Genetically modified crop plants
Genetically modified crops are considered to be plants which have been modified using genetic engineering to alter their DNA. This is used to introduce a new trait to the plant which doesn’t occur naturally such as resistance to certain diseases, insects, environmental conditions, decreases the likelihood of spoiling, increases resistance to herbicides and/or pesticides, or improve the overall crop. Unlike cross fertilization process, genes that have been genetically modified are inserted directly into the DNA of the seed. Some may believe this could have unintended environmental and health concerns and in their opinion they are not being fully addressed (Key, S 2008). Gene transfer is a bioengineering process …show more content…
For example, an engineered gene may cause a genetically modified plant to become toxic to wildlife. However, the most damaging impact of a genetically modified plant in agriculture is pesticide resistance. Millions of acres of farmland within the United States are now infested by weeds that have become resistant to the herbicide glyphosate. And this issue is not confined to herbicides: recent reports suggest a growing problem of corn rootworms resistant to the insecticide Bt, which some corn varieties have been engineered to produce (GreenFacts.org …show more content…
Farmers also expect, as adoption of GM seeds increases, the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides (and the costs associated with their application) will decrease. Also farmers ' profits increase as they adopt GM seeds. The ERS study found that there is a statistically significant relationship between an increase in the use of GM seeds and an increase in net returns from farming operations in most cases. For example, the service found that, GM soybean crops produced a net value of $208.42 per planted acre, while other crops produced a value of $191.56 per planted acre. The service also found a "significant increase" in net returns for herbicide-tolerant cotton crops and Bt cotton crops (USDA 2014). One of the biggest objections to genetically modified foods is their unintended potential for harm to those who consume the crops. Some genetically modified foods contain genes that increase resistance to certain antibiotics. If this property were transferred to a person eating the food, antibiotics might not have the usual effects against infection. The cross contamination of nearby plants with pollen from genetically modified crops could transfer certain genes from one plant type to
Genetically modified crops are considered to be plants which have been modified using genetic engineering to alter their DNA. This is used to introduce a new trait to the plant which doesn’t occur naturally such as resistance to certain diseases, insects, environmental conditions, decreases the likelihood of spoiling, increases resistance to herbicides and/or pesticides, or improve the overall crop. Unlike cross fertilization process, genes that have been genetically modified are inserted directly into the DNA of the seed. Some may believe this could have unintended environmental and health concerns and in their opinion they are not being fully addressed (Key, S 2008). Gene transfer is a bioengineering process …show more content…
For example, an engineered gene may cause a genetically modified plant to become toxic to wildlife. However, the most damaging impact of a genetically modified plant in agriculture is pesticide resistance. Millions of acres of farmland within the United States are now infested by weeds that have become resistant to the herbicide glyphosate. And this issue is not confined to herbicides: recent reports suggest a growing problem of corn rootworms resistant to the insecticide Bt, which some corn varieties have been engineered to produce (GreenFacts.org …show more content…
Farmers also expect, as adoption of GM seeds increases, the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides (and the costs associated with their application) will decrease. Also farmers ' profits increase as they adopt GM seeds. The ERS study found that there is a statistically significant relationship between an increase in the use of GM seeds and an increase in net returns from farming operations in most cases. For example, the service found that, GM soybean crops produced a net value of $208.42 per planted acre, while other crops produced a value of $191.56 per planted acre. The service also found a "significant increase" in net returns for herbicide-tolerant cotton crops and Bt cotton crops (USDA 2014). One of the biggest objections to genetically modified foods is their unintended potential for harm to those who consume the crops. Some genetically modified foods contain genes that increase resistance to certain antibiotics. If this property were transferred to a person eating the food, antibiotics might not have the usual effects against infection. The cross contamination of nearby plants with pollen from genetically modified crops could transfer certain genes from one plant type to