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GMO
GENETICALLY MODIFIED FOODS
Risks and Perceptions Analysis of Genetically Modified Foods
Genetically modified foods have the potential of solving many of the issues that are present in respect to feeding the world's population; especially as it grows to an estimate nine billion by the end of the century. The technologies can create crops that are able to resist certain insects and are more suitable to grow in less than ideal environmental conditions. However, on the other hand, there are some real and perceived risks that are associated with these technological developments. There seems to be a general perception of skepticism regarding the safety of gene technology and the fears of potential negative implications that these modifications could produce rest in the collective consciousness of the public. This brief synthesis will consider a few of the factors that are associated with the continued use and development of genetically modified foods.
GMOs
Currently transgenic crops or genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are the most highly regulated foods in the world and covers a broad range of different products (DeFrancesco, 2013). Many of these products have been on the market for more than a decade and been consumed by millions of people without any adverse...
There doesn't seem as if there have been any ill effects on the products that have been around for some time. However, this does not exclude the possibility that the effects are difficult to determine or that new product developments could carry different risks. Furthermore there are also certain risks that are relevant to the environment rather than the consumers.
One potential risk is the movement of genetic information from one organism to another that occurs outside the realm of normal reproduction. Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) T. is often used to refer to all forms of gene transfer that do not involve parent to-offspring transfer (sexual or asexual) and it can occur either naturally or by human intervention (e.g. gene technology, embryo rescue, in vitro fertilization, protoplast fusion, self-cloning) (Keese, 2008). Due to these mechanisms, a gene that was designed to be used in a controlled situation, such as in a genetically engineered crop that cannot reproduce naturally, can be released into the environment and could have potential impacts upon the natural systems. However, these risks are generally considered negligible to human health and the environment (Keese, 2008).
Beyond the actual risks that might be inherent in the use of the technology,…
References
Cabuk, S., & Tanrikulu, C. (2014). The Role of Perceived Risk, Uncertainty Avoidance, and Innovativeness in Willingness-To-Buy Genetically Modified Foods. Cag University Journal of Social Sciences, 100-122.
DeFrancesco, L. (2013). How safe does transgenic food need to be? Nature Biotechnology, 794-802.
Keese, P. (2008). Risks from GMOs due to Horizontal Gene Transfer. Environmental Biosafety Reference, 123-149.
On a biological level, consumption of genetically modified foods means the potential for "pleiotropic and insertional effects," Dona explains on page 165. Pleiotropic refers to the possibility that a gene may have more than one affect on the food. The above-mentioned effects could result from an increase of "anti-nutrients"; and moreover human health could be impacted due to the use of "viral DNA," Dona continues (165). The pleiotropic affect could
Genetically Modified Foods What are Genetically Modified Foods? Genetically modified foods (GMF) are created through a biotechnological process known as genetic modification (GM). Genetic modification -- also known as genetic engineering -- alters the genetic makeup of plants, according to the Human Genome Project (HGP). Actually what scientists are doing when they genetically modify a plant is to combine certain genes from different plant species to basically change the DNA in the
One of the most interesting articles, "Genetic Engineering Risks," really described the issue with GMOs: the difference between genetically engineered organisms and their non-engineered counterparts is usually just one gene or a handful of genes and genetically engineered organisms have new genes that are put into their DNA using molecular technology; they would not have been able to do this with traditional breeding methods. "Because such a small fraction of
Protection and preservation of the environment through increased yields and reduced use of chemical pesticides and herbicides. This is because genetically modified foods grow at a faster rate and in bigger quantities which means less forest land is cleared for agriculture and the natural habitats and biodiversity is preserved. The crops are also made pest and disease resistant which means that less pesticides and herbicides are used which could pollute
Genetically Modified Foods - Economics Genetically Modified Foods Genetically modified (GM) foods are changing how people in developed countries eat. There are also many economic questions surrounding them. According to Anderson (1998), society is moving toward a genetically modified world. The food the world eats, from meat to grains, fruits, and vegetables, is all going to eventually become GM food. This food can be made to be resistant to all kinds of
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