Research Work.
Write an individual research paper on the impacts of GMOs on one
of the following topics:
Background of the study:
This paper explained about Genetically engineered (GE) organisms, also
called genetically modified organisms (GMOs), are living plants and animals whose
genetic material was artificially altered in a laboratory.
Transgenic organisms are a type of GMO in which selected genes of one type of
organism are inserted into the genetic makeup of another, distantly related organism.
At the end of this research we will have a broader understanding about GMOs and
It’s impact on every given topics.
Topic: Impacts of GMOs on Roundup Ready soybean
INTRODUCTION
In 1996, Monsanto released Roundup Ready (RR) soybeans and kicked off
drastic and swift changes in soybean production around the world. RR soybeans
have been genetically engineered to include a gene from the soil bacterium
Agrobacterium tumefaciens, which makes them tolerant to the broad-spectrum
herbicide RoundupTM (glyphosate). By using RR soybeans, weeds can be controlled
through over the top application of glyphosate. Use of the RR soybean technology
typically results in the replacement of multiple applications with selective post
emergence herbicides by one or two over the top applications with glyphosate
GM soy was obtained through the direct incorporation of an isolated gene that
encodes the desired trait, in the first receiver soy variety.
BODY:
Many farmers have begun to use Roundup Ready crops. A recent news article
(link) suggests that farmers have becoming so reliant on Roundup as a herbicide
that they may be weakening Roundup's ability to control weeds. Monsanto,
manufacturer of Roundup, funded the study. Few farmers consider resistance an
issue until it affects them directly. Farmers are now being encouraged to use multiple
herbicides. It is unclear how this will impact the use of Roundup Ready crops, as
these crops are only resistant to Roundup. Farmers have found themselves stuck
between Monsanto and a hard place. It has become increasingly difficult for farmers
to grow non-genetically engineered crops, as contamination has become a big issue.
Additionally, it is very difficult for a farmer to advertise that their products are organic,
and as such using home-grown seeds might not be able to be as profitable as using
genetically engineered seeds. In one case, a farmer used to growing his own canola
was sued by Monsanto when his canola seeds became contaminated by their
Roundup Ready genes. More commentary on this issue can be found in the
Greenpeace section (link).
CONCLUSION
Unfortunately, these studies had one major problem: the croplands they created
for their experiments were rather small. Industrial croplands, on the other hand, can
be on the order of a million acres. Therefore, even though developing resistance to
Roundup is not probable for any individual plant, there are a massive number of
weeds growing that have the potential to resist its poison: this significantly increases
the probability of at least some Roundup resistant weeds developing
ttp://library.wur.nl/way/bestanden/clc/1893495.pdf
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Topic: Golden Rice
INTRODUCTION
Current regulatory constraints have a choke-hold on innovations for genetic
modifications that seek to improve subsistence crops, such as rice. Golden rice,
yellowed in appearance because it is infused with the vitamin A precursor beta-
carotene, could save thousands of malnourished people each year from blindness and
the other vitamin A–deficiency diseases prevalent in Southeast Asia. Intellectual
property issues and opposition from anti-GM activists have confounded the
development for years. Faced with patent issues and regulatory hurdles and costs,
developer and academic researcher Ingo Potrykus formed an alliance with Syngenta
(then AstraZeneca Corporation) to allow the free licensing of the patents to public
research institutions for humanitarian use. In addition, farmers making less than
US$10,000 will receive free golden rice seed.
BODY
Elevating vitamin A content by plant genetic engineeringVitamin A
(retinol) is an essential vitamin used in the retina to create pigment; therefore, it
promotes good day and night vision. Vitamin A deficiency can cause visual
impairment which can ultimately lead to blindness. It can also cause keratinization of
the mucous membranes and soft tissue such as the lungs, GI and urinary tracts.
Vitamin A deficiency is a problem in developing countries.
Benefits: Golden Rice as a vitamin A supplement For the general population,
Golden Rice can be beneficial because it serves as a source of supplementary
vitamin A and carotene. High intake of specific vitamins and minerals, such as
carotenoids, vitamin A and carotene, have been linked with reducing risk of coronary
artery disease, specific cancers, and macular degeneration, Carotene is an
antioxidant; therefore, it can help the protect the body from destructive free-radical
reactions.Malnutrition is a global problem.
Risks Many anti-GMO activists actively voice potential negative consequences
of planting and consuming golden rice. Risks include potential allergies or potential
antibiotic resistance. There is also the possibility that genetically modified foods enter
the food supply inadvertently from planting GMO crops near non-GMO crops, without
knowledge from the consumer. As genetically modified crops would have to be
grown, there are concerns about the effect they would have on the surrounding
environment. Therefore ethical concerns arise from the unknown effect on the
environment. Could the crops negatively impact the environment and possibly its
biodiversity? A possible threat to biodiversity arises when genetically modified crops
breed with wild species (Murnaghan 2016).
