The world we live in today is regularly changing due to technological advancements. The area of molecular genetics is one that is enjoying these advancements in technology. People are developing new ways of doing things, especially in the agricultural field. Genetically modified organisms have been a major issue in the world. Due to the climatic changes, the scientists are doing extensive research on the alternatives that can be employed to help overcome the rapid challenges most people are going through, the process is to change from generic organisms to adopting the genetically modified organisms. The GMOs are distinctive organisms whose genetic material has been altered so as to improve productivity and quality. Genetically modified organisms are extensively used in the United States of America; however, other parts of the world have begun embracing the change. The food people eat now has been genetically modified (Shanahan et al., 2001). The scientists have the capability of using technology to insert some of the important genes into various organisms, and this is known as genetic modification. The adjustment can change the quality and the taste of crops and foods. It can also enhance endurance to pests and also increase nutrients.
Countless scientists have claimed that the genetically modified organisms are similar to natural propagation while the ones who are against it argue that the genetically modified organism are different from natural breeding. The environmental safety and the well-being of the human beings are the primary concerns of the controversy that has been arising due to the use of the genetically modified organisms (Shanahan et al., 2001).
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Benefits of Genetically Modified Organisms
The genetically modified organisms are either plants or animals that have been altered genetically so as to produce a desired trait. The genetically modified organisms benefited the field of agriculture. For instance, crops that are resistance to stress have been introduced. When the crops are made resistant to pest outbreak, the dangers of crop failure are reduced. Such crops are also able to resist severe weather such as drought, frost or extreme heat. This means that the plants will give enough yields even when the climatic conditions are not favorable. However, for such cops to resists the extreme weather, they require complex gene combination and relevant pest management practices. The same has also been done to the animals whereby they have been genetically modified to resist diseases. Besides, the use of GMOs in Agriculture has led to the production of more nutritious foods (Grubbs, 2014). When the genes are inserted into some crops such as wheat and rice, food value is increased. For instance, some genes that are rich in Vitamin A have been inserted in crops such as the rice plants. Rice has been known to feed around eighty percent of the world’s population and therefore, this helps to lessen vitamin A deficit that has been a major problem in the developing countries. People are thus able to get the right amount of nutrients that are required by the body. The GMOs have also improved productivity in the farm animals. Genes have been inserted in cattle to increase their milk yield.
The genetically modified organisms also pose a potential benefit to the environment. Less land can produce a lot of food especially when the crops are genetically modified. The enhanced productivity from the genetically modified organisms means that in the coming decades, the farmers will not be able to produce a lot even when they have a small piece of land. The GMOs also lessen the environmental influence of industrial processes and food production. When the crops are genetically modified to resist pests and diseases, they reduce the chemicals that are required for crop protection. Farmers are now growing crops that do not need to be sprayed with insecticides because they can produce their insecticidal agent (Grubbs, 2014). The scientists are also developing trees with low lignin content, and this helps in the reduction of harmful chemicals in paper and pulp production. These developments have led to the decline of the environmental impact and also improved the health of the workers. With the use of the GMOs, damaged and the less fertile land can be rehabilitated. In the developing nations, vast areas of land have become saline because of the unsustainable practices of irrigation. The genetic modification can produce varieties that are salt-tolerant. Moreover, the trees can also be modified to become draught resistant. A lot of research has been done in this area. Nevertheless, for the trees to resist drought and salt, they will require complex combinations of the genes. For the biofuels, organic matter is capable of being bred so as to provide energy. Biomass has the potential of producing a lot of energy. For instance, the waste from sorghum or sugarcane is capable of producing a lot of energy more especially in the rural areas. Due to this, plants may be bred (Grubbs, 2014).
The genetically modified organisms also benefit human beings. The utilization of molecular biology in the development of both human and animal vaccines has been promising. The scientists have been able to engineer plants to produce vaccines through a process that is known as pharming. For instance, potatoes have been genetically modified to produce vaccines against a bacteria that causes diarrhea (Grubbs, 2014).
The genetically modified organisms have also been known to reduce global warming. When more plants are grown, oxygen is increased in the environment, and the concentration of carbon dioxide is reduced, and this reduces global warming. Research has shown that genetically modified plants and crops reduce the greenhouse gas emissions (Wolfenbarger & Phifer, 2000).
Harmful Effects of Genetically Modified Organisms
When genes are introduced to plants and animals, they change their DNA structure and therefore, the proper functioning of these organisms is altered. Though the genetically modified organisms have some advantages, they have caused more harm than benefits. The scholars who are against genetically modified organisms argue that the organisms are usually made in the laboratory and thus pose a lot of risk to human beings (Wolfenbarger & Phifer, 2000).
