Genetic Modification

GENETIC ENGINEERING

Genetic Modification

What is it?

Genetic modification is the method used to manipulate organism’s genomes through the use of biotechnology, which is the study of biological processes. So essentially, they are changing the DNA in which creates a cell.

Future Consequences

• Ethical issues, people believe that were ‘Playing God’ by changing an organisms DNA

• Our lack of understanding of effects of genetic engineering may have a negative impact on the human race and the environment. Species will become extinct

• When an altered gene is placed within an organism, fears rise that it’s un reversible

• There are fears that when a newly introduced genes are placed within an organism, it may have a different outcome then predicted.

• Fears rise that with the growing use of genetic engineering, it will start to become used in our everyday lives, and it will not be something that can be easily removed or stopped

• There is also a frightening scenario that terrorists groups could develop powerful and destructive biological weapons, that can resist medicines and can even be targeted at specific genes that people may carry. GE organisms used as biological weapons could be created in large quantities and developed faster.

My Opinion

Pros and Cons

I believe that genetic engineering of crops and animals is vital in expanding our knowledge and understanding in regards to DNA, while also testing our scientific limits. GM organisms could help prevent disease, and save people money, especially farmers, as their GM animals and crops won’t die as easily, there more sustainable. Although I also believe that the excessive use of GE could potentially damage the Earth’s natural ecosystems as GM organisms will not be able to survive in the environment as they may require different conditions that a specific habitat may not possess. I also believe that this is a very delicate topic as people have their own fair share of opinions.

The debate over genetically modified organisms has been a long, and frustrating process as many people have their own opinions on the matter.

The main issue people are getting worked up about is the genetic modifications of crops as these new plants could potentially be harmful to our bodies health.

GM Crops

Pros

• A potentially higher rate of the harvesting of crops, meaning more people can be feed.

• More economical

• Improved food quality, as GM foods would have a longer life span, such as GM tomatoes. Meaning the will exceed the general shelf life in food markets

• Gm foods are believed to withstand extreme weather, meaning that yields would be sufficient and up to high standards when harvested, even if they have been plummeted with bad weather

• Gm foods have been modified to resist insects, meaning crops won’t die because of insect outbreak such as locus

Cons

• It can be seen as cruel, dishonorable and un-ethical to the animal. Animals could die during the process, awhile some are born with deformities.

• Food companies most often than not refuse GM animals and other foods as they could be harmful to human health

• The natural order of life is being disturbed, further damaging the ecosystems. Animals may not be able to survive under these odd conditions.

• Feel as they a depriving animals of there freedom

Cons

• Organisms within an ecosystem could be harmed in the process of genetically modifying foods, this leads to lower levels of biodiversity. Removing a pest from a crop could be removing another organism’s food source.

• The new GM foods could also prove to be toxic to the environment, leading to a mass outbreak of extinctions of particular organisms.

• Gm foods can trigger allergic reactions, these foods generally are a combination of different proteins that weren’t originally found on the plant, therefore causing new allergic reactions to occur to the human body.

GM Animals

Pros

• GM animals can be engineered in a way that makes them grow faster, without requiring a lot of food, to reproduce faster, and without leaving behind any harmful waste, meaning farmers can save more money

• GM can be made to resist diseases and other bad sicknesses, meaning again, farmers can save more money

• The animals could engineered to produce certain substances that could be a source of new medicine.

History...

1976

In 1976, Herb Boyer founded the first ever genetic engineering company named Genetech with venture capitalist Robert Swanson.

The concept of genetic modification has been around for a very long time, since 12,000 BC, the time in which humans learnt how to domesticate animals and other organisms, Such as dogs, cats and goats.

1973

Genetic engineering, was not fully introduced until 1973, when biologist Herbert Boyer and biochemist Stanley Cohen successfully transferred DNA from one organism into another, directly.

1982

In 1982, The first genetically modified drug, being human insulin, has been allowed to be sold in markets as the Food and Drug Association approved of the drug.

1974

1978

In the year following this experiment, the world’s first transgenic animals were created by Rudolf Jaenisch. DNA, from another organism was placed in mice embryos, therefore, when they bread, the genes found in the new animals tissue was modified.

2 years later, the production of genetically engineered human insulin was announced by Genetech.

Genetically Modified Foods

In 1983, Michael Bevan, Richard Flavell and Mary-Ddell Clilton made the first genetically modified crop plant, Tobacco.

The first crop to be genetically modified and sold commercially was the tomato. These tomatoes were made to withstand the usual decaying rate of typical tomatoes that haven’t been genetically modified.