CONCLUSION
Even though these very minimal risks are still discussed in popular discourse,
many scientists now agree that genetically modified crops are just as safe to
consume and to plant as traditional crops. On a different note, there are possible
socioeconomic implications that genetically modified foods can have on developing
countries. Since for-profit companies back genetically modified foods, there is the
fear of negative effects on small-scale farmers because market dominance may
arise. This could negatively impact poor farmers who cannot compete with large
biotech companies for land and a share of the rice market.
htts://www.scu.edu/ethics/focus-areas/bioethics/resources/genetically-modified-foo
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3. AquaAdvantage Salmon
INTRODUCTION:
Why genetically engineer salmon to grow faster? Salmon is one of the most
popular fishes available. As of 2014, salmon is the second most consumed
seafood in the U.S. Salmon are either caught in the wild through commercial
fishing or they are raised via aquaculture (fish farming). Since the 1990s, there
has been a decline in wild Atlantic salmon populations.
In late 2015, the Food and Drug Administration gave the greenlight to
AquaBounty, Inc., a company poised to create, produce and market an entirely
new type of salmon. By combining the genes from three different types of fish,
AquaBounty has made a salmon that grows unnaturally fast, reaching adult size
twice as fast as its wild relative.
BODY
Based on a comprehensive analysis of the scientific evidence, as required by the
Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), the FDA determined that
AquAdvantage Salmon meets the statutory requirements for safety and effectiveness
under the FD&C Act. The salmon are safe to eat, the introduced DNA is safe for the
fish itself, and the salmon meet the sponsor’s claim about faster growth. The FDA
also analyzed the potential environmental impact that an approval of the original
AquAdvantage Salmon application and a supplemental application would have on the
quality of the human environment in the United States and issued its Environmental
Assessments and Findings of No Significant Impact.
If FDA approves the AquAdvantage salmon as a new animal drug, it will need to
decide whether or not to require any special labeling for food derived from those fish.
In addition to requiring that all food labels be truthful and not misleading, FDA has
stated that it can only require a mandatory label if the engineered salmon is
“materially” different from a non-engineered salmon. FDA has determined that the
fact that a food was made using genetic engineering is not a material difference that
requires a special label and that it cannot require labeling based solely on the food’s
method of production. Even if there is a material difference between the
AquAdvantage salmon and other Atlantic salmon, the required label would identify
the “material” difference to the consumer but not the fact that the fish was genetically
engineered. For example, FDA has required GE soybeans with a higher
concentration of oleic acid to be labeled as “high oleic acid soybeans” but not
“genetically engineered high oleic acid soybeans.”
CONCLUSION
The general scientific consensus on these fish that have been genetically altered
to produce more growth hormone is that they may provide more benefit to the
environment than harm, but we don't yet have enough information to be completely
confident. We can't ethically study the actual GMO fish in completely natural
ecosystems and their traits seem to depend heavily on their specific environmental
conditions, so all of our data on these relationships are indirect. However, if the fish
are contained in controlled and regulated enclosures, then there is a very small
chance of their escape
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AquAdvantage_salmon
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4.Bt corn
INTRODUCTION
Corn is one of humankind's earliest innovations. It was domesticated 10,000
years ago when humans learned to cross-pollinate plants and slowly turned a
scraggly nondescript grass called teosinte into plump, productive modern corn. As
needs change, so does plant breeding. Today, while biotech super-giants manipulate
corn genetics to satisfy farmer desires and a global market, indigenous Mexican
farmers do so to fulfill individual needs. Although the tools differ, the goal remains the
same to cultivate desirable traits.
BODY:
Supporters of genetic engineering have long promised it will help meet the
world’s growing demand for food. But despite the creation of many genetically
modified (GM) pest- and herbicide-resistant crops, scientists haven’t had much
success with boosting crop growth. Now, researchers have for the first time shown
they can reliably increase corn yields up to 10% by changing a gene that increases
plant growth regardless of whether growing conditions are poor or optimal.
These GE plants produce crystal (Cry) proteins or toxins derived from the
soilbacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), hence the common name "Bt maize". Bt
maize has revolutionized pest control in a number of countries, but there still are
questions about its use and impact. This article will focus on the opportunities and
challenges presented by Bt maize as they relate to current insect-resistant products.
CONCLUSION
“Agricultural biotechnology is here to stay” read a recent opinion piece by
Gianessi. No doubt he is correct. As genetic engineering continues to evolve,
transgenic methods will become just one of many tools. In fact, some researchers
are currently focusing their work on manipulating an organism's own genetic code to
achieve desired traits. Scientific inquiry will continue to weigh the risks and benefits
of such technologies, realizing that there may never be enough evidence to ensure
zero risk.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetically_modified_maize#:~:text=Bt%20corn%20is
%20a%20variant,corn%20is%20not%20considered%20organic.
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