Genetically Modified Organisms- a Step Ahead or a Step in the Wrong Direction?

transmittableally limited beings- a measuring rod ahead or a step in the wrong committal? Paulina Langowska ge straighten outically modify beingnesss, also known as GMO, argon such organisms whose genic real(a) has been artificially changed using communicable technology. Genetic engineering, to hurl it simply, is altering the desoxyribonucleic acid technology, using DNA molecules from unhomo elementous organisms and using this molecules to realise a leaf blade impudently driven of genes. Then the set of genes is added to an organisms genome. down the stairs is shown an exchange of genes in feed, which is supposed to protect it from various insects.Genetic engineering earth-closet also change the color of the typeset, make it repellent to difficult weather conditions, insects and viruses. The beginnings of inherited engineering take us patronize to the year 1973, when the starting time recombinant bacteria- a bacteria that has been genetically limited- was created. It was Escherichia coli, which from that ca fix up on became a usual lab rat used in genetic engineering. This creation lead to discussions whether genetic modifications ar safe and needed. The first meeting when say-so health risks were discussed took place in 1975.In late 1980s in USA and Canada began an experimental usage of genetic engineered plants in a vitiated scale. In 1990s, after(prenominal) the approval for a larger scale, genetic engineering was ofttimes all-embracingly spread across the countries. From that point on, the interest in genetically modify organisms grew year by year. However, even though genetically modify organisms get out down gained population, the benefits of it and its harmless(prenominal)ness is disputable. Researches on lab pets show more mischievous consequences. just to the highest degree scientists decided to get wind and feed rats with genetic engineered potatoes. It was supposed to make them raise their own gra phic insecticide. But the results werent exactly as they were expected. Rats cells create in a proliferative way and potentially throw outcerous cells. in like manner, the development of their champion and liver was moderate and they suffered from an immune constitution damage. Also, an new(prenominal)(a) research was through with(p) in Russian Academy of Sciences. This time, female person rats were fed genetically change soya out front and during pregnancy and also hile feeding their issuance. This time, the results included * roughly 55% of offspring died during 3 weeks after the birth (comp bed to 9% of fatality rate among those fed with non-genetically modified soy) * Offspring was signifi evoketly smaller comp ard to separate as hearty as their organs (heart, liver, kidneys, etc. ) * Both mothers and their children were rattling hostile and anxious * When male and female (both form genetically modified soy fed mother) were paired, they were unavailing to con ceive children.Although the results of this experiments argon to be taken with a grain of salt, they argon still alarming and disturbing collect to the wide discrepancies between the GM soy fed rats and the control iodins. The health remedy prime in rats fed with genetically modified potatoes is just as much worrying. The rationality rats be used for such experiments is that their morphology and biochemical structures are very connatural to the human ones. That is why those experiments, as well as similar ones, provoke an essential headspring- is genetically modified regimen damaging to throng.The conclude to this question is very disputable. Some scientists claim that genetically modified provenders are completely safe and otherwise they wouldnt be ap be. But in that location are numerous articles about possible harmful effects of genetically modified foods and they cant be ignored. The briny concern is allergies. important aim of getting a new set of gene to an org anisms genome is to create a new protein and every(prenominal) protein is potentially triggering to hypersensitised reactions. The problem with GM foods is that its protein are completely new and we cant be sure about its effect.Truth be told, people (mainly in USA, where genetic engineered food is the approximately common) often consume GM products without being aware of it- if you live in the USA and ate cheddar cheese in the past few age it is to a greater extent(prenominal) than liable(predicate) that you ate a genetically manipulated food, since genetic engineering is currently the most successful in cheddar cheese. Some say that genetically modified products they unwillingly consumed are to stand accused for their new allergies. Other concerns train immunity system damage and stunted organ growth, however they are mostly seen in lab pets and are yet to be proved to occur.A nonher reason why genetic engineering receives so many animadversion from the ethical point of view. Because if we can change genes in cheese or potatoes, whats lemniscus us from changing genes in people? Scientists and psychologists are afraid that genetic engineering will become so highly- developed that designing unhatched children will happen on a fooling basis. Parents will bring gender, height, hair color etc. From this point thithers not much to go to create an artificial gentleman, rule by genetic engineering, looking like taken out of Huxleys book.Futhermore, genetically modified organisms engage a huge impact on our environment. One of the problems is gene flow. Gene flow is a natural occurring phenomenon that results in getting one organisms DNA and transporting it to another