Human evolution took millions of years to develop our current species and to develop the technological sophistication we now have today. The possibilities of human advancement seem limitless and the only opposition we have is ourselves. Why should humanity limit itself over genetically modified organisms? Why do people think humans have gone to far on genetic engineering? Genetic modification is the process of altering the DNA in an organism’s genome. The novel Oryx and Crake is a book about the things that worry the author, and warns us what may come if society continues on this current path of using genetic modification. Much of the general public believes that genetic modification should actually be a concern because of dangerous health
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Genetic modification is a problem that we face in our society to this day not only through the modification of plants, food and animals but also genetic modification of humans. Throughout the novel of Margret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake she portrays genetic modification as a warning to her readers that genetic modification is not something to continue with as it might turn her novel into becoming less science fiction and more speculative fiction. When she talks about the OranInc farm in Oryx and crake and the genetically modified pigoons it makes a connection to today’s world of genetically modifying animals to increase their suitability for use in extensive mono-culture. As Atwood (2003) astutely observes, “the pigoon organs could be customized, using cells from individual human donors, and the organs were frozen until needed” (p.23). Atwood is talking about pigs that have been …show more content…
Though an accepted idea, it is still greatly controversial. This practice has allowed humans to provide greater nutrition to third world countries at low costs, and increase the quantity and quality of food overall. However, despite its current and potential function, genetically modified food has been heavily criticized because of its health and safety. One of the primary uses of GMOs in Oryx and Crake features the ChickieNobs, which were just starting production at the time when Jimmy visits Crake at Watson-Crick. The ChickieNobs are described as a “large bulblike object that seemed to be covered in stippled whitish-yellow skin. Out of it came twenty thick fleshy tubes, and at the end of each tube another bulb was growing” (Atwood 202). What Atwood is trying to portray is that genetically modified food in today society is really not far off from what is being said in the novel. In today’s world there are animals that are genetically modified to increase quantity over being naturally produced. Jimmy was horrified at the sight of the creature, but in terms of high producing food in a world with dwindling resources, the ChickieNob sounds ideal. When compared with traditional chicken farming (which is cruel, dangerous and bad for the environment), something like the ChickieNob would be the perfect solution. However, there is something about the unfamiliar and new that causes humans to feel
Genetic modification is a problem that we face in our society to this day not only through the modification of plants, food and animals but also genetic modification of humans. Throughout the novel of Margret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake she portrays genetic modification as a warning to her readers that genetic modification is not something to continue with as it might turn her novel into becoming less science fiction and more speculative fiction. When she talks about the OranInc farm in Oryx and crake and the genetically modified pigoons it makes a connection to today’s world of genetically modifying animals to increase their suitability for use in extensive mono-culture. As Atwood (2003) astutely observes, “the pigoon organs could be customized, using cells from individual human donors, and the organs were frozen until needed” (p.23). Atwood is talking about pigs that have been …show more content…
Though an accepted idea, it is still greatly controversial. This practice has allowed humans to provide greater nutrition to third world countries at low costs, and increase the quantity and quality of food overall. However, despite its current and potential function, genetically modified food has been heavily criticized because of its health and safety. One of the primary uses of GMOs in Oryx and Crake features the ChickieNobs, which were just starting production at the time when Jimmy visits Crake at Watson-Crick. The ChickieNobs are described as a “large bulblike object that seemed to be covered in stippled whitish-yellow skin. Out of it came twenty thick fleshy tubes, and at the end of each tube another bulb was growing” (Atwood 202). What Atwood is trying to portray is that genetically modified food in today society is really not far off from what is being said in the novel. In today’s world there are animals that are genetically modified to increase quantity over being naturally produced. Jimmy was horrified at the sight of the creature, but in terms of high producing food in a world with dwindling resources, the ChickieNob sounds ideal. When compared with traditional chicken farming (which is cruel, dangerous and bad for the environment), something like the ChickieNob would be the perfect solution. However, there is something about the unfamiliar and new that causes humans to feel