Human ingenuity is limitless. Our creativity allowed us to manipulate the environment around us in any way we want. Is it good or bad? There is no simple answer to these questions. Our minds can create new things or can bring the end to the whole world. The most common example of the dualistic nature of human creativity is the usage of nuclear fission. Also, we are building new nuclear power plants and new ballistic missiles that can wipe out entire nations.
Another, in my opinion, good example is GMO. GMO stands for “Genetically modified organism”. GMO can be defined as organism, whose genetic material has been altered in some artificial way. One example of GMO is the GloFish. “GlowFish” is a brand for genetically modified fluorescent fish. It is the first genetically modified animal that can be bought, although only in USA. It was created from zebrafish by inserting jellyfish gene, which encodes the green fluorescent protein, into its genome. In the result, a fluorescent fish was born.
Right now, the most controversial aspect of GMO is connected with food production, especially plants. There is a lot of controversy around genetically modified crops, in short: GMCs, even between scientists. Some of them believe that GMC can resolve famine problem around the world, others say that GMC can have a huge negative impact on the environment. Who is right? I would say, both of them.
The most famous example of GMO that can save lives of millions is Golden rice. It is ordinary rice with a genetic modification that causes biosynthesis of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible part of plant. Golden rice is intended to cultivate in areas with a shortage of dietary vitamin A. In result, it could resolve hypovitaminosis A in those countries, saving roughly one million lives annually.
On the other hand, GMOs are artificial. Mass production of those GMCs can seriously harm the environment in a way we can’t expect. For example, a genetically modified plant that is resistant to various pests, could have a hybrid with some other natural plant, causing the devastation of the local ecosystem.
Other controversies concern patent law and big companies like Monsanto. Farmers have to buy modified grain from companies every year, and the price of modified grain is a few times higher than a normal one. Sometimes they have to pay for GMC on their fields, even when those crops are self-sown plants. It means, they are losing.
In sum, it is obvious that GMO is the future. We should get used to this fact. Probably all of us have eaten GMO already. Should we ban GMO? Or should we allow GMO in our food? Maybe we should change the law? Express your opinion!
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_rice
http://www.military-today.com/missiles/ss18_satan.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_crops
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GloFish
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/behind-the-monsanto-deal-doubts-about-the-gmo-revolution-1473880429/
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| Russian's ballistic missile called R-36M, in NATO terminology - SS-18 Satan (Sic!) |
Another, in my opinion, good example is GMO. GMO stands for “Genetically modified organism”. GMO can be defined as organism, whose genetic material has been altered in some artificial way. One example of GMO is the GloFish. “GlowFish” is a brand for genetically modified fluorescent fish. It is the first genetically modified animal that can be bought, although only in USA. It was created from zebrafish by inserting jellyfish gene, which encodes the green fluorescent protein, into its genome. In the result, a fluorescent fish was born.
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GloFish in different
colors
|
Right now, the most controversial aspect of GMO is connected with food production, especially plants. There is a lot of controversy around genetically modified crops, in short: GMCs, even between scientists. Some of them believe that GMC can resolve famine problem around the world, others say that GMC can have a huge negative impact on the environment. Who is right? I would say, both of them.
The most famous example of GMO that can save lives of millions is Golden rice. It is ordinary rice with a genetic modification that causes biosynthesis of beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, in the edible part of plant. Golden rice is intended to cultivate in areas with a shortage of dietary vitamin A. In result, it could resolve hypovitaminosis A in those countries, saving roughly one million lives annually.
 |
To the left: white
rice, to the right: golden one
|
On the other hand, GMOs are artificial. Mass production of those GMCs can seriously harm the environment in a way we can’t expect. For example, a genetically modified plant that is resistant to various pests, could have a hybrid with some other natural plant, causing the devastation of the local ecosystem.
Other controversies concern patent law and big companies like Monsanto. Farmers have to buy modified grain from companies every year, and the price of modified grain is a few times higher than a normal one. Sometimes they have to pay for GMC on their fields, even when those crops are self-sown plants. It means, they are losing.
In sum, it is obvious that GMO is the future. We should get used to this fact. Probably all of us have eaten GMO already. Should we ban GMO? Or should we allow GMO in our food? Maybe we should change the law? Express your opinion!
Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_rice
http://www.military-today.com/missiles/ss18_satan.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_crops
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GloFish
http://www.who.int/foodsafety/areas_work/food-technology/faq-genetically-modified-food/en/
http://www.wsj.com/articles/behind-the-monsanto-deal-doubts-about-the-gmo-revolution-1473880429/
Comments
It has got disadvantages, as those mentioned in article, but at all it is rather good thing. This is an effect of advancement, there are good reasons to use it and used wise it may be very helpful.
