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Adrianna Collins
Mrs. Stemen
BioTech
3 February 2015
Gmos
GMOs? What are GMOs? Are GMOs good or bad? Well there are multiple questions
and opinions on GMOs. Basically GMOs are genetically modified food that people eat on a
regular basis. Research has been done on the pros and cons on these foods as well as the
opinions of others. The popular methods for making a GMO may have something to do with
protein synthesis, while GMOs are absolutely harmful to the health of humans.
From gene to protein what happens in protein synthesis is quite simple to explain. In
protein synthesis everything starts in the nucleus of the cell where the DNA is. The DNA makes
a copy of itself, this copy is called mRNA; this process is known as translation. When the mRNA
leaves the nucleus it goes to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum, or Rough ER, then it attaches
itself on to a ribosome. The tRNA, which carrys the proteins, comes and is like a puzzle and
matches up with its mRNA pair (Stemen). Each time a pair is made the proteins link up while the
tRNA leaves. This keeps on happening until there is a strand of proteins; this part of the process
is known as transcription.
Now that the intro for protein synthesis is done there are the methods for genetic
engineering. These methods do have to do with protein synthesis yes, but some it is still done.
This method is called Plant Gene Transfer. This particular method is used for plants and consists
of very specific steps that must be followed. The very first thing that must be done is to identify
the gene and the genomic sequence; this is basically the sequence of the gene. Then the DNA

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sequence has to be changed to go with the new gene; the gene is then transferred. The plant cell
has to go through plant regeneration. The last step is greenhouse and field testing, these steps are
used to see if the plants would grow in normal real world conditions (Genetic Engineering
Methods).
The health risks for GMOs can vary. GMOs, like soybeans for example, have been
eaten and have caused people have an allergic reaction because the soybean having genes from
peanuts (Jeffery 1). Though some people may disagree with this statement its been proven true,
because in the 1990s scientists attempted to fuse the gene of a certain nut into soybeans. They
had some people eat them and some had an allergic to the nut gene in the soybean (Jeffery 1).
GM food may also cause autism in children who eat them. The facts show that in 2010 there
were 1-68 children in the US that were autistic (CDC) and the amount of GMOs, such as corn
and soybeans, in the US has grown to about 90% and is being fed to farm animals (Charles 1),
there is probably a connection there. GMOs may also be the case for people having cancer,
though this hasnt been proven yet. While in the future the foods that have been genetically
modified may cause more health risks for human that arent known now.
So now it is known that GMOs are bad. They are made with different methods using
protein synthesis and are absolutely risky to human health. People eat them every day because
they arent even aware of what they are eating. While people who are allergic to peanuts per say
wouldnt even know what they have eaten till it hit them and a company is sued. So, the question
is, why eat them?

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Work Cited
"Data & Statistics." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 24 Mar. 2014. Web. 05 Feb. 2015. <http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/data.html>.
"Genetic Engineering Methods." Http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/bi430-fs430/Documents-2004/3BBIOTECH%20Meth/Strauss-GE%20methods-agbioclass-2004.pdf (2004): 1+.

"How American Food Companies Go GMO-Free In A GMO World." NPR. NPR, n.d. Web. 11
Feb. 2015. <http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2014/02/04/269479079/how-americanfood-companies-go-gmo-free-in-a-gmo-world>.
Smith, Jeffery. "Institute for Responsible Technology." Http://www.responsibletechnology.org. N.p.,
2007. Web. 04 Feb. 2015. <http://www.responsibletechnology.org/gmo-dangers/healthrisk/articles-about-risks-by-jeffery-smith/Genetically-Engineered-Food-May-Cause-Rising-FoodAllergies-Genetically-Engineered-Soybeans-May-2007>.

Stemen, Ashley. Protein Synthesis. VNT, Huntington, 22/January, 2015. Workshop.