Genetically Modified Organisms
Genetically modified foods (GMOs) are a broad group of plants, animals, and bacteria whose genetic material is artificially manipulated through genetic engineering. Although GMOs are endorsed as the best solution to malnutrition in developing countries, I posit that they should be banned due to the adverse effects they might have on both human health and the environment. According to Peel (2005), the health and environmental risks posed by GMOs include: their potential to be toxic to both animal and human consumers, including organisms that may not be targeted, such as butterflies; adverse effects from agricultural chemicals used to make GM crops herbicide resistant; the possibility that GM crops might transfer the altered generic to other conventional crops with implications for biodiversity; and the risk of all GMOs becoming an evasive species that cannot be controlled by their creators. Moreover, government oversight of their production, distribution and use is dangerously lax, which creates loopholes that might be exploited at the expense of consumers. For instance, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has failed to mandate the labeling of GMOs, does not encourage agency studies, and has also allowed companies to sell genetically modified foods without any notification...
Banning the GMOs will be advantageous because the consumers and the environment will be saved from the risks associated with their use. However, eliminating GMOs does not lack its fair share of disadvantages. Jonsen (2005) explains that the world population is slowly outgrowing agricultural resources, and lack of GMOs will increase poverty, malnutrition and starvation in developing countries because they have the potential to increase nutrient values and crop yield. Banning them also amounts to rejecting technological and scientific advancements that have proven efficient in solving a variety of problems. Nevertheless, I maintain that the disadvantages far outweigh the benefits derived from GMOs, and hence they should not be endorsed.
From an ethical point-of-view, I believe the genetic engineering of plants and animals amounts to playing God. Despite the fact that humans have modified plants and animals to enhance their genetic make up for centuries, genetic engineering is quite different because it involves inserting the genes of one species into the gene of a completely different species, to create a new species that did not exist on the planet before. In agreement with Charles, Prince of Wales, creation belongs to God alone. Even the non-religious believe that the genetic code…