Research has shown that the genetically modified organisms have allergic reactions. Allergic reactions occur in the human body when a harmless protein gets its way to the body thus creating immunity. The proteins which are genetically modified often result to causing allergies; this is because proteins have the ability of eliciting increased immune response in the human body hence causing allergic reactions. Research that was carried out by Brown University indicated that the genetically modified foods can pose allergic risks to people. It is claimed that genetic modification add proteins that are not original to plant and animals, and this might cause allergic reactions in the human body. For instance, if a certain protein from a particular organism that produced an allergic reaction is included in something that did not previously because of any allergic reaction, a new allergic reaction is often prompted (Wolfenbarger & Phifer, 2000).
The GMOs are also not friendly to the environment. Many scholars argue that the GMO foods are safe because they do not pose risks to the environment. However, they contain some of the substances that may be harmful to the environment. Such elements that have an impact on the environment have remained disclosed to the public (Beringer, 2000).
Most GMOs like plants produce some substances that may be toxic to human beings. Numerous plants that are consumed by humans produce some toxins. When plants are genetically modified, they tend to produce high levels of toxins that tend to be dangerous to the human body. When the genes that are contained in the plant get damaged during the process of insertion, the capability of the plant to generate its toxins can be altered. On the other hand, the gene that is introduced can inhibit metabolic path, and this causes the plant to produce a lot of toxins (Beringer, 2000). These effects have not been noticed in the GM plants. However, they have been noted through various methods of conventional breeding, and this has created a safety alarm for the GM plants. For instance, the potatoes that have been bred conventionally for increased resistance to diseases produce a lot of toxins that are harmful to the human body.
Some GMOs are resistant to bacteria. In the recent decade, numerous health practitioners have become frightened by the growing number of the microbial strains that are becoming resistant to antibiotics. Bacteria has become resistance to antibiotics by generating genes that are resistant to the antibiotic through natural mutation. These genes that are resistant to the antibiotics are used by the biotechnologists as selectable indicators when the new genes are introduced into plants. During the early stages of this process, many scientists are usually not sure whether the target plant will integrate the original gene in its existing genome (Hug, 2007). Through attaching the anticipated gene to a gene that is resistant to antibiotics, the new genetically modified plant can be tried by raising it in a solution that contains the matching antibiotic. When the plant endures, the researchers know that the plant has taken up the genes that are resistant to antibiotics along the desired genes. There is a concern that bacteria that is living in the guts of animals and the human beings can take up the gene that is resistant to antibiotics from the genetically modified plants before the DNA is absorbed completely.
The genetically modified organisms such as plants can have low nutritional value as compared to the ones that not genetically engineered. The modified plant makes the nutrients unavailable to the human beings. For instance, a compound that is known as phytate is usually common in grains and seeds. The compound often binds with the minerals and makes them unavailable to the human beings. The new gene that is inserted can make the plant start producing high levels of the phytate compound, and this can reduce the nutritional value and the mineral component of the plant (Hug, 2007).
In conclusion, the genetically modified organisms are of benefit to all the people in the world. As discussed above, they, are resistant to pests and harsh climatic conditions, lead to high crop yield, reduce global warming, among other benefits. However, the organisms have also posed a threat to the lives of the human beings. They lead to gene transfer, decrease the nutritional value in plants, result in antibiotic resistance, increase toxicity and lead to allergic reactions. Therefore, people should proceed with a lot of caution. The technology of genetic engineering is a powerful one and thus, human beings should ensure that they avoid the negative consequences of our health and the surrounding. The government should make sure that the GMO foods are fit for human consumption and do not affect the environment. It can do this by making sure that the GM products are permitted before being grown, imported, or consumed.
References
Beringer, J. E. (2000). Releasing genetically modified organisms: will any harm outweigh any advantage?*. Journal of Applied Ecology, 37(2), 207-214.
Grubbs, M. E. (2014). Genetically modified organisms: A design based biotechnology approach. Technology and Engineering Teacher, 73(7), 24-29.
Hug, K. (2007). Genetically modified organisms: do the benefits outweigh the risks?. Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania), 44(2), 87-99.
Shanahan, J., Scheufele, D., & Lee, E. (2001). Trends: Attitudes about agricultural biotechnology and genetically modified organisms. The Public Opinion Quarterly, 65(2), 267-281.
Wolfenbarger, L. L., & Phifer, P. R. (2000). The ecological risks and benefits of genetically engineered plants. Science, 290(5499), 2088-2093.
