Genetically Modified Organisms Research

Genetically modified organisms, better known as GMOs, have been a controversial topic that has caused an uproar among the population. The researcher’s interest pertaining to this topic was peaked approximately one year ago during a biotechnology lecture. Throughout this lecture Mrs. Rausch, a former biotechnologist, explained the fundamental concepts and processes of making genetically modified organisms. Not only has this lecture shaped the researcher’s bias, but his extensive research for various projects have also. An important topic like genetically modifying organisms should not be taken lightly, but rather researched and experimented with in order to form a knowledgeable and credible opinion. GMOs have unlimited potential to change the …show more content…
Leading ecologists “are interested in the applications of plants that have been genetically engineered (modified) to help preserve several endangered species” (Ellyn 313). Genetically modifying organisms can save entire ecosystems. If something like a plant, animal, or insect in an ecosystem goes extinct and or dies, anything higher in the food chain has nothing to prey on causing the superior species to die out, creating a chain effect of species dying out. Next, GMOs such as “Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT) Corn can help eliminate the application of chemical pesticides” (Northern Canola Growers Association 1). If pesticide application decreased and or stopped altogether, and produce was organic, minus the GMO aspect, produce would be deemed one hundred percent safe to eat. People who spray the fields with pesticides are in hazards suits, yet the consumers eat the collected harvest with traces of pesticides still on their food. If the harvest is healthier, humans will have a healthier diet, creating a better standard of living. Lastly, the ability to insert genes into plants that “allow prosperity during extreme cold and excessive heat can assist in crop yield during environmental shifts” (Bentham Science Publishers 1). Currently, America is experiencing a shift in their weather patterns, causing farmer’s crops to fluctuate greatly. If these crops were inserted with specific genes …show more content…
The earliest form can be traced back to Native Americans,pre-imperialism. The Natives systematically grew corn, beans and squash, interlaced together. This system was very productive and valuable because “the maize provided a structure for the beans to climb, eliminating the need for poles. The beans provided the nitrogen for the soil that the other plants used, and the squash dispersed along the ground, blocking the sunlight,which helped prevent the establishment of weeds” (Wikipedia 1). The Natives used different organisms to mutually benefit the crop yield. This system can be looked at as the premature stages of the field of biotechnology. The next leap throughout the history of biotechnology is a process called artificial selection. Artificial selection is the process of “selecting and breeding individuals (organisms) that possess desired traits” ( Campbell Jane 458). Early forms of artificial selection relate with Britain. During the eighteen hundreds, throughout Britain,bird feathers became a fashion trend. The larger the bird feather (usually attached to a head covering of some sort) the more socially accepted the person was. Due to this bizarre vogue people began to breed pigeons who specifically had the longest feathers, creating offspring with socially superior feathers. The next step in this slow and tedious progression is the modern day process of genetically modifying organisms via