In the United States approximately 70% of all processed food contain at least one genetically modified ingredient. Due to the widespread of genetically modified (GM) crops,, countries across the world are debating whether GM crops should be used for human consumption. Genetic modification is an alteration of genetic information to make them capable of producing new substances or performing new functions. A gene is a unit of hereditary material. In the United States over half of the corn grown is genetically modified, however, eight European Union have banned genetically modified crops. Many developing countries refuse to import genetically modified crops due to other nations objections. Debate is centered around whether GM crops are more
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According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, scientists working to add more nutrients to these modified crops may accidentally cause antinutritional factors such as allergens to arise in the new crop. An example of this is in a generation of the golden rice there was an increase in the protein prolamin, which can be an allergen. This is a risk because although they may be adding more nutrients, more people may be having adverse reactions towards it. Another risk is that some farmers are worried that pollen from fields growing GM crops may be carried by the wind and pollinating their non-GM crops. This can cause the next generation to contain the modified gene. This can have a negative impact on the farmers reputation if their marketed non-GM crops were discovered to contain genetic modifications. The GM genes may also cause adverse reactions to the next generation of non-GM crops, such as producing more allergens. This arguments provides both positions of the argument and examples for each position. She also provides specific examples and statistics that show successes and failures. This is a strength because they provide specific evidence that can be confirmed. However, a weakness is Chen uses data from 2006 which is somewhat outdated for scientific data, due to science’s tentative and dynamic nature. Although Chen does not directly have the knowledge and ability to see regarding Gm crops, she refers to and uses information from prestigious organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Livestrong is generally known for accurate reviews, except there have been some concerns of
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, scientists working to add more nutrients to these modified crops may accidentally cause antinutritional factors such as allergens to arise in the new crop. An example of this is in a generation of the golden rice there was an increase in the protein prolamin, which can be an allergen. This is a risk because although they may be adding more nutrients, more people may be having adverse reactions towards it. Another risk is that some farmers are worried that pollen from fields growing GM crops may be carried by the wind and pollinating their non-GM crops. This can cause the next generation to contain the modified gene. This can have a negative impact on the farmers reputation if their marketed non-GM crops were discovered to contain genetic modifications. The GM genes may also cause adverse reactions to the next generation of non-GM crops, such as producing more allergens. This arguments provides both positions of the argument and examples for each position. She also provides specific examples and statistics that show successes and failures. This is a strength because they provide specific evidence that can be confirmed. However, a weakness is Chen uses data from 2006 which is somewhat outdated for scientific data, due to science’s tentative and dynamic nature. Although Chen does not directly have the knowledge and ability to see regarding Gm crops, she refers to and uses information from prestigious organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and the United States Department of Agriculture. Livestrong is generally known for accurate reviews, except there have been some concerns of