Genetic Engineering
Genetic engineering is a scientific revolution that changed
the way we grow and consume foods in agriculture. The development of this biotechnology started
with the Recombinant-DNA (rDNA) technology, which is the introduction of one
organism artificially introduced into the genome of another organism and then
replicated and expressed by that other organism[1]. This was created through the collaboration of
two scientists Herbert Boyer and Stanley Cohen in 1972 and after from the
original gene-splicing experiment first introduced by Paul Berg in 1971.
Approximately forty-three years later, most agriculture is
cultivated by implementing the scientific method of genetically modified
organisms (GMO’s) that had once allowed farmers to grow pest-resilient crops that
can grow much larger and sustain a longer shelf life than years prior to the
use of this technology.
In 1999, over 100 million acres of farms around the world
were farmed with these genetically engineered seeds. However, by 2003, it was
discovered that certain pests had already become immune to the genetically
engineered toxins produced by these modified crops.[2] Further, the need to introduce a
stringent form of toxic bacterium in order for these crops to survive is now under way.
It is important to note that in 2011, the same toxins were
found in the blood of a pregnant women who showed evidence that she had passed
the same toxin to her unborn child. Since
both humans and animals are being fed genetically engineered crops, it is likely
that we are consuming a significant amount of GMO’s from the animals we feed on
and the vegetables we eat, quite possibly enhancing the number of toxins we
consume from GM foods in our diets per day.
With the height of the population growing at an astounding rate,
projected to grow to 9 million people by 2050[3],
the need to cultivate genetically modified food sources will continue to
advance in many other facets of our daily diets. And although there have been numerous
accounts of animal cases that have documented severe, if not fatal side-effects
to GM food consumption[4]. The FDA continues to allow these GM foods to
be produced and has recently approved a recent application from AquaBounty
Technologies for AquAdvantage Salmon[5];
this will be a new form of genetically engineered food source that alters the
DNA of Atlantic Salmon which will allow it to grow faster, thereby yielding the
company a high profit margin on the length of time it takes to raise and sell
these genetically modified salmon in the marketplace.
Which brings me to ask this question: “Is the FDA really
looking out for your best interest?” If
you google this very question or “Is the FDA Corrupt?” You will find many articles and documented
regarding this very topic. But I will leave that up to you to decide for
yourselves.
I LOVE how you chose this topic, because it is so important. This is food we're talking about: the substances we put into our body to survive and nourish ourselves. If they are all chemically treated, are we harming our bodies more than we are helping them? Well, there's been a lot of disagreement within the scientific community about whether or not GMOs are safe to humans.
ReplyDeleteHere's the Non-GMO website (which obviously promotes food items that are not genetically modified): http://livingnongmo.org/learn/gmo-faq/?gclid=CjwKEAiAlNbEBRCv9uy4j4SWrgwSJAB5MqJFMYP-wMtzyUAcYccE74qZiKImvme4TtpNKwh-tkGcBBoCa4Hw_wcB#are-gmos-safe
And here is another article that totally debunks all of the bad claims made against GMOs: http://allianceforscience.cornell.edu/blog/mark-lynas/gmo-safety-debate-over
Who do we believe? What do we trust? I personally strive to eat mainly organic food (despite the rising cost, which can be disheartening...) simply because I feel GMOs are unnecessary. I want to eat the purest, most simple foods I can find. I truly believe that human beings are not meant to consume chemicals or genetically modified foods to the degree we are, but science disagrees heavily on the outcome of doing so.
I personally think the FDA is absolutely corrupt. Here is an article concerning drugs and the FDA: http://ethics.harvard.edu/blog/risky-drugs-why-fda-cannot-be-trusted
And that's just one branch of their job. Food is the other. And in my opinion, if there has been this much disagreement about GMOs, why not just ban them? If there's this much risk associated with GMOs, why not rid them from out diets altogether? We know we do not need them, and by banning them, organic and local farming will take off and we can support local business. Win-win.
- Julie
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