LeBaron 1 Emily LeBaron Ms.

Samson 14 January 2013 Genetically Modified Organisms Genetically engineered organisms, or GMOs, have foreign genes from other plants or animals inserted into their genetic code to create a desired effect (Heit 3). This concept is being applied to food, Genetic engineering is changing the food we eat and the world we live in (Ackerman 1).The increase in production of GMOs has created controversy over the decision of whether these products should be made and sold to the public. I believe that GMOs are beneficial to the community, and these benefits should be made available and incorporated into society for the overall profit of the populace. Genetically modified organisms can be specifically incorporated in crops, the environment, and in society. GMOs can be used to protect crops from viruses that would otherwise spoil. A specific instance where this technology saved crop along with the employment of many farmers, occurred during the late nineties on the big island of Hawaii. The papaya industry started to struggle due to the harmful effects of the papaya ring spot virus. Nothing seemed to stop the virus- not physical barriers, not chemical pesticides (Palfreman 2). In response to the virus a transgenic papaya was made which was resistant to the virus. The wonderful part about this is that the gene can be inherited by future generations of papaya, protecting them from the virus as well. Without the influence of GMOs, the $45 million papaya industry would be gone forever (Palfreman 5). in Hawaii. The concept of genetically modifying crops can be substantially beneficial to the future if it is utilized. The innovative technology of GMOs can greatly benefit the environment. In order to keep crops unspoiled and have the most yields, an immense amount of pesticides along with

LeBaron 2 herbicides and fertilizers are used on crops. Besides the costs of these chemicals, the environmental effects of these products are detrimental to the surrounding environment. These chemical products are used to target pests that are harmful to the crop, but the harmful effects and excess amounts of these products that are required to protect the crops kill off a bundle of insects and creatures that dont harm the crops and some of which are even beneficial to the crop. Substitutes to these harmful chemicals can be found through GMOs, GM crops can be produced to be herbicide resistant. (Rees 71) By splicing genes from other organisms that specifically relate to the issue at hand and utilize the opportunities that each gene can create, more specific natural toxins can be created by the plant itself. Even genes from bacteria can be used to engineer crops (Russe 4), cutting the cost of production as well as only exterminating specific pests. GMOs can reduce the amount of waste crop, the produce that doesnt meet regulations. This can happen for a series of reasons, including: the crop isnt big enough, it isnt the right color, its shriveled, it has experienced negative effects due to a virus, pests have gotten to it, etc. GMOs can fix all of these. As stated previously, genetic modifications can be made to protect produce from viruses. The same exact concept of modifying the papaya to resist the ring spot virus can be applied to increase size or shorten the time needed for growth; as long as an applicable gene can be found, it can be inserted into the genetics of the specified produce. This control and reduction of spoil or waste crop creates food security for society. This security that can be made by GMOs is undoubtedly very beneficial to society. Another significant factor to have presented is the fact that the genetically modified organisms that are being incorporated into the food industry have withstood not only passed the tests in the lab setting with flying colors, but these products also have passed the test of time.

LeBaron 3 Countries like Britain and the United States of America first approved of genetically modified organisms to be applied in the food industry in 1990. Soon after In 1994, the first GM whole food, the Flavr-Savr tomato, was released for sale in the market (GMAC 2). That means that these products have been implemented into the public market for almost twenty years and we havent faced any problem thus far with them. GMOs are proving to be continually more beneficial as the years move forward and as the opportunities of this innovation are expanded upon. GMOs are passing the tests and have proven themselves worthy of consumer use this whole period of time. One might oppose this proposal by inquiring the safety or effect that these GMOs can have on humans. This notion that GMOs are unsafe is refuted by the fact that these crops have been more widely tested that any other food product that came before them in history. Company scientists compare the chemistry in minute detail. Molecule by molecule, they analyze the GM and non-GM crops. If the resulting graphs from a mass spectrometer line up exactly, the two products are chemically identical (Palfreman 6). Genetically modified organisms can provide many benefits to a population and even the world when incorporated into farming. This technology can be used as a replacement for harmful herbicides and pesticides, as well as a way to protect crops from viruses; this protection creates stability in crop production. GMOs also reduce the amount of waist crop, enlarging the net crop that can be harvested and sold by farmers. Many people worry about GMOs being unnatural, but extensive research and testing has been done to ensure stability and chemical indifference in GMOs to the initial crop. Genetically modified organisms can provide great benefits to the world if its principles are used.

LeBaron 4 Bibliography: Forman, Lillian. Genetically Modified Foods. Edina, Minnesota: ABDO Publishing Company, 2009. Print. GMAC. Genetically Modified Foods. GMAC Singapore, 2013. Web. 9 Apr. 2013. Heit, Jeffry. Genetically Engineered Foods- An Overview. University of Maryland Medical Center, 2010. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Palfreman, Jon. Harvest of Fear Transcripts. PBS, 2001. Web. 4 Apr. 2013. Rees, Andy. Genetically Modified Food: A Short Guide for the Confused. London: Pluto Press, 2006. Ebook. Russe, Michael. Genetically Modified Foods: Debating Biotechnology. Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Book Publishers, 2002. Print. Ackerman, Jennifer. Food- How Altered? Tampa: National Geographic Magazine, 2002. Print.