Six Body Paragraphs
Genetically modified organisms have not been around for years and years, but have still accumulated a history and have rapidly spread around the world. “The first GM crops were commercialized by China in the early 1990’s” (Nelson 3) and have grown into a massive industry since then. From 1996 to 2006 the amount of acreage planted with GM crops across the globe increased from 1.7 to 102 million hectares (Kriepe 4) and is still on the rise. The massive growth of this industry, however, has slowed mainly because of the European rejection of GM foods, as well as other smaller countries. Most consumers throughout Europe fear GM foods, and many pro-GM food people contribute this to its representation. A study in Vienna …show more content…
Paul Koberstein mentions several instances when scientists studying the safety of genetically modified organisms have suffered harsh and aggressive criticism. Biotech companies criticize, humiliate, scare, and attack, researchers who uncover negative information on the genetically modified organisms they produce or distribute. “Hector Valenzuela, a professor of organic farming at the University of Hawaii, publically asserted that for more than a decade he has been forced to tolerate a climate of ‘bigotry, retaliation, and hostility’ at his job for speaking out about the potential risks of genetic engineering” (Koberstein 2). Stories such as this are not uncommon when related to GM products. Chen-Yu Zhang, a Chinese scientist, lead an extraordinary research which discovered that plants with the insecticide RNAi can enter the blood stream and increase the risk of heart attacks when eaten by humans (Koberstein). This shocking discovery was not examined or quickly publicized, but immediately rebutted and denounced under the accusation of the contamination of lab equipment by the biotech industry. Similar experiments were later conducted and similar results were found, however any reference to the Zhang research is immediately denounced and berated. This cover up of science directly related to public, human health is a …show more content…
The unpredictability of genetically altered crops is problematic, mainly because it is the root of many other issues. Such high unpredictability can be dangerous and costly if distributed without the proper testing. Gerald Nelson reports crops such as GM cotton and soybeans were rushed to market without the proper testing, and failed. “As a result of the losses suffered, compensation was paid to farmers in (at least) Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas (Lambrecht, 1998 and Hansen, 2000)” (Nelson 1999). The large-scale failure of these genetically altered plants brings to light the unpredictability that can lead to greater
Genetically modified organisms have not been around for years and years, but have still accumulated a history and have rapidly spread around the world. “The first GM crops were commercialized by China in the early 1990’s” (Nelson 3) and have grown into a massive industry since then. From 1996 to 2006 the amount of acreage planted with GM crops across the globe increased from 1.7 to 102 million hectares (Kriepe 4) and is still on the rise. The massive growth of this industry, however, has slowed mainly because of the European rejection of GM foods, as well as other smaller countries. Most consumers throughout Europe fear GM foods, and many pro-GM food people contribute this to its representation. A study in Vienna …show more content…
Paul Koberstein mentions several instances when scientists studying the safety of genetically modified organisms have suffered harsh and aggressive criticism. Biotech companies criticize, humiliate, scare, and attack, researchers who uncover negative information on the genetically modified organisms they produce or distribute. “Hector Valenzuela, a professor of organic farming at the University of Hawaii, publically asserted that for more than a decade he has been forced to tolerate a climate of ‘bigotry, retaliation, and hostility’ at his job for speaking out about the potential risks of genetic engineering” (Koberstein 2). Stories such as this are not uncommon when related to GM products. Chen-Yu Zhang, a Chinese scientist, lead an extraordinary research which discovered that plants with the insecticide RNAi can enter the blood stream and increase the risk of heart attacks when eaten by humans (Koberstein). This shocking discovery was not examined or quickly publicized, but immediately rebutted and denounced under the accusation of the contamination of lab equipment by the biotech industry. Similar experiments were later conducted and similar results were found, however any reference to the Zhang research is immediately denounced and berated. This cover up of science directly related to public, human health is a …show more content…
The unpredictability of genetically altered crops is problematic, mainly because it is the root of many other issues. Such high unpredictability can be dangerous and costly if distributed without the proper testing. Gerald Nelson reports crops such as GM cotton and soybeans were rushed to market without the proper testing, and failed. “As a result of the losses suffered, compensation was paid to farmers in (at least) Mississippi, Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Texas (Lambrecht, 1998 and Hansen, 2000)” (Nelson 1999). The large-scale failure of these genetically altered plants brings to light the unpredictability that can lead to greater