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Genetically Modified Organisms
Discuss general problems with GMO (genetically modified organisms) in food.
One of the major risks of GMOs stems from pollen spread and outcrossing. Wind, animals and insects can spread pollen cover large areas. Researchers studying creeping bentgrass have found modified genes in normal grass up to 13 miles away from the source, and also within close relatives of the same genus (Genetically modified organism). Because pollen from the GMO may carry to a non-GMO crop, there is the potential for introducing the novel gene into a conventional crop (Reiger as cited in Mills, 2006). Or, pollen from a herbicide resistant GMO may cross with a compatible weed and introduce resistance in the weed. Thus, herbicide resistant crop plants may emerge in a subsequent season and be difficult to control.
Possible approaches, or solutions to problem.
Presently, management systems such as spatial and temporal isolation zones, crop barrier rows and vegetarian barriers are used to minimize direct gene flow between crops, and to minimize seed bank and volunteer populations. Although these methods can reduce pollen dispersal, weather and environmental conditions mean that some long distance pollen dispersal can still occur. For this reason, biological containment measures are being developed to control plants by inhibiting gene flow through pollen and/or seed (Eastham and Sweet). For example, outcrossing can be controlled by ensuring that the pollen of the GMO is sterile (Mills, 2006).
3) Explain interest in subject.
I believe GMO technology will greatly benefit society by increasing the availability and quality of food, but, at the same time, I acknowledge real biosafety concerns posed by outcrossing. For this reason, I am interested in molecular strategies for gene containment in GMO crops to ensure that they are responsibly deployed and that they are available for larger-scale commercial release than is currently possible.
Bibliography
Eastham, K. And Sweet, J. (2002, March). Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): The significance of gene flow through pollen transfer. European Environment Agency (EEA) Environmental issue report No 28. http://www.mindfully.org/GE/GE4/Pollen-Transfer-Gene-FlowEEAMar02.htm
Genetically modified organism. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_organism
Mills, N. (2006). Genetically modified organisms. http://www.deh.gov.au/soe/2006/publications/emerging/gmo/index.html
Ethics Analysis of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms Custom research material provided by Stud ent Network Resources, Inc. Ethics and Morality Contemporary Ethics Analysis of Genetic Engineering and Genetically Modified Organisms Ethics and Morality According to the article "Can a genetically-modified organism-containing diet influence embryo development? A preliminary study on pre-implantation mouse embryos," "Millions of test is used every year for a wide variety of scientific and medical purposes. This article, discusses issues
Utilitarianism John Stuart Mill believed in the subjugation of individual interests for the sake of society as a whole, but only when necessary. Of course, determining when such subjugation is necessary is not at all simple, and this is the task in which Mill distinguished himself as a philosopher. In his treatise on moral philosophy, "Utilitarianism," Mill proposed the "greatest-happiness principle" a sort of pseudo-mathematical, economic equation to determine the desirability
This toxin is currently used as a conventional insecticide in agriculture and is safe for human consumption," (WHO 2010). This begs the question: if the "toxin" is safe, then why is it called a toxin? With similar grim irony, biotechnology companies are inserting viruses and bacteria into plants too. Theoretically, these alterations to the genetic structure of the plant are "safe," but there have been no longitudinal studies showing
For example, if birds feed on seeds and a certain variety of insect, without the seeds, the birds may disappear, and the insects would then overpopulate the area. In addition, the cost of GM crops is initially high to the farmer. These seeds cost much more to develop and test, and so, they are much more costly to the farmer. They might benefit Third World agriculture in many ways, but
Then in May 2000, honey on sale in supermarkets was found to be contaminated with GM pollen from British crop trials. Two out of nine samples show contamination" (Chapman 2006:5). The results of an analysis by Fox (1999) confirmed this cross-contamination of pollen: "The pollen produced by these plants, carrying new genes, cannot be contained. As a result, genetic pollution of natural crop varieties and of wild plant relatives
For example, the plants produced through genetic modification can pollinate with the conventionally produced plants and can make them genetically modified as well. (Kaplan 1-15) In addition to that, the genetically modified crops that were developed with a strong ability to resist herbicides, so that a large amount of strong weed killers can be used of them, have enabled the weeds to develop strong resistance against the herbicides and hence