What Are Genetically Modified Foods? Essay

Submitted By blabberingfool
Words: 1406
Pages: 6
Open Document
Running head: Genetically Engineered Foods

Genetically Engineered Foods: What are Their Purpose and How Does it Affect the World?
Bryan Rodriguez
4/21/2013
Stanly Community College Online

Abstract
What exactly are genetically engineered foods? They are foods that have had their genes spliced, and added by scientists, for more favorable benefits. It can be an expensive process to grow crops with modified seeds. Most third-world countries rely on modified foods because they are not able to support traditional farming. Although this seems to be miraculous invention, it has numerous disadvantages that will stray many optimistic farmers away from this new path.

Genetically Engineered Foods: What are their Purposes and How Does it Affect the World?
Crossing genes to grow massive crops in agriculture is still a fairly new invention. For example, scientists still have not perfected gene splicing, and the majority of farmers are skeptical about genetically modified seeds. It has many advantages, but disadvantages are dragging along with it. Many corporations are patenting strands of modified plants so they can be sold for profit.
Advantages of Genetically Modified Crops
This is life science; a huge step towards technology that seems to produce miracles. Gene splicing is not an easy task. The outcomes are usually random or not expected, because it is still a recent discovery. There have been a handful of controlled outcomes that has successfully made it outside the lab, and started growing in crops around the world. Imagine that you are attempting to grow a certain type of plant that thrives in warm climates, but cannot sustain its life in your cold environment. With life sciences, Scientists have been able to splice the genes of the cold-sustaining plant into the warm-temperature plant.
Cost of Growing Modified Foods
With the miraculous invention of modifying genes in plants, surely it will be inexpensive; it is not. The corporations that have patented the foods have taken out the simplicity of growing modified crops, replaced them with costs. “Genetically modified crops are easy to grow and have many advantages. They do not use pesticides and can ensure that there will be enough food production in developing countries” (Estrella Herrera 2003). Companies have started to patent the blueprints of the engineered plants and sell them at high prices to farmers. Not only do the farmers have to pay a high price for the foods, they are pressured to buy their branded pesticides and incorporate a technique that has questionable methods of farming. “Many patents are also going against the poor. The corporations that promote genetically engineered crops are also strongly advising to use a technique called crop uniformity, which allows crops to become more susceptible to diseases and pests. After the technique has been implemented, they advise farmers to buy their pesticides” (Shah A. 2002). This is not pleasant idea to farmers who are not having a great season, or are not willing to change their method of agriculture.
Corporations
Corporations, such as Monsato, have bought the seeds or foods from scientists. Their plan is to resell these inventions and make a profit. The corporations are constantly pressuring farmers to buy their production, or face consequences. To me, this seems unfair because they are attempting to monopolize on life science productions and destroy any hope that farmers had.
Third-World Countries Many third-world countries are poor and unable to sustain enough food for its people, due to unfavorable climates, hazardous environments, or expensive products. Modified foods would be a great solution to these problems. “Maize, soybeans and golden rice are the biggest imported GMOs around the world. Importing golden rice has gone through many debates in Asia. Supposedly, it is used for its Vitamin A supplements, but the cost is increasing, it is only produced in domestic countries, and very little of it
Show More

Related Documents: What Are Genetically Modified Foods? Essay

The Benefits Of Genetically Modified Foods

now full of foods with ingredients that are derived from genetically modified crops. Most evidence from the genetically modified food companies show that genetically modified foods are harmless. However, most of the evidences show it is not safety nowadays. Current labelling regulations make it almost impossible for consumers to know when they are buying GM foods. The topic of the investigation is the advantage and the disadvantage of genetically modified food. Genetically modified foods are a special…

Words 2466 - Pages 10

Monsanto Argumentative Essay

negative aspect of genetically modified organisms is that the companies who control them go out of their way to make it difficult for small farms to stay in business. Most farmers are at the disposal of the few large and powerful food corporations who control large portions of the market (Pollan 340). These large food corporations such as Monsanto intentionally create ridiculous legal issues for independent farmers in order to eliminate and instill fear in their competition (Food, Inc.). Companies…

