Dna and Gmos Essay

Submitted By Foxrecon
Words: 626
Pages: 3

A genetically modified organism (GMO) is a technology that was developed in the late seventies that enabled scientists to take genetic material out of one organism and transfer it into another organism to create traits that that do not occur in nature. Although the scientific consensus of genetically modifying food for human consumption poses no greater risk than conventional food, the long-term effects have not been fully determined. Genetically engineered plants are generated in a laboratory by altering their genetic makeup and are tested in the laboratory for desired qualities. Adding one or more genes to a plant’s genome using genetic engineering techniques usually does this. Most genetically modified plants are generated by the biolistic method (particle gun) or by Agrobacterium; tumefaciens mediated transformation (Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology, 2010). When the desired product has been produced, seeds are collected and held. The company must then apply for approval to field test the seeds. Once the seeds have proved successful, a company must apply for regulation to release the GMO. Upon approval, the seeds can be mass-produced and sold to farmers in countries who allow the sale and growth of GMOs (Maryanski, 2009).
Benefits of genetically modified crops are that genes can be inserted that causes the plant to be resistant to many harmful things such as weeds, insects, and disease. This allows less herbicide to be used on the crops and more crops to survive and produce food. Crops can also be modified to have a longer shelf life in stores, grow in dryer/colder climates, be resistant to pests, and even to have increased nutritional value. Plants and crops have always been the larger focus when it comes to GMOs. Scientists have recently been studying other food and medication sources within GMOs. Modified Salmon are currently in the spotlight for approval. These animals are being produced to provide a sustainable food source. High consumption volumes in the recent past have led to the depletion of wild salmon numbers.
GMOs are also being used to make medication safer and cheaper. Bacteria is being produced that itself produces a higher concentration of proteins. This higher volume of protein allows drug makers to produce medications that might be in short supply. Vaccines and therapeutics can be produced in higher numbers so that they more readily available.
The safety of GMOs has been greatly debated in scientists say that there is no concern in the use of modified products. The question is the ethics behind these studies. Studies can be greatly manipulated by the producers