Frankenstein Genetic Engineering

Words: 2408
Pages: 10

We constantly hear the phrase “you are what you eat”, so does that mean we are unnatural and fake? Many of the foods that are bought and consumed every day contain unnatural ingredients known as genetically modified organisms. A recent breakthrough within the field of biotechnology proved that it was possible to manipulate genetics. However, to prevent the abuse of genetic engineering, many regulations have been passed that prohibit certain actions, such as cloning. Genetic engineering is used for many things including antibiotics and agriculture. Farmers choose to use genetically modified crops for many reasons; it allows them to produce a greater yield and maximize their profits. It also makes their job easier because crops with pest resistance …show more content…
In the book Frankenstein, Victor, fueled by his emotions after the loss of his mother, desperately tries to figure out the secret of life. After two long years, his dream becomes a reality when he creates his creature. However, once he saw his dream come to life, he found the results anticlimactic. Looking back on the experience, he described it to his friend Robert Walton "For this I had deprived myself of rest and health. I had desired it with an ardour that far exceeded moderation; but now that I had finished, the beauty of the dream vanished, and breathless horror and disgust filled my heart." (Shelley 43). This shows that reality is far less appealing than the dream itself. While farmers dream of high profit margins and greater crop yields, they fail to consider the downsides of genetically modified organisms. Since the process is relatively new, we are still unaware of all the consequences that this technology could have, but problems are already beginning to surface. News of the problems associated with these products is beginning to alter the public opinion and turn them against genetically modified …show more content…
Surprisingly, in the end, the process is not cost effective. Initially, growing the crops is lower in cost, but the real costs come into play when trying to get the food on the shelves. The public wants to know exactly what they are putting into their body and they find this information through the labels on the product. However, according to news writer Richard Williams, “labeling GM products would be expensive” and using this technology in order to reduce production costs would be counterproductive (Williams par. 14). Due to the fact that companies want to maximize their profit, they would have to raise the cost of the product to make up for the extreme costs of labeling. Williams accurately states that “labels may seem like a non-invasive way to share information, the costs on manufacturers will lead to higher food prices, and many people simply cannot afford that.” (Williams par. 15). Consequently, people will turn towards products that will not break the bank resulting in lower sales. Therefore, if companies were required to accurately label their products, the profit margin would drop meaning that the use of this technology within crops would be cost ineffective. The farmers attempt to cut back in costs also results in a reduction of product quality; while they are happy with the ability to grow more crops, they are