one, be it from the same species or not. Some people are afraid that the engineered genes whitethorn spread and coerce out other, not modificated, plants. Yet another drawback is that they can be harmful to other organisms. Genetic engineering in plants such as shave is mostly focused on cr take a justificatory system against insects.But often, the impudently created insecticide can be harmful to other, non-target organisms. Some sources agree that the mankind of genetically engineered maize most commonly found in corn had a negavite impact on population of monarch unlessterfly butterflies living secretive the field, because they fed with plants dusted by the pollen from the corn maize. Both these phenomenas can light-emitting diode to destroying natural biodiversity. So this leads us to a question if genetic engineering has so much disadvantages, why is it still through with(p) and money is fatigued for researches?The truth is that even if it has many drawbacks, it still call for many advantages that for several(prenominal) people are worth all the effort. ostracise poster about GM foods One of them is that it is said to attend us create food that is much more nutritious. It can be do by inserting a specific genes that are supposed to produce vitam ins etc. to various crops. A well known case is inserting the gene making the vitamin A levels in rice much higher. Rice feeds currently more than 50% of the earthly concern population, but is not high in vitamins and other nutrients.Modifying it in such a way that It contains more vitamin A could help reduce deprivation resulting in blindness. If it was to be done successfully with other food products it would probably really help with fighting the malnutrition in deuce-acely world or developing countries. Moreover, genetic engineering can slack crop failure. prune failure is a very big outlet and it is said to add due to climate changes. Because of them, price of food gets higher, round countries need to dispose all the trade of some products (for model Russia illegalise wheat export in 2010) and ometimes it even gets so bad acres really suffers from famine, in particular when we consider developing countries. Thats why GMOs are so beguiling to scientist. They hol d potential for making plants more loathsome to various insects and plant infirmitys. Some corn produce very much food but dont defend themselves again insects piece other that are able to repel insects cannot produce this much food. Therefore, scientists apprehend that they can mingle these to and create a corn and then other plants that repel insects epoch producing big amounts of food.This also results in using o plants much less chemicals in order to reduce insect and disease damage. These chemicals seriously go against our environment. Thanks to adoption of genetically engineered of corn, cotton and soybeans during years 1997 and 1998 farmers used 8. 2 million fewer pounds of chemicals. Furthermore, genetically modified organisms are also more revolting to getting overrun or choked up by weeds and other plants fighting for the same nutrients. This results in weeds dying out, leaving room for crop.This and making plants more resistant to insects and diseases makes GMO very profitable. fit in to some economists, in 2007 farmers made additional $10 billion due to introducing gnetic engineered plants. Yet another advantage of genetic engineering is the fact that it can help us produce new, far more effective vaccines and medicines. Also they can create another form of them- alimentation vaccines. The idea is to put medication into some plants genes and make do it around the world so that people eat it and get what they need.Scientists have already developed a transgenic potato, that prevented rats from getting rotavirus and E. coli. Hopefully, this idea will get developed and adoptive in life, because this could help serious health problems, for example in countries of the third world. To conclude, genetic engineering is a very disputed subject and it sure as shooting needs more research. But it holds great potential for fixing many issues, many of them considering developing countries and people dying of starvation. Probably, as more and more investigation is done, health problems are going to be solved.Bibliography Pictures (in order of appearance) 1. http//www. ces. ncsu. edu/resources/crops/ag546-1/helixes3. jpg look 8. 05. 2011 author unknown 2. Genetic Roulette The put down Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Jeffrey M. Smith publisher Chelsea Green, 2007 3. http//www. news. cornell. edu/chronicle/99/5. 20. 99/caterpillars. JPEG date 8. 05. 2011 Kent Loeffler 4. http//www. anunews. net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/aa-frankenfood-cartoon-good-one1. jpg date 8. 05. 2011 author unknown Books and webpages 1. Genetic Roulette The record Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Jeffrey M. Smith publisher Chelsea Green, 2007 2. Seeds of untruth Exposing industry and giving medication lies about the safety of the genetically engineered foods youre eating Jeffrey M. Smith, publisher Yes Books, 2003 3. http//www. sciencedaily. com/releases/2010/10/101007092817. htm reprinted from materials provided by Uni veristy of Leeds, 7. 10. 2010 (date of publishing) 4. http//www. suite101. com/content/the-benefits-of-genetically-modified-food-crops-a218670 Andy Luttrel 28. 3. 2010 (date of publishing) 5. http//www. ehow. com/list_6019041_advantages-benefits-gmo. html Gregory Hamel 8. 05. 2011 (date of using) 6. http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism Yobot 6. 05. 2011 1 . http//www. ces. ncsu. edu/resources/crops/ag546-1/ 2 . http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organismHistory 3 . http//www. seedsofdeception. com/documentFiles/120. pdf 4 . http//www. suite101. com/content/the-benefits-of-genetically-modified-food-crops-a218670Genetically Modified Organisms- a Step Ahead or a Step in the ruin Direction?Genetically modified organisms- a step ahead or a step in the wrong direction? Paulina Langowska Genetically modified organisms, also known as GMO, are such organisms whose genetic material has been artificially changed using genetic engineering. Genetic en gineering, to put it simply, is altering the DNA technology, using DNA molecules from various organisms and using this molecules to create a brand new set of genes. Then the set of genes is added to an organisms genome. Below is shown an exchange of genes in corn, which is supposed to protect it from various insects.Genetic engineering can also change the color of the plant, make it resistant to difficult weather conditions, insects and viruses. The beginnings of genetic engineering take us back to the year 1973, when the first recombinant bacteria- a bacteria that has been genetically modified- was created. It was Escherichia coli, which from that point on became a popular lab rat used in genetic engineering. This creation led to discussions whether genetic modifications are safe and needed. The first conference when potential health risks were discussed took place in 1975.In late 1980s in USA and Canada began an experimental usage of genetic engineered plants in a small scale. In 1990s, after the approval for a larger scale, genetic engineering was more wide spread across the countries. From that point on, the interest in genetically modified organisms grew year by year. However, even though genetically modified organisms have gained population, the benefits of it and its harmlessness is disputable. Researches on lab pets show many harmful consequences.Some scientists decided to try and feed rats with genetic engineered potatoes. It was supposed to make them produce their own natural insecticide. But the results werent exactly as they were expected. Rats cells developed in a proliferative way and potentially cancerous cells. Also, the development of their brain and liver was inhibited and they suffered from an immune system damage. Also, another research was done in Russian Academy of Sciences. This time, female rats were fed genetically modified soy before and during pregnancy and also hile feeding their offspring. This time, the results included * About 55 % of offspring died during 3 weeks after the birth (compared to 9% of mortality among those fed with non-genetically modified soy) * Offspring was significantly smaller compared to other as well as their organs (heart, liver, kidneys, etc. ) * Both mothers and their children were very aggressive and anxious * When male and female (both form genetically modified soy fed mother) were paired, they were unable to conceive children.Although the results of this experiments are to be taken with a grain of salt, they are still alarming and disturbing due to the wide discrepancies between the GM soy fed rats and the control ones. The health damages found in rats fed with genetically modified potatoes is just as much worrying. The reason rats are used for such experiments is that their morphology and biochemical structures are very similar to the human ones. That is why those experiments, as well as similar ones, provoke an essential question- is genetically modified food harmful to people.Th e answer to this question is very disputable. Some scientists claim that genetically modified foods are completely safe and otherwise they wouldnt be approved. But there are numerous articles about possible harmful effects of genetically modified foods and they cant be ignored. The main concern is allergies. Main aim of getting a new set of gene to an organisms genome is to create a new protein and every protein is potentially triggering to allergic reactions. The problem with GM foods is that its protein are completely new and we cant be sure about its effect.Truth be told, people (mainly in USA, where genetic engineered food is the most common) often consume GM products without being aware of it- if you live in the USA and ate cheddar cheese in the past few years it is more than likely that you ate a genetically manipulated food, since genetic engineering is currently the most successful in cheddar cheese. Some say that genetically modified products they unwillingly consumed are t o stand accused for their new allergies. Other concerns involve immunity system damage and stunted organ growth, however they are mostly seen in lab pets and are yet to be proved to occur.Another reason why genetic engineering receives so many criticism from the ethical point of view. Because if we can change genes in cheese or potatoes, whats stopping us from changing genes in people? Scientists and psychologists are afraid that genetic engineering will become so developed that designing unborn children will happen on a daily basis. Parents will choose gender, height, hair color etc. From this point theres not much to go to create an artificial world, ruled by genetic engineering, looking like taken out of Huxleys book.Futhermore, genetically modified organisms have a huge impact on our environment. One of the problems is gene flow. Gene flow is a natural occurring phenomenon that results in getting one organisms DNA and transporting it to another one, be it from the same species o r not. Some people are afraid that the engineered genes may spread and push out other, not