Words 901 - Pages 4

Essay on Genetically modified organism

BISI 001 April 17, 2014 Genetically modified organism (GMO) What is Genetically Modified Organism? Genetically modified Organism is plants or animals that have been genetically engineered with DNA from the bacteria, viruses, or like from other animals and plants. A Genetically Modified Organism is created when a DNA from one organism is combined with another organism’s DNA to make into one molecule. Currently, many types of GMO crops like sugar beet, maize, rice, cotton and etc. have been…

Words 695 - Pages 3

Genetically Modified Foods Speech Essay

Genetically Modified Foods GENERAL GOAL: I want to inform my audience. SPECIFIC SPEECH GOAL: I would like to increase the audience’s knowledge of genetically modified foods, their history, and the controversy that it involves. THESIS STATEMENT: I want to inform my audience by explaining exactly what genetically modified foods are, as well as, there intended purpose, history, advantages, disadvantages and controversy surrounding them. Introduction I. Before you eat a meal or snack do you…

Words 1279 - Pages 6

Why Gmo Igredients Should Be Labeled?

Name: Mohamed Zokari Instructor: Devin Kelly Course Title: Date: Nov 18 Foods Containing GMO Ingredients Should be labeled Genetically modified organisms are organisms whose genetic arrangement has been artificially manipulated in a laboratory through genetic engineering. It uses new technological sciences to create unstable organisms such as plants, animals, and bacteria by combining their genes in an unusual way. Most modifications have been focused on high demand cash crops such as corn, soybean…

Words 1778 - Pages 8

Concept Essay

Ashley Peterson Ms. Gibson English 151 April 8, 2012 Genetically Modified Foods In March 2011, a group of United States farmers sued Monsanto Company, a multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation, for contaminating their organic crops with genetically modified seeds (Gillam 1). These farmers argue that Monsanto’s “growing market dominance” is putting farmers, especially organic farmers, “under assault” because, currently, if a farmer’s “organic seed becomes contaminated with Monsanto’s…

Words 1615 - Pages 7

Essay about Genetically Modified Food

Genetically Modified Organisms Genetically Modified Organisms are designer foods that are commonly used for crop and human consumption using a made up genetic alter of DNA and genes. GMO’s have been commonly used within the food industry and have become a health issue in our world. When the DNA and genes are changed they are inserted to make the product grow quicker or bigger not using the natural cycle of growth. About 60% of foods prepacked in a normal grocery store contain genetically modified…

Words 521 - Pages 3

Genetically Modified Animals Research Paper

Genetically modifying animals for food production has been around for about thirty years but has grown to be more popular. Some of the benefits are as followed; animals are engineered to grow quickly, eat less, produce more nutrients, reproduce faster, and to be more resistant to disease. The benefits seem to be promising, but the deficits outweigh the benefits. How is altering are food in an unnatural manner healthy for humans? It is not. Trying to mass produce genetically modified animals is completely…

Words 931 - Pages 4

Gco's Unknowingly Affecting Us

GMO’s: UNKNOWINGLY AFFECTING EVERY AMERICAN 2 Abstract Genetically modified organisms are organisms with foreign DNA inserted into the genes of the organism. These inserted genes are in many of our food products. There is not much evidence proving genetically modified food is suitable to consume. Tests have been done and have shown that GM foods do cause sickness and harm to the body. A poll has shown many Americans would like genetically modified organisms labeled but Monsanto, a large producer…

Words 934 - Pages 4

Gm Foods Essays

GM FOOD INVESTIGATION Genetically modified foods are foods produced from genetically modified organisms or specifically genetically modified crops. The GMO’S have specific changes in their DNA by genetic engineering techniques. Many genetic modified foods are transgenic plant products such as soybean, corn, canola, and cotton seed oil. The first genetically modified plant was produced in 1983, using an antibiotic-resistant tobacco plant. One method or process is Selection of the modified plant…

Words 835 - Pages 4