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Genetic modification is the action of changing the genetic material (DNA) of an organism using engineering techniques. For thousands of years people have been modifying the genes of plants and animals by introducing new pieces of DNA into other organisms’ sequences of DNA. This can be done by taking DNA from the same species, a different species or synthetically making DNA in a lab. The technology is frequently called modern biotechnology or gene technology.
Genetic modification plants were developed to help farmers improve insect damage, crop yield and increased nutritional value of crops. With genetically modified animals offering solutions to enhancing food production, animal health, public health, the animal’s health and reducing environmental impact. The Flavr Savr tomato was genetically modified to have a longer shelf life by deactivating the gene that causes tomatoes to become squishy after being picked. The tomato was also said to have an enhanced flavor according to the University of California.
Gene modification is aimed at companies as most GM methods are being used by companies and farm corporations. Gene modification is here to benefit farmers all over the world who are now enjoying higher profits because of lower production costs, less pesticides used, fewer pest problems and better yields than ever before. David Ervin, an environmental manager of Portland University says GM crops are also reducing environmental impacts on and off the farm. When gene modifying technology first came out, it seemed to be a way of Australia to get ahead in the agriculture industry, with it promising significant improvements.
The gene technology precisely cuts and relocates a piece of DNA from one organism to another. It identifies the trait of interest, isolates it and then places it in the desired organism. However, genomes can also be specially grown and then placed into an organism without ever being transferred from another organism beforehand. With the Flavr Savr tomato the gene that produces a fruit softening enzyme was reversed, allowing the fruit to develop more flavor and an extended shelf life.
When genetically modified organisms (GMO) are established in a new environment, they can have unintended environmental impacts and may have long term impacts on biological communities. Altering the state of an organism causes unknown consequences like the change the nutritional quality of foods, potential toxicity, new viruses, threat to crop diversity and religious, cultural and ethical concerns. GM foods have the possibility to bring about unknown allergic reactions among people and since the introduction of herbicide resistant gene transfer to plants or crops, humans are put at risk as well as plants which tend to grow uncontrollably, thus spreading diseases quickly among other animals and plants. It is said that after the Flavr Savr tomato was altered it lost its nutritional value that it one contained. But the gene technology did allow the tomato to have a much longer shelf life and an enhanced flavor. Gene modifying technology presents numerous benefits which include the improvement of fruit and vegetable shelf life, food quality, improved quantity of meat, milk and livestock. Gene technology has also helped to improve crop yield, agriculture, food prices as well as reducing carbon emissions, pesticide use and water wastage.
Gene modifying technology has had a major impact on society and the scientific community. The technology has helped to alleviate poverty for 16.5 million small farmers and their families. Small growers have been able to increase their yields because of the new biotechnology. The technology has contributed to global sustainability as gene modified crops have helped reduce CO2 emissions by 26.7 billion kg. Genetically modified organisms have provided economic benefits to millions of consumers and have reduced soil erosion due to more effective weed control at a lower cost. GMO have helped conserve water and decrease the use of many agricultural chemicals. As prior mentioned, GM foods may cause unknown allergic reactions and have a negative impact on human health. This is why the European parliament for example have set up regulations to protect human health and the well-being of individuals. A professor, Hamish Scott, says that “sequencing technology is changing the way we understand … health and disease”.
GMO were engineered to resist pests, diseases, improve crop yields and enhance food quality. Scientists have concluded that the technology in fact has made all this happen. GM crops have allowed an increase in crop yield by 22% and have increased famers’ profits by 68%. When the crops were brought about, they were planted in 26 countries by 18 million farmers, making GM the fastest adopted crop technology in the world. The impressive adoption rate tells us that in terms of resilience, sustainability, extra income and yield benefits have revolutionized the farming industry.
The efforts that produced the Flavr Savr tomato was a scientific success. The expectation was to help the tomato stay firm for longer helping distribution. Even though the demand for the tomato was high and very much in demand the Flavr Savr tomato eventually failed. It is much cheaper to pick the tomatoes off the vine unripe and put them in stores while the artfully ripened there. There was no increase in tomato sales which caused the Flavr Savr tomato to be deemed unsuccessful. The high distribution and transportation costs outweigh the fact that they were accepted worldwide.
The impressive savings related to GM crops makes them desirable to most farmers and plant growers. The fact that gene technology has also enabled a better-quality product and more of it has helped agricultural producers both economically and business wise. An analysis from the National Institute of health shows major economic benefits amounting to $18.8 billion in 2012.
However, for many farmers the consequences related with gene modification has been severe. Many plants are pollinated by insects, winds or birds, meaning pollen from other GM plants could move to neighboring fields. This contamination has caused economic losses for many faces who face rejection of their organic certification of which they earn for their organic crops. New pests have also come about. This means farmers affected by them have to revert to older and much more toxic pesticides which overshadow the benefits promised by gene modification technology.
Is it ethically justifiable to genetically modify crops and food? The answer is yes, if scientists and individuals proceed responsibly and with caution. It is the rights of the people to choose whether they adopt GM technology or not. Genetic modification is used in place of selective breeding something that caused major controversy and is considered ethically wrong. The genetic modification of animals is done under strict regulations made by animal cruelty organizations and is always scrutinized by expert teams before wider use.
GMO has helped to produce large quantities and better-quality foods all over the world. This has helped to alleviate world hunger which connects to the ethical principle of beneficence which focuses on the effort to eliminate hunger and disease. Some gene technology is used to improve animal’s resistance to disease and injury, a utilitarian consideration (something designed to be useful rather than attractive).
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