Controversial topic - Essay Example

Download file to see previous pages... Several possible negative effects have been listed that risks the environment, human health and socio-economic concerns. The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations discussed the possibility of genes introduced in GMOs escaping or transferring to other members of the same species and perhaps other species that are the non-target. These transgenes or foreign DNA sequence interaction in the cell, plant or ecosystem level, once released will be impossible to recall. Furthermore, there are no conclusive tests to affirm that artificial insertion of genes will not destabilize an organism, encourage mutations or whether the inserted gene itself will be stable in the organism over generations (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations).
There is also a well-placed concern on the possibility of introducing foreign genes would negatively impact the health of humans. Author Doris Lin cited studies conducted on rats on a GMO diet that showed problems in their liver and kidneys (Lin). A point to also consider with GMOs is it might result to the birth of a different allergen that can develop life-threatening allergies in people.
Socio-economically, the biotechnology research which is the precursor of GMOs is actually lengthy and costly process spearheaded by the private sector. It is big business, with the wish to ensure the return of investment. Advocates have raised their concerns that the market dominance in the agricultural sector would cause the famers’ loss of access to plant material. These would deeply impact small-scale farmers by making them pay for crop varieties bred from genetic material that originally came from their own fields but whose specific genetic modification strains have been patented by big agro-biotech companies (Whitman). If these companies would raise the price of the seeds for their own profit and advancement, small ...Download file to see next pagesRead More