Genetically Mutated Organisms - Research Paper Example

Genetically Mutated Organisms Genetically mutated organisms have recently been the subject of intense debate, particularly concerning the issue of genetically modified food (GMOs). Many governmental organizations and public interest groups have been protesting the use of GMOs for a long time, and with recent controversial studies about genetically modified food, the debate has intensified. This paper will explain the meaning of genetically modified organisms, particularly concerning food; explain their advantages, their prevalence and their criticisms. The paper will also explain the health concerns of GMOs and the economic effects of using them to sustain humankind. Finally, the paper will explain the regulation and labeling of genetically mutated organisms and foods. Genetically modified organisms refer to crop plants created for human or animal consumption using biological techniques in laboratories (Whitman 1). The creation of these crops in laboratories is done to enhance desired traits in the plants, traits that are deemed useful for nutrition or other factors. Some examples of enhanced characteristics in these plants include increase resistance to herbicides or improving the nutritional power of the plants to the consumers. Traditionally, the enhancement of desirable traits in plants and crops was done through breeding effects, but with the advent of technology, the creation of desirable effects is done faster and more effectively. The use of genetic engineering is a faster method of creating desirable traits in plants and crops, and can be used to create the exact types of characteristics that are needed for consumption. This is done through the isolation of specific traits that help specific factors and introducing them into all plants in the laboratory. After the desired traits have been isolated in the plants, they can then be introduced into other plants, which then acquire the traits. Additionally, desired traits can be transferred to plants from non-plant organisms, which then also gain the traits introduced. The best example of this fact is the use of genes from a naturally occurring bacterium that is resistant to insect larvae. The bacterium, called B.T., produces a crystal that kills insect larvae, and using these protein genes, the trait can be transferred to crops. After the genes have been transferred to corn, the corn plants then acquire a natural resistance to insect larvae, which eliminates the costs of using pesticides to control the larvae. Advantages of genetically modified foods and organisms The first advantage of GMOs is the increase in pest resistance of the plants that are modified (Whitman 12). From research, it is evident that crop losses from pests are devastating both to farmers and crop reliant economies. In developing countries, crop losses to insect and pest invasions can cause serious losses and starvation. To prevent these losses, farmers usually rely on different amounts and types of pesticides to control the epidemics. However, consumers do not wish to partake of foods that are subject to excessive pesticide treatment because of potential health impacts. The increased use of pesticides also increases run-offs into water bodies, which in turn affects the environment. The use of generically modified foods lime the B.T. corn mentioned above helps in the elimination of using pesticides, since the crops made are pest resistance. Therefore, the use of GMOs helps in the reduction of the harmful effects of pesticides. The second advantage of using genetically modified organisms is the increased herbicide tolerance that crops attain from the laboratories (Carr 288). For some crops, the farmers are required to use different types of herbicides to eliminate weeds. The use of many herbicides in the farms is a time-consuming process that is also harmful to the environment. The farmers have to be careful when applying herbicides since they should not harm the crops and the environment. However, the creation of crops that are resistant to powerful herbicides reduces the amount of herbicides used in the farms. This helps in the prevention of environmental damage, the cost of using too many herbicides, and the run-offs from herbicide use. One of the other cost concerns faced by farmers is the increasing number of diseases that face crops and organisms in the farm (Carr 288). These diseases usually cause a lot of impact on the farm since they destroy crops. However, with the use of genetically modified crops, the farmers can achieve crops that are resistant to the various fungi, viruses and bacteria that cause disease and economic losses. Some plant biologists have already achieved the objective of creating disease resistant plants, which helps the farmers. In cold regions, some plants are not able to survive, and since they are the main cash crops, usually cause many financial concerns fore the farmers (Carr 288). The use of plants that have been genetically modified to resist cold can be resistant to unexpected frost that destroys seedlings and plants. There are many regions where drought affects the agricultural productivity and causes financial losses and starvation among the residents. With the current projections in world growth and land reclamation, many saline areas are also being used for crop production, however, the two regions mentioned are usually detrimental to crop production, and with the nee for increased food production, genetically modified foods come in handy. This is because farmers will tend to grow crops in regions unsuited for crop production, and genetically modified