A Brief Note On The Pros And Cons Of Biotechnology

Improved Essays
Modern biotechnology is truly astonishing; the technology has extended our carrying capacity far beyond our limits by eliminating devastating diseases, provided life saving pharmaceuticals, as well as solutions for agriculture sustainability for a population expecting to reach 9.5 billion individuals by 2050. Agriculture sustainability is a global concern, which affects each organism on this planet. Hence, as an advanced society we must invest on our current technologies to provide food security for the overwhelming number of people expected without exhausting our agricultural land and disturbing our ecological system.
Biotechnology has provided a customized solution for agriculture sustainability, genetically modified organisms (GMO). Genetic
…show more content…
Although, big corporations such as Monsanto’s have given this technology an undesirable name society should not allow the cooperation to restrict technology from moving forward for providing a better future. Therefore, genetically modified plants advance the protection of the environment, provide improved food quality and safety, and provide food security for the growing population.
Former agriculture systems have destroyed the biological system of the earth. Agriculture is the main driver for exponential loss in biodiversity of organisms, natural resources and a contributor to green house gases. The devastating environmental impacts from agriculture derive from deforestation as well as pesticides polluting the soil and water. Therefore, genetically modified plants are capable of further reducing agricultural impacts of the environment and have already improved our environment by decreasing pesticide use, fuel consumption and the amount of land devoted to agriculture. For example, scientist have introduced a gene from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt toxin), in corn, that express a protein that is toxic to corn insects, but is

Related Documents

  • Superior Essays

    Pros And Cons Of GMO

    • 1705 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Do The Pros of GMO’s outweigh the Cons? Since the introduction on the genetically modified organism in the mid to late 1990’s many people have debated on their economic and environmental impact, as well as their safety for human consumption. Many companies like Monsanto and Dow Agro-science that produce these bioengineered foods have conducted research on the topics of environmental and economic benefits as well as the safety of GMO foods. The results of the studies conclude that genetically modified foods are safe, economically beneficial, environmentally sensible, and have no danger to the people that consume them.…

    • 1705 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Genetic Roulette Genetically Modified Organisms, otherwise known as GMO’s, could potentially stop world hunger; however, the risks outweigh the greater good. The mixing of genetic material can raise the risks of allergic reactions to foods. Furthermore, tests have shown that many hazards and medical complications come from consuming genetically modified foods. In addition, genetically modified foods do not only affect foods like tomatoes but meats as well. Yes, Genetically Modified Organisms come in larger harvests, provide bigger than average results and are pesticide resistant; however, the risks that come with consumption of GMOs are too dangerous.…

    • 1203 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Currently, technology is advancing and with that, comes a gain in knowledge and in freedom, as we now have access to methods such as genetically modifying food and modifying babies. This is due to genetic engineering and biotechnology. Genetic engineering is the modification done to organisms to add new traits through the manual addition of DNA. It is done by removing certain genes to replace them with other to affect a certain trait. This can be used in various positive ways, such as to help those with type 1 diabetes by injecting insulin, as they have a deficiency in insulin.…

    • 112 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Great Essays

    Introduction Genetically modified foods have become a major concern and have caused controversy regarding both their health and environmental effects (2). ' Using modern techniques of genetic engineering, it is possible to introduce specific genetic material derived from any species of plant, animal, or microorganism, or even a synthetic material, into different species of plant' (Journal 1) This allows a desired trait to be enhanced and reproduced. (3) (4) ' The resulting plants are commonly known as genetically modified (GM) plants; when used as food sources, they are known as GM foods.'…

    • 1492 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Monsanto Research Papers

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages

    It is common to see farmers watching their fields with the eye of a hawk to ensure the best crop if they can help it. This is due to the significant yield loss they suffer every year, unfortunately resulting in net loss when calculating their profits. Through GMOs this is no longer a great worry, by genetically modifying common plants to resist certain degrading substances means there are more chances to receive a hearty harvest. Based on research from Monsanto, the leading producer of GMOs, “GM crops can improve yield for farmers, reduce draws on natural resources and fossil fuels and provide natural benefits.” (Lallanilla).…