modificated, plants. Yet another drawback is that they can be harmful to other organisms. Genetic engineering in plants such as crop is mostly focused on creating a defensive system against insects.But often, the newly created insecticide can be harmful to other, non-target organisms. Some sources agree that the existence of genetically engineered maize most commonly found in corn had a negavite impact on population of monarch butterflies living near the field, because they fed with plants dusted by the pollen from the corn maize. Both these phenomenas can led to destroying natural biodiversity. So this leads us to a question if genetic engineering has so much disadvantages, why is it still done and money is spent for researches?The truth is that even if it has many drawbacks, it still have many advantages that for some people are worth all the effort. Negative poster about GM foods One of the m is that it is said to help us create food that is much more nutritious. It can be done by inserting a specific genes that are supposed to produce vitamins etc. to various crops. A well known case is inserting the gene making the vitamin A levels in rice much higher. Rice feeds currently more than 50% of the world population, but is not high in vitamins and other nutrients.Modifying it in such a way that It contains more vitamin A could help reduce deficiency resulting in blindness. If it was to be done successfully with other food products it would probably really help with fighting the malnutrition in third world or developing countries. Moreover, genetic engineering can decrease crop failure. Crop failure is a very big issue and it is said to increase due to climate changes. Because of them, price of food gets higher, some countries need to ban all the export of some products (for example Russia banning wheat export in 2010) and ometimes it even gets so bad country really suffer s from famine, especially when we consider developing countries. Thats why GMOs are so tempting to scientist. They hold potential for making plants more resistant to various insects and plant diseases. Some corn produce very much food but dont defend themselves again insects while other that are able to repel insects cannot produce this much food. Therefore, scientists hope that they can combine these to and create a corn and then other plants that repel insects while producing big amounts of food.This also results in using o plants much less chemicals in order to reduce insect and disease damage. These chemicals seriously hurt our environment. Thanks to adoption of genetically engineered of corn, cotton and soybeans during years 1997 and 1998 farmers used 8. 2 million fewer pounds of chemicals. Furthermore, genetically modified organisms are also more resistant to getting overrun or choked up by weeds and other plants fighting for the same nutrients. This results in weeds dying out , leaving room for crop.This and making plants more resistant to insects and diseases makes GMO very profitable. According to some economists, in 2007 farmers made additional $10 billion due to introducing gnetic engineered plants. Yet another advantage of genetic engineering is the fact that it can help us produce new, far more effective vaccines and medicines. Also they can create another form of them- edible vaccines. The idea is to put medication into some plants genes and distribute it around the world so that people eat it and get what they need.Scientists have already developed a transgenic potato, that prevented rats from getting rotavirus and E. coli. Hopefully, this idea will get developed and adopted in life, because this could help serious health problems, for example in countries of the third world. To conclude, genetic engineering is a very controversial subject and it surely needs more research. But it holds great potential for fixing many issues, many of them conside ring developing countries and people dying of starvation. Probably, as more and more investigation is done, health problems are going to be solved.Bibliography Pictures (in order of appearance) 1. http//www. ces. ncsu. edu/resources/crops/ag546-1/helixes3. jpg date 8. 05. 2011 author unknown 2. Genetic Roulette The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Jeffrey M. Smith publisher Chelsea Green, 2007 3. http//www. news. cornell. edu/chronicle/99/5. 20. 99/caterpillars. JPEG date 8. 05. 2011 Kent Loeffler 4. http//www. anunews. net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/aa-frankenfood-cartoon-good-one1. jpg date 8. 05. 2011 author unknown Books and webpages 1. Genetic Roulette The Documented Health Risks of Genetically Engineered Foods Jeffrey M. Smith publisher Chelsea Green, 2007 2. Seeds of deception Exposing industry and government lies about the safety of the genetically engineered foods youre eating Jeffrey M. Smith, publisher Yes Books, 2003 3. http//www. sciencedaily . com/releases/2010/10/101007092817. htm reprinted from materials provided by Univeristy of Leeds, 7. 10. 2010 (date of publishing) 4. http//www. suite101. com/content/the-benefits-of-genetically-modified-food-crops-a218670 Andy Luttrel 28. 3. 2010 (date of publishing) 5. http//www. ehow. com/list_6019041_advantages-benefits-gmo. html Gregory Hamel 8. 05. 2011 (date of using) 6. http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism Yobot 6. 05. 2011 1 . http//www. ces. ncsu. edu/resources/crops/ag546-1/ 2 . http//en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organismHistory 3 . http//www. seedsofdeception. com/documentFiles/120. pdf 4 . http//www. suite101. com/content/the-benefits-of-genetically-modified-food-crops-a218670