plants are needed. The genetically modified foods are crated to be able to withstand long periods of drought and increased salinity factors, which helps in the food production of these regions. Another use of genetically modified organism is the creation of better pharmaceuticals (Carr, 289). This is because medicines and vaccines are increasingly costly to produce, and with the introduction of genetically modified organism, scientists and biologists have the ability to introduce the vaccines and disease resistant characteristics in foods and plants. These are then used in third world and developing countries to avoid disease factors. The administration of vaccines and medicines contained in plants and other organisms simplifies the storage, shipment and use of these vaccines. This is because the vaccines usually require special conditions. An unexpected advantage of using genetically modified foods and organisms is also seen in phytoremediation, which refers to the use of genetically modified organisms to clan up heavy metals and pollutants in the soil (Whitman 15). Some GM plants are not made as crops; instead, they are made as trees that help in soil cleanup. Pollution from pesticides and other chemicals applied to farmland and organisms is increasingly becoming a concern. To counter this fact, scientists have genetically modified some trees to help in the clean up of the soil and water areas. Genetic modification of food could also be used by scientists as a means of increasing the nutritional factors in some crops (Whitman 18). For example, many developing countries use single crops for sustenance. An example of this factor is the consumption of rice as a stale food in some countries. This factor can be countered by scientists who genetically modify these food crops to include amounts of other nutrients. In this case, the population would not have to rely on single nutrients found in only one type of food. For example, researchers in the Swiss Federal Institute of Plant Scientists have created a strain of rice that contains other nutrients like vitamin A and iron, which is aimed at healing the populations in developing countries. Criticisms of Genetically Modified Foods One of the biggest criticisms of genetically modified foods and organisms is the unintended harm caused to other organisms by the plants (Whitman 28). To illustrate this fact the example of the B.T. toxin mentioned above is used. From research, it is evident that pollen from the genetically modified B.T corn causes harm to some strains of butterflies, which consume other plants. The pollen from the corn is blown across the air and affects unintended strains of butterflies, which causes an increased mortality in the butterflies. Despite the fact that the genetic modification was aimed at killing a specific larvae, the effect on a different strain of insect posses a serious challenge for the scientists. The Genetically modified plants are also criticized for the potential creation of ‘super pests’ and ‘super weeds’ (Whitman 30). Genetically modified crops are usually made to resists the application of certain pesticides and herbicides. As already stated, the use of different strains of pesticides and herbicides on the same crop affects the consumers of these crops. Therefore, some strains of plants have been created that resist the application of certain herbicides. Following natural laws of mutation and genetic growth, it is evident that some weeds and pests are likely to achieve the same resistance, which means that resistant strains that will need other cost outlays to destroy are created. In the same way, the increased costs of using genetically modified foods are transferred to the farmers, who will the have to depend on big biotechnological firms for sustenance (Whitman 30). When companies create the genetically modified foods and plants, they usually patent their products and provide them at high costs to the farmers. The companies usually make the seeds in such a way that new generations of seeds cannot be created without the use of the company’s products, which means that farmers will have to rely on these companies for more seeds. Potential gene transfer from genetically modified plants to other crops also posses a concern for farmers and companies. For example, some plants are created to be herbicide tolerant, but with the intermingling with weeds and other harmful plants, these genes might be transferred, which will result in herbicide tolerant weds in the population (Kwon and Kim 45). This means that interbreeding between plants could create instances of super tolerant weeds and unintended traits in the plants. Unmodified crops have the ability to exchange pollen with genetically modified crops, which will cause unknown traits in plants. The first way of overcoming the limitations mentioned above is through the introduction of GM plants that are male sterile. This means that the companies that manufacture the genetically modified foods can modify them not to produce pollen that might affect other species of plants (Kwon and Kim 45). The companies can also overcome this limitation by modifying the pollen from these plants not to contain the genes introduced through genetic modification. This means that cross-pollination would not occur, and other organisms would not be affected by the genetically modified plants. This would also reduce the risk of creation of super weeds, which share the same genes as the genetically modified plants. The other concern that arises from the creation of genetically modified foods is the creation of allergenicity, which refers to the creation of new