    • 476 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Ever since Monsanto introduced its Roundup Ready seed in the 1990’s there has been a big debate about whether they are safe and do the advantages of the outweigh the disadvantages. It has been proven in over 2000 independent studies that GMO’s are in fact safe according to the “Genetic Literacy Project”. It is evident by now that not only are the GM crops safe, but save labor, money, and produce higher quality higher yielding plants. The accusation that genetic modifying has not been around long enough for us to fully understand it is ridiculous.…

    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    One product from Monsanto that has varying ethical aspects from various stakeholder viewpoints is its genetically modified sweet corn. Consumers of the products resulting from genetically modified plants are major stakeholders for Monsanto, and many of these consumers voice little concern for potential or theoretical issues involving genetically modified organisms. However, there is a growing and significant number of these consumers that are voicing concerns regarding potential health and environment impact that genetically modified foods and plants may have. While breeding plants for specific traits has been utilized for extensive periods of time, the artificial implantation of specific genetic traits has only recently been available as technology…

    • 578 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Arguments Against Gmo

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Permitting Genetically Modified Organisms The brilliant inventor Thomas Edison once said “Until a man duplicates a blade of grass, Nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge” (qtd. in Sack). Man cannot yet replicate a blade of grass, but can modify organisms to enhance their nutritional output. In a recent report it was unveiled that the “181.5 million hectares of gmos were planted in 2014” (James).…

    • 1142 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Gmo Benefits

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Rachel Binder English 9, 3 Hardy December 2016 The Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms in Agriculture For centuries, farmers used generation's worth of knowledge to breed seeds for their most desireable traits. Today, 90 percent of all corn, soybean, canola and sugar crops are altered either in the laboratory in ways that cannot be achieved with traditional farming techniques or inserted with genetic material, to exhibit traits that withstand drought and soil erosion . Many argue that GMO usage harms the environment and human health, while others believe that GMO usage provides pest and drought resistance for crops, and allows for third world countries to have sustainable farming techniques with greater nutrition that traditional farming…

    • 759 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Mamar Tavasol Word Count:799 Build-a-Better-Baby Workshop In the following paper, I will be arguing that expanding people’s autonomy in making decisions on advancements in biotechnology directly affecting them or their children is not an unethical act. In the prompt, the case of Jasmine and Katarina, a same-sex couple living in the future that is interested in having a child is presented.…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Pro GMOs Introduction In 1996, Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) were presented to people. Since then there have been vivid disputes about usefulness and safety of GMOs. Important question here is whether these genetically modified organisms are dangerous to people’s health and environment. Another issue is whether the humankind needs GMO to survive food crisis or whether it can do so without intervening the nature.…

    • 1309 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Genetically modified organism (GMO), are plants that have been scientifically altered to accomplish a specific reason. There are numerous reasons why they were created, which include but are not limited to, eliminating the need for pesticides through altering the plants DNA to be resistant towards insects, allowing plants to grow in drought like conditions saving the need for water which has cost benefits and saves a precious resource for the human population in those conditions, increasing the size of crops. Those are a few of the reasons behind GMO’s and their creation, within this essay we will dive deeper into the reasons why they were created. Are GMO’s necessary for survival, do they have the potential to and world hunger, can they withstand all climates?…

    • 450 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Genetically modified crops and herbicides used to grow them harm animals and ecosystems. For instance, GMOs reduce “biodiversity, pollute water resources, and are unsustainable” (10 Reasons to Avoid GMOs 2). One example is the 50% population drop of monarch butterflies in the US. Research shows that this is because of the use of the Roundup herbicide. Because of GM crop seeds cross pollination, farmers who choose to grow organic and non-GMO crops “struggle to keep their crops pure” (10 Reasons to Avoid GMOs 1).…

    • 851 Words
    • 4 Pages
    • 5 Works Cited
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    This is especially true for technologies that affect our food supply. It is important when evaluating the threat of such risks to distinguish the difference between actual potential risks and scare-stories spread by misinformation, misinterpretation, or sensationalism. As such, in my summary of the benefits and risks of genetically modifying crop species I will ignore those risks and worries that have been proven to be…

    • 1216 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    10. The ethical concerns or fears raised by many people have to do with the introduction of a different gene into another organism. The main problem is that the introduced gene may be unacceptable to an individual’s culture, religion, belief or health. In fact, it has been confirmed that certain allergy causing compounds can be introduced in genetically modified (GM) foods and the nutritional compositions.…

    • 1208 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays