Genetically Modified Organisms' Functionality, Safety, and Necessity - Research Paper Example

Genetically Modified Organisms by Since the appearance of genetically modified organisms social, economic, and religious debates overtheir functionality, safety, and necessity do not cease. What is clear is that no one remains indifferent towards this issue: some people feel strong opposition to such innovations while others are really enthusiastic about the invention because it opens a great deal of opportunities. So genetically modified organisms have become a common issue contradicted by multiple opinions and questions, yet most of the consumers of these genetically engineered products are ignorant of how the process of production and storage are happening. Thus, in this paper I am going to examine the process of GMO production and storage in order to assess the risks connected with their consumption. Genetically modified organisms are organisms (bacteria, viruses, plants, animals) which genetics was changed in order for acquiring new functions. As genes are responsible for carrying the information in the sequences and structures of DNA, they define special characteristics of the organisms. Advances of biotechnology now permit to extract, change, and add various genes to the organisms. It is even possible to transfer genes between non-related organisms. Most often scientists add some genes to plants in order to make them stable to certain viruses (GMOs, 2010). Genetically modified organisms are used in medicine, agriculture, biology, textile production. Usually when people start speaking about genetically modified organisms they mean genetically modified crops which have become a part of everyday life of the consumers in the world. Tobacco was the first plant which received additional genes to resist herbicides. Later it was modified to be capable to resist insects and the ripening qualities of the crops were also changed. In 1995 Food and Drug Administration approved commercial usage of GM potato, corn, soya, and tomato, and the variety of plants with additional genes increase significantly (Swanson, 2013). People usually underestimate the quantity of GM crops that they consume. However, by the end of 2012 more than 144 kinds of plants received access to the market in the United States of America. So an impressive part of the crops consumed by Americans in the following years were genetically modified: according to the statistics of USDA 93% of all soy, 88 % of all corn, and 94% of cotton (Swanson, 2013). Today such products as tomatoes and cantaloupes with advanced ripening characteristics, beets and soybeans with improved herbicides resistance, and corn and cotton plats tolerant to pest are available in the supermarkets (Whitman , 2005). Golden rice is now one of the most famous examples of genetically modified crops. It is a special kind of rice that was modified to add beta-carotene in edible parts of rice. The introduction of this product would possibly give a chance to solve the problem of vitamin A products shortage in the third world countries. Nevertheless, some influential organizations as Greenpeace, were against golden rice global production as it could possibly lead to the broader spread of GMO (Swanson, 2013). There are several principal reasons why GM plants have become so popular: 1. Resistance to pests. One of the worst problems of all farmers is loss of crops due to pests` invasion. In such cases farmers do not receive any profit and there can be problems with products supply in the country. Using pesticides is effective but is considered dangerous for consumers` health that is why many agriculture workers see GM crops with pests resistant genes as the only solution to this problem. 2. Weed is the second problem for plants and physical means of weed elimination is very time-consuming. Most technologies require using herbicides, special chemicals that help fighting with weed but as the result these herbicides affect crops as well. Genetic engineering allows inserting such genes to the crops that help to resist herbicides which allow reducing chemicals usage. 3. Such diseases as fungi caused by various bacteria and viruses make agriculture rather problematic that is why GM crops with genes resistant to these diseases alleviate the process and make crops more productive. 4. Resistance to cold is another innovation that is possible to achieve with the help of genetic engineering. Scientists consider adding an antifreeze gene of a fish to the plants which will help to save crops from unexpected weather changes and low temperatures. 5. There are many lands that cannot be utilized for farming because of possible draught and high level of salinity. Genetic engineering will allow create crops tolerant to drought and salinity and will increase tolerance to these phenomena. 6. It is also possible to use genetic engineering to enhance nutrient properties of products which will help to fight malnutrition. For example, it is possible to modify rice so that it would contain vitamin A or any other nutrients that would enhance it. 7. Genetic engineering can improve pharmaceutical industry because it will give a possibility to create vaccines in vegetables and that will reduce costs for shipping, and delivery significantly (Whitman, 2005). Genetic modification is not altogether a completely artificial process as it can also occur naturally. Sometimes exogenous DNA can penetrate the cell for various reasons. In laboratory conditions genetic engineers have several methods permitting to create genetically-modified organisms. Most of scientists use mechanical insertion of genes with the help of a syringe, insertion of a DNA with a help of electric pulse, and using of a gene gun (Sanford 34). The steps involving genetic modification of crops can be divided into the following steps: First, scientists isolate the gene which represents some interest as it is responsible for certain function such as herbicides tolerance; Next step includes gene`s insertion into a transfer vector. Plasmid is circular molecule of DNA that is utilized for plants. Scientists elaborated several special recombinant techniques that allow inserting the target gene into the plasmid; Further the cells of the plants start undergoing a transformation as they are combined with the cells containing the plasmid or cut pieces of plants (these pieces are often used is the genetic modification is done with the help of gene gun). Scientists than have to select which cells of the plant were modified. To perform this task genes that had to be modified to become resistant to pets or herbicides are placed into the vector along with other genes. Exposure of the cells to the herbicides for example allows finding out which cells have undergone transformation as all the other genes do not survive. The newly modified genes are then regenerated into whole plants, and when the roots grow up they are placed in the pots. In order to check if the DNA was inserted properly plants are exposed to verification. This verification must determine the number of copies inserted and possible undesirable effects of the modification. It is also necessary to assess the functionality of a gene. Genetically modified corps then undergo several tests. First they are tested in a greenhouse to determine if the desired effect was achieved. Later they are tested in the field conditions before they are planted in open environment. Next step presupposes plants testing in multi-location field under natural conditions. Finally crops can be commercialized if they undergo all the stages of testing successfully (Process of GMO Crops Developing, 2010). So it clear that crops undergo serious modification and it is really hard to forecast how it will affect plants eventually. That is why these innovations are often criticized by environmental organizations, professional associations, religious institutions, and even governmental structures. It is possible to divide the risks and problems which GMO produce into three categories: environmental, economic, and problems for human health. Environmentalists claim that such serious modification of one species will inevitably affect all the other species because of natural balance. It was noticed that the whole species of butterflies known as monarch butterflies were killed because of GM corn. Scientists suggest that it is impossible to create such GM crops that would be harmful only to one kid of pests and safe for all other insects. There is also a concern that eventually insects will become tolerant even to GM crops. And there is another problem of possible cross-breeding of crops and weeds and transferring of the genes of resistance. This corrupted natural balance can have serious consequences for the whole agriculture (Whitman, 2005). But probable risk for human health provokes even more serious debates regarding safety of genetically modified organisms. One of the most obvious problems is allergy that can be developed in children and adults after GM crops consumption. As the result of mutation is unpredictable it can also create a new allergen. And in order to understand all possible health problems in people GMO must undergo a long a period of trials which make these products unaffordable. There is a high possibility that GMO will provoke serious adverse events in their consumers as genetic combination of plants from various climatic regions can have unexpected impact on human body work. GMO were primarily developed as those that could influence positively poverty and malnutrition but there is possibility that patents will be very expensive and small farmers and those poorly developed countries will not be able to afford them. Rockefeller Foundation after new GM crops creation sold their samples for a very low price but it is hardly possible that all other organizations will follow their example (Whitman, 2005). Genetic engineering made it possible to produce crops which have special genes resistant to pests, weeds, low temperatures, and other problems. Scientists distinguish necessary genes and transfer it to the plants until necessary transformation. Though the creation of GMO is now on the higher level compared to the last decade, and many serious organizations continue their research in this sphere there are still problems with unexpected adverse effects that GMO can cause. Environmentalists claim that GMO can negatively affect all the other species disrupting natural balance. GM crops can also provoke new kind of allergy in people. But FDA has approved commercialization of genetically modified crops, and today GMO have become a usual thing for consumers in the USA and Europe. And there is high necessity to introduce such plants to the third world countries which suffer from malnutrition. So GMO must now be regarded as possible solution to the world problems but more research is required in this sphere. References Genetically Modified Organisms (2010). Department of Science and Technology South Republic of Africa. Retrieved from: http://www.pub.ac.za/pdfs/factsheet_gmos.pdf Process of GMO Crops Developing. (2010).African Biosafety Network of Expertise. Retrieved from: http://www.nepadbiosafety.net/subjects/biotechnology/process-of-developing-genetically-modified-gm-crops Sanford, J. (1987). Delivery of substances into cells and tissues using a particle bombardment process. Journal of Particulate Science and Technology 5:27-37. Swanson, N. (2013). Genetically Modified Organisms and the deterioration of health in the United States. MIT Computer Science Laboratory. Retrieved from: http://people.csail.mit.edu/seneff/glyphosate/NancySwanson.pdf Whitman, D. (2005). Genetically modified food: Harmful or Helpful? Discovery Guides. Retrieved from: http://www.csa.com/discoveryguides/gmfood/review.pdf Read More