allergies in individuals who are exposed to the genetically modified plants (Whitman 32). Currently, many individuals in the world are allergic to the effects of some plants and products like peanuts. With the introduction of genetically modified plants, there is a high possibility that new allergies will also be created in susceptible individuals. With the increased risks of allergies in children and other individuals, the risk of introducing new allergies is dangerous. Some of the existing allergies to foods are potentially life threatening, and the risk of introducing new allergies is viewed skeptically. There is also a growing concern that genetically modified foods pose an unknown health risk to human health (Whitman 33). With the creation of new genetic make-ups for plants, the possibility of introducing unintended genetic traits that affect human health is increased. Consumption of plants for food is done under stringent and traditional conditions, where individuals know all the risks of the plants that they consume. However, with the development of new traits in plants, new health risks might be introduced, which will adversely affect human health. Acceding to Daniel (468), there is an increasing economic concern for the introduction of genetically modified plants in the market. The introduction of a genetically modified food product into the market is a long and expensive process, and since the foods are manufactured by private companies, these companies will want to make profits on their investments. This means that the price faced by the end consumer is very high, and with the current gap between the wealthy and the poor, only rich individuals will be able to afford the crops. This means that farmers in third world and developing countries will not be able to afford the genetically modified foods, thus increasing the gap between the rich and the poor. From the view of the multinational companies that manufacture the genetically modified foods, patent enforcement is a long and costly process (Naseem and Pray 25). With the possibility of farmers creating second-generation seedlings from the genetically modified seedlings, these companies would lose revenues. However, there is the possibility of creating second-generation sterile seedlings from the companies. This means that the companies would create seedlings that do not give viable second-generation seedlings, which would force farmers to approach the companies for more seedlings. However, this would create overall dependency on the multinational companies. One of the most contentious issues concerning genetically modified foods is the issue of labeling them in shopping shelves so that consumers are able to differentiate them from normal food. Some individuals are of the opinion that genetically modified foods should be distinctly labeled, but most agribusiness companies are of the opinion that labeling should be decided by the demands of the free market (Naseem and Pray 36). Interest groups argue that consumers have the right to know the food that they partake, and with the increase in genetically modified food, the argument over labeling is continually increased. If the consumers show an increased preference for labeled genetically modified food products, the industry will have to comply or face alienation from the consumer. With the argument of federal agencies, that labeling is at the discretion of the companies since the genetically modified food are considered safe, the debate over labeling is increased. This is because many individuals know that genetically modified foods are already in the market, but they cannot tell the difference from the food that they are already consuming. The labeling debate is influenced by the potential cost factor of labeling genetically modified food. If genetically modified food is to be labeled differently, the companies that manufacture them will have an increased cost factor, since they will have to use differed production lines. Farmers must also find a way of separating their plants to avoid mixing the genetically modified foods and the non-GM during normal processes. This means that the costs will have to be transferred to the final consumer, and since the final consumer is the one advocating for labeling, the question is whether they will be able to absorb the extra cost. In conclusion, it is evident that genetically modified foods are increasingly being used in the global market, and bear many advantages and disadvantages for the consumer and producers. With the use of effective regulation, the genetically modified plants can be suited to the whole population and help in the reduction in the food hardships faced in the world. However, with the potential effects of these genetically modified foods, adequate research needs to be conducted before they are accepted in the whole world. The use of genetically modified foods would serve to drastically reduce the costs incurred in food production and consumption. Works Cited Carr, Susan. New Biotechnology, Crop Protection and Sustainable Development, 2007. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Daniell, Howard. “GM Crops: Public Perception and Scientific Solutions”, 1999. Trends in Plant Science. Vol. 4(12). Pp. 467-469 Kwon, Yong and Do Soon Kim. Herbicide-resistant genetically-modified crop: its risks with an emphasis on gene flow, 2001. Weed Biology and Management, 1(1). Pp. 42–52. Naseem, Anwar and Pray, Carl. Economic Impact Analysis of Genetically Modified Crops, 2004. Handbook of Plant Biotechnology. Whitman, Deborah. Genetically Modified Foods: Harmful or Helpful? 2006. CSA Discovery Guides. Read More