1. Gene Spilling:
It is unclear what effects, if there are any, the genetic pollution resulting from inadequate sequestering of genetically modified crop populations would have on the wild varieties surrounding them. However, it is stressed that releasing pollen from genetically altered plants into the wild through the insects and the wind could have dramatic effects on the ecosystem, though there is yet long-term research to be done to gauge such impact,
2. Gene Transfer:
Relevant to the previous disadvantage, a constant risk of genetically modified foods is that an organism’s modified genes may escape into the wild. Experts warn that genes from commercial crops that are resistant to herbicides may cross into the wild weed population, thus creating super-weeds that have become impossible to kill. For genetically enhanced vegetation and animals, they may become super-organisms that can out-compete natural plants and animals, driving them into extinction,
3. New Diseases:
As previously mentioned, genetically modified foods can create new diseases. Considering that they are modified using viruses and bacteria, there is a fear that this will certainly happen. This threat to human health is a worrisome aspect that has received a great deal of debate.
But on the other hand, when I have read your article, you noticed such GMO food like golden rice. It cause that I've started to think about advantages. What I can see are:
1. Less starvation in the world due to the fact that it cuts food prices,
2. The precise evaluation and testing of GMOs crops and other products. In fact, according to research, it is safer as compared to traditional crops,
3. Less Deforestation,
4. Insect Resistance.
When you start to google about issues connected with GMO, you find as many advantages as disadvantages. It is very hard to judge if it should be ban or not. To be honest I do not have a strong opinion about this issue, but I have a feeling that we should try new things as a human race to prolong our species so we should give a chance for GMO. The only thing is that we have to be aware what can it cause.
GMO issue seems to be slightly similiar to using preservaties in food. Nowadays they can be found in almost every food product and what is the way people react? We can observe a strong trend towards eating healthy, preservative-free products. I'm afraid fascination with GMO may end not very different.
I’ve never heard before about the glofish. They look very cute and I wouldn’t mind having a few in my room. Especially when it’s dark.
Talking about GMO, as far as I know it can cause cancer. Almost all ketchup with affordable price contains cancerogenic ingredients. I don’t like this kind of future we would have by eating GMO products.
I think we as humans should have a wider choice of healthy products with affordable prices on a market. We should limit GMO’s to safe environments only. Like for example in a science laboratory.
One professor from the University of Singularity said that with help of studying GMO we would be able to modify our bodies in a safe way. I wouldn’t mind having 4 hands instead of 2. But only if it’s 100%
In my opinion GMO is a perfect opportunity to boost efficiency of growing crops and fight the problem of hunger.
To read more about ‚appeal to nature’ see - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appeal_to_nature
1. my lack of knowledge
2. scientists exlopre this topic, but I'm afraid it will take years to fully analyze it
Nowadays, it is believed that microwaves don't have any or have positive impact on food. But if you talk with specialists, it is not so clear.
It is good to defrost food - it keeps its nutritional values. But heating is not always healthy. And that's a problem. It is hard to define when food is thawed and starts to heat.
What's more, we mostly use microwaves for reheating which can be unhealthy.
Of course, there are different opinions and for now, in the scientific community, it's not identified unambiguously (and there are no clear prove for negative influence). That's why it's believed microwaves don't have any or have positive impact.
The same is with GMO. I'm afraid we won't know if it's good for long time. That's the reason I'd prefer not to comment unambiguously if I'm for or against.
What will be useful for consumers, is to label all the products if it’s GMO free or no, therefore we can decide for our own what we eat.
On one hand, as an example of animals, I think we should not intervene within living organisms like animals. On the other hand, a plant that is adjusted to the environment so it can actually be used afterwards as supply of food, is not a bad idea.
I think that it is important for the people as well as from the perspective of a consumer, to be informed whether for example a product is a GMO product or not.
As long as we know what we have interaction with, it is fair enough.
I think we need to investigate it further and if everything will be okay with it then we could introduce it to market.I know it looks idealistic and would never be applied as it is steered by huge companies that sponsors the GMO things.
If you can use something it doesn't mean that you should do it.
However, when it comes to genetically modified humans, I am a bit sceptical here. If we could enhance our body in such a way that they could kill cancer cells then that would be great. But what if GMO will introduce some other, presumably much worse diseases?
field neighboured with GMO one. Another alarming thing is that the GMO seed is offered in USA by one company - Monsanto. it's a threat that food will be more expensive, because farmers will be pressured to buy
seed at a high price.
Golden rice, mentioned in the article was supposed to help with vitamin A deficiency in Southeast Asia, where it's a big problem, however it wasn't introduced yet because it's unlikely to make any profit.
We can buy fresh, hot bread and buns, but before they hit the shelves they lay frozen. To freeze them, yeast had to be genetically modified so they don't get cold and our buns can grown nicely in the oven.
Our cheese is also genetically modified - specifically rennet. It used to be taken from calf stomach - now it's production is cheaper and faster thanks to GMO, also, there's no need to further hurt animals in the process.
GMO are used in treating osteoporosis, diabetes, renal cancer, multiple sclerosis and many other diseases.
You can't simply say that GMO is bad, it's true that we can't really predict long term consequences of modifying plants and other organisms, but we have to admit - it would be pretty hard for us to live without GMO.
Here's an interesting article I can recommend:
http://kasiagandor.com/2016/07/o-gmo-strachu-i-wielkich-korporacjach-wywiad-z-prof-dr-hab-pawlem-golikiem/