Rane Dutcher

GMO Letter

In this letter, I will explain what GMOs are, and

deliberate on how they are affecting the FDAs food
supply. Contained within this letter, I will describe my view on the
subject, giving pointed facts over opinions, to be reviewed by the
U.S. Senate, U.S. Representatives, and the Food and
Drug Administration. There are many different sides to
this significant argument, but after reviewing all the facts I have access
to, I will give you my position in this debate.
The acronym, GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organisms,
which will be the main topic of this document. Genetically Modified
Organisms are life forms that have had their genetic material altered
through genetic engineering. These organisms genes do not occur
naturally, or even through traditional crossbreeding methods. These
GMOs are generally used to increase the food supply so everyone can
be fed in the United States. Farmers that use GMOs want to reduce
their stock damage and crop loss. Weeds, diseases, insects, and
extreme weather conditions are some of the few occurrences that
farmers want to protect their crops and livestock from. Genetically
modifying organisms are also used to save threatened crops and
animals, for example, a certain kind of papaya from Hawaii. GMOs are
used in the United States to help raise the amount of sustenance in the
country to feed its citizens, but also used to perfect certain traits within
different organisms.
Genetically Modified Organisms are created through the use of
biotechnology and genetic engineering. Biotechnology is the process of
purposefully making a copy of a wanted gene to acquire a desired trait.
The copy of the gene is then put into a different plant or organism.
They then grow to achieve the traits that were wanted.
GMOs are supposedly modified to give humans more nutrition from
consuming it. They last a lot longer, or in other words, not rot in a
longer period, compared to a natural specimen. Even though
genetically modifying an organism is not the first plan to solving a
problem in produce, it is a last resort to solving food and nutrition
problems.
Many people in the U.S. population believe that GMOs are a useful
way to increase the food supply while advancing the technology and
methods humans have been using for generations. For around 10,000
years or so, mankind has been manipulating the genes of crops,

creating new species like wheat, or corn. The technology of genetically

modifying different organisms is the only technology to be regulated
from its inception, before any mishaps had
occurred. Researchers incorporated regulations into
this technology around 1974, where governments
still encourage these rules today. So far, there are no
proven records of GMOs providing risks to humans.
Some people argue that GMOs increase the use of
chemical pesticides, which is quite the opposite.
GMOs have cut the use of pesticides and other
harmful chemicals, for example, GM cotton, that
uses 50% less insecticides than regular cotton. This
is because they have their own insecticide within its genes that does
not contain any chemicals that may be harmful humans. Insecticide
and other chemicals are sprayed from planes, where only a small
amount reaches the crops. The rest get into the environment killing
other insects, whether they are burdens or not. GMOs only kill the
insects eating the crop, saving the crops, most of the insect population,
and the environment. Its a surprise why people so big about the earth
would go against something that tries to help it.
On the other side of the argument, people feel that GMOs are a
health hazard, and that humans should not mess with nature. The
American Academy of Environmental Medicine has done studies that
show; organ damage, gastrointestinal and immune systems,
accelerated aging, and infertility have been seen in animals that have
partaken in the GMO products. Some materials from the GMO food that
were supposed to help, like the insecticide, stay behind in our bodies
and cause unhealthy problems. Cows that have the GM bovine growth
hormone in their milk are linked to cancer, because the milk has more
of the hormone IGF-1. GMOs increase herbicide use, because the
overuse of GMOs creates super-weeds that become more resistant to
the herbicide. Over 383 million extra pounds of herbicide was sprayed
into the GMO fields between 1996 and 2008. GM crops have been
wearing down on the environment, and their herbicides have been
known to kill birds, insects, amphibians, soil organisms and marine
ecosystems. For example, GM crops are eliminating monarch butterfly
habitats whose population is now down to 50%. GM crops are not safe
for the environment or the human body, and have yet to increase fields
for our food supply.
Based on the research I have done on this topic, I will make a
recommendation. I believe, personally, that GMOs should be set at a
limit. There are obviously some kinks that need to be worked out, such
as herbicide use, potential chemicals hurting the body, etc., but before
then, I believe GMOs should be kept at a minimum. They have the
ability to be useful, but evidence shows that GM crops arent doing

what they were meant to do. They were meant to increase food
supply, and be healthier for the environment and body with its
nutrients. Instead, they havent increased any amount of food, and
have been grinding on the health of all natural beings. I feel Im pretty
neutral in this concept, but I do think something needs to be done to
make GMOs healthier and better all around.

What is a GMO? An introduction / GMO Answers.

Council for Biotechnology Information. n.d. Web. 6
November 2015.
GMO Facts. The Non-GMO Project. n.d. Web. 6
November 2015.
Ben Miflin. Arguments In Favor Of Genetically-Modified Crops.
Arguments In Favor Of Genetically-Modified Crops. AgBioWorld. N.d.
Web. 10 November 2015.
4 examples of genetically modified crops. Bionet. N.d. Web. 10
November 2015.
Mary Odum. Arguments against GMOs. Arguments against GMOs.
Resilience. 22 may 2015. Web. 10 November 2015.
Jeffery Smith. 10 Reasons to Avoid GMOs. ResponsibleTechnology.
The Institute of Responsible Technology. 25 August 2011. Web. 12
November 2015.