016).
Many scientists see genetic engineering as a means of solving global food problems, especially in developing countries. Using the new biotechnologies, it is also possible to obtain cheap pharmaceutical drugs. The growth of genetic diversity may increase the stability of the new species with various pets, diseases, changes in habitat and climate. In many countries, there are so-called “banks of plants” that try to preserve every blade of grass, and seeds since it is possible that they will play an even greater role in solving the food problem in the future (Carter, Moschini, & Sheldon, …show more content…
Genetically modified foods contain new proteins that can cause allergic reactions in people, genetically modified plants and animals may interbreed with natural populations, creating environmental problems, such as too rapid population growth, species extinction, the imbalance between the species in nature and so on. GMOs have not been adequately tested. Some tests of GMOs took place for ninety days, which would not be sufficient to prove future security for people within years or even generations. Studies on rats have shown that GMOs can be dangerous. For instance, animals that were fed genetically modified soy and corn often developed problems with the liver and kidneys. Although the results of the tests cannot be directly transferred to humans, it can be concluded that GMOs can have a surprising impact on animals. Since genetically modified foods are modified by using viruses and bacteria, they could possibly cause new diseases to human health. GMOs can lower the level of biodiversity by removing the pest that is harmful to crops, we could also be removing a food source to another species. Genetically Modified plants can increase the environmental risk. The GMOs seeds are dispersed in various fields. Cross-pollination leads to the formation of super weeds which are herbicide resistant, thus threatening other plants including the wild