Genetically Modified Foods
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While the twentieth century may be known as the century of chemistry and physics, the twenty-first century may well be known as the century of biotechnology. Current technologies enable scientists to create genetically engineered organisms by using the basic building blocks of living matter, genes. This ability offers the world a number of advances, from curing diseases to human cloning. One of the biggest advances, according to some, is already here û genetically engineered crops and foods. Genetically engineered crops are new kinds of crops. Biotechnologists use certain genes from one organism and introduce them into another organism to produce a desirable trait. For example, the antifreeze gene from fish has been introduced into tomatoes to help make them frost-resistant. Scientists have also used specific genes from soil bacteria which is toxic to a number of different pests. According to the Pew Initiative on Food and Biotechnology (2004), ôThis protein, referred to as Bt, is produced by the plant, thereby making it resistant to insect pests like the European Corn Borer or Cotton Boil Wormö (Genetically 1). Other crops are introduced with weed-resistant genes, making them known as one of a variety of ôRoundup Readyö crops. Monsanto produces the pesticide Roundup.While many argue that genetically engineered foods are beneficial in a number of ways, others argue that there are potentially numerous dangers that may result
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ds have a variety of potential dangers. For humans, there are a number of potential dangers that might emerge that are as yet unknown. Examples of these might be allergic reactions, possibly even fatal ones, in people due to artificially introduced genes in food. Another example might be a high level of toxic buildup that leads to disease or even death from the introduction of herbicide- and pesticide-resistant genes. Such engineering also promises the potential for unknown havoc on the ecosystem. Since these new breeds of species are able to contaminate other naturally occurring species, it is not unlikely that mutations could occur that would wipe out many species of fruits and vegetables, thereby wiping out animal populations or species that depend on them. A panel created by the National Academy of Sciences has yet to discover any harm to humans from genetically modified crops, however the panel still offered the following warning: ôTransferring genes does raise the risk of surprise effects. However, the panel noted, techniques other than gene-splicing, such as mutagenesis from radiation or chemicals, have a higher risk of creating genetic surprises. Even crops whose genes are modified and shuffled by conventional bree
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Approximate Word count = 2698
Approximate Pages = 11 (250